Can I drive my POV to USADSA? What is the day-to-day like at the Academy?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 13:26:02 -0500

I was just DA selected to attend the USADSA and received my Welcome letter and other forms via email. I'm nervous but also extremely excited and was hoping someone could tell me what to expect during the Academy. Can I drive my POV? What is the day-to-day like?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2020 1:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 13:35:53 -0500

I went to Drill Sergeant School in Ft Leonard Wood in 2006, so my information would be way outdated. I'm sure that Ft Jackson has a POI available and i'm surprised it wasn't part of your Welcome packet. When I went, you could drive your car only after the dinner chow time. Until then you were treated as PVT's. But your weekends were free as well. I'm quire sure things have changed a lot since then. Congrats, it was the most rewarding assignment of my career. Good luck moving forward.

Response by SFC Anthony Beck made Feb 5 at 2020 1:46 PM

SFC Anthony Beck — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 13:46:04 -0500

We were permitted to drive our POVs. I would definitely check in with someone to make sure nothing has changed. The USADSA DFAC is closed on the weekends. The alternate DFAC is across post. A POV comes in handy in that aspect. Again, check in with someone first.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 5 at 2020 3:08 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 15:08:53 -0500

I would take the POV and not worry about it. If you can't drive then park it. I am going to make the assumption that they don't want to control soldiers to the point they can't drive their POVs. What is the distance from point A to B?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2020 6:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 18:33:45 -0500

Yes- you can drive your POV. If you have any other questions either contact the DSDSL that emailed (if not the ATRRS letter) or check our milsuite page.

Response by SSG Dennis O'Connor made Feb 5 at 2020 7:04 PM

SSG Dennis O'Connor — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 19:04:07 -0500

Attended the school in 2010. Most of us had our POVs as we came from posts other than Jackson but yes check with official channels first to make sure nothing has changed. As far as day to day, it's a 9 week repeat of basic training but more of a train the trainer format. The DSLs will train you in order for you to train future soldiers. For me DS school was probably the most mentally demanding school I had attended. Good luck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2020 7:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 19:16:00 -0500

I went to academy last year, you can drive your POV. You’ll be housed in either the academy barracks or at the hotel across post. You’ll be busy everyday but the schedule will be published and available in your squads class room. Best thing you can do is just start studying the top three now and get them verbatim. You don’t want to be that guy that’s struggling right out of the gate.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2020 10:41 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 22:41:17 -0500

Yes you can drive your POV I highly recommend it . The day to day is a lot of studying and classes on 350-1 if I were you I would get into the drill and ceremony FM and start studying it will pay dividends also get on a PT stand if you have never instructed pt before start practicing doing it and getting your cadences down for each exercise that too will pay dividends one of my squad leaders is in the school now I prepped him for two months before he went I will be at his graduation in March let me know if you need anything
“THIS WE’LL DEFEND “

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2020 11:23 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 23:23:26 -0500

I was authorized to use my POV back in 2018 when big dawg DS Adame was running the show (seen in a previous comment) was there his gold aviators. Didn’t do much driving on the weekdays. Only went off post when I needed supplies and on the weekends. Most of your time, however, will be occupied with either training, studying, prepping, or rehearsing. Best advice to you, dedicate your time to the academy and soak up EVERYTHING. Our Soldiers need the best so good luck to you!

Be sure to get yourself some aviators while you’re at it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2020 6:41 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 06:41:21 -0500

You could when i was there. But that was a few years ago now, and as we all know things might have changed. The day to day was not that bad the worst part was the SF2 (i think thats the right name), those classes were a complete waste of time that we could have put to better use. Again this might have changed since i was there. We were at completion of POI able to go do normal people things as long as we stayed within the 250 mile radius. The hardest day was the last module for me other than that there is nothing tricky, hard, or un-obtainable about the DSA. If you have more questions i have a new DS coming in a few days from the DSA i can ask him for more up to date information.

Response by MSG Pedro Soto made Feb 9 at 2020 11:56 AM

MSG Pedro Soto — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 11:56:11 -0500

When I went thru the academy we were allowed to have our POV, some people even went home on weekends, keep on mind that Drill Sgt academy is one tough school, you are required to study in the evenings and may want to do so also on the weekends. I lived to far to home, I used my POV to go to chow, the PX and occasionally went into town. Congratulations on your selection, rewards comes with a sucessful tour.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2020 9:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 09:52:43 -0500

Yes, and about what you’d expect.