Did it ever occur to you when watching a military movie: “Hey. I could do that!” when you saw a drill sergeant going about his business? But is becoming a drill sergeant merely about shouting orders and wearing a cool hat? You wish. Becoming an army drill sergeant is essentially about shaping the very future of the US Army.
Still willing? Are you still keen to morph from an everyday Joe or Jane into a respected non-commissioned officer (NCO)? Then, here goes your trusted guide on how to become a drill sergeant.
What is a Drill Sergeant?
A drill Sergeant is himself a soldier, but a royal soldier who, through skill and dedication, turns the new, raw recruits into soldiers ready for the battlefield. They turn the green into gold. They become a mentor and a tough-love giver. They are the living embodiments of Army values. You see, they are one of those strict teachers you feared but secretly admired in school.
So, you are just the right fit to be an army drill sergeant, huh? Brace yourself, for it’s one frantic ride, not for the faint of heart, clearly.
Duties of a Drill Sergeant
- Educator and Enforcer: Teaching everything from how to salute to how to survive in combat.
- Role Model: They are the epitome of Army standards 24/7.
- Advisor: Helping recruits understand and deal smartly with the challenges of Army life.
- Housekeeper: Yes, they even ensure that washrooms sparkle!
9 Steps Detailing on How to Become a Drill Sergeant
Step 1. Graduate From High School or Get A GED
First things first, qualification comes before everything else. Did you graduate from high school or have a GED? If not, try considering it first thing. The Army likes its drill sergeants to have a decent head start in education. And it only makes sense because one cannot possibly teach what one does not know. So, learning comes first.
Step 2. Enlist in the Army
Next, if you truly covet that drill sergeant badge, you should strive to get enrolled in the army first. How about you meet a recruiter and talk about your aspirations with them? But before that, you should make sure:
- You are a US citizen. If not, you should be a lawful permanent resident.
- Your age must fall anywhere between 17 to 35 years.
- You must take the ASVAB, which is like the SATs only for soldiers.
- Undergo a physical examination, yes, that includes some serious bending and coughing.
Step 3. Basic Training
Welcome to boot camp, where you will learn everything from shooting rifles to avoiding kitchen duty. Completing basic training is like earning your first stripe in the journey of a thousand miles – literally.
Step 4. Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
Choose your Military Occupation Specialty (MOS). This is where you go from being just another recruit to a skilled member of the Army. Pick wisely because your MOS can influence your later eligibility to become an army drill sergeant.
Step 5. Gain Experience
The Army isn’t just going to take your word for it that you’re awesome. You need to show them. You should spend about four years gaining experience, ideally in leadership roles. Ever heard of paying your dues? Well, here’s the invoice!
Step 6. Fill Out the DA Form 7424
This form is your ticket to proving you’re mentally and emotionally fit to train others. It’s like a background check but more intense. Think of it as the Army making sure you’re not just nice on paper.
Step 7. Meet the Army Drill Sergeant Requirements
Sail through the army physical fitness test and then get a GT score of at least 100 in the ASVAB. A waiver might just save your skin if your score turns out to be at the slightly less okay-ish end of the spectrum, especially if you have been dazzling in other areas.
Step 8. Attend the Drill Sergeant Academy
Here’s where you relearn all the basics and then learn how to teach them. It’s school but with more shouting. The course lasts 65 intense days, covering everything from rifle marksmanship to the art of not laughing when a recruit calls you “mom.”
Step 9. Consider Becoming a Senior Drill Sergeant
Once you become a pro at being a drill sergeant, what would prevent you from actually aiming higher? When you become a senior army drill sergeant, you oversee other drill sergeants. See it as being the boss of the bosses.
And don’t go popping any bottles of champagne just yet. You still have to make it through the toughest boot camp of all – Drill Sergeant School.
Inside The Real Boot Camp
Attending the 8-week Drill Sergeant Academy at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, is like getting a Master’s in making those civilians some real soldiers. You will be tested to your absolute limits.
Welcome to Physical Inferno
From dawn to dusk, there is no end to the drills and ceremonies. Then there are weapons training, hand-to-hand combat, and enough push-ups to make your arms fall off. Just when you think you can’t possibly do another rep, they come around with a little something like the dreaded “side bender” PT module.
Surviving the Mental and Academic Challenge
Remember that “A” you got in college Algebra? Forget about it, as you will be hard-pressed to pass even the basic written exams. And don’t even think of being out of line. One wrong move, and you will be taking the most horrible walk of your life back home. Disgrace? That’s an understatement.
A Badge of Honour and a Humble Beginning
But if you can make it through all that and prove yourself tough enough, you will earn that coveted Army Drill Sergeant hat. And with it comes the right to terrorize a new class of rookies. Just don’t think too much of it yet. Remember, you are still just a “pumpkin head” to the experienced Drill Sergeants.
Life As A Drill Sergeant
Welcome to your new job. Here, you work 24 hours and 7 days a week, with only about four hours of sleep a night (if you happen to be lucky). It won’t be an easy work schedule. Your training cycles can be from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with barely a moment to breathe in between, yes.
Your Mission as a Trainer
You will be tasked with molding your 40-60 assignable recruits into fighting machines that are lean and mean from lazy slobs who were once undisciplined civilians. From marching to weapons handling to Army values, it’s all in there. You shouldn’t be easy on them – the minute your guard drops, you will have those rabid wolverines out of control.
Challenges and Pitfalls
Oh, did I mention the women? Yes, thanks to Jimmy Carter, you will be training men and women together. Furthermore, those female recruits will throw themselves at the drill sergeant like many charcoals during a bonfire. Soldiers remain strong – one wrong move, and you could find yourself the target of a harassment investigation!
Adding Shock, Awe, and Fun to Training
But it isn’t all toil. You could come up with crazy ideas for a break and rebuild your trainees. Want to have a “Shock-and-Awe” session to scare the bejesus out of them? Go for it! Feel like pranking them with a little CS gas during a training exercise? Hey, just so long as nobody gets seriously hurt.
Benefits of Being a Drill Sergeant
You ask why someone would prefer to spend one’s life in a living hell. Well, it’s nothing compared to the much sweeter rewards one gets for being an army drill sergeant. The pride is inexplicable as you watch your once sloppy, undisciplined recruits transform into proud, disciplined soldiers before your very eyes.
Brothers (and Sisters) in Arms
And the camaraderie you will share with your drill sergeants – nothing could be better. These people will know all your drunken antics but won’t run off squealing to the higher management.
A Leadership Bootcamp for Life
It’s the ultimate leadership laboratory, giving you invaluable experience that will serve you well for the rest of your Army career.
Pay, Perks, and Peace of Mind
- Special duty assignment pay – Because being awesome should come with a bonus.
- Promotion opportunities – Climb the Army ladder.
- Full-time pay and benefits – including healthcare and retirement plans – because even drill sergeants need a doctor and a 401(k).
Conclusion
This is a career that thrives under challenges, learning, and a lot of shouting. It is not for the faint of heart. But if you want to shape future lives within the Army, then this might be your calling.
So you think you have got what it takes to be the next great army drill sergeant? If your answer is a resounding, “Yes, Sergeant!” what are you waiting for? Your adventure starts with learning how to become a drill sergeant. You already know that the round, brown hat is not just a cool fashion item. This is something that you now wear as a symbol of honor and responsibility.
Oh, and if a drill sergeant ever plays a little prank involving CS gas on you, just remember – it builds character. Good luck, recruit!
Interested in reading more? You can buy True Confessions of a U.S. Army Drill Sergeant.
