I got orders to Drill Sergeant School....any advice on how to make the most of it?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:33:58 -0500

Hey guys/gals I just got DS orders 21 days after getting promoted to SSG. I personally am super excited about it. Just wanting to see what your reactions would be if you were in my situation.

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Feb 5 at 2014 9:49 PM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:49:47 -0500

I've heard many good and bad things about Drill Duty. In my opinion the good out weighs the bad though and I for one would be stoked about being selected as a Drill Sergeant. Should be a very rewarding and enjoyable assignment.

Response by CSM Stuart C. O'Black made Feb 6 at 2014 10:42 PM

CSM Stuart C. O'Black — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 22:42:03 -0500

I would hope it is OH YEAH! why would you not want to lead and train America's future Soldiers. Beside it is looked upon very favorably in terms of promotions. Finally, what you learn in Drill Sergeant school in leading Soldiers and basics will benefit you throughout your career and make you a more professional Soldier and NCO!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 5:11 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 05:11:52 -0500

SSG DeSerio,

As a former Drill Sergeant I liked the duty but I was an OSUT DS so that made it better for me knowing I might be send PVT's to my Battle Buddies I constantly seekd to make each Soldier knowledgeable on our MOS. That way they didn't have to work that hard if my DS and I taught them more than the basic POI.

If you want to make this a memorable time in your career you need to show up to DSS knowing the Drill Sergeant Creed and be a team player as much as possible.

Just my thoughts, Good Luck!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 8:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 08:58:20 -0500

I would agree with CSM O'Black in hopes that it is a big OH YEAH! You picked a great time to do pull that duty and as the Army continues this downsizing, you have to put yourself in the best position possible to further your career. Doing a good job training those future Soldiers will reflect positively on you in the future and set you up to be selected for SFC. Good luck to you on "THE TRAIL!!"

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 9:17 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 09:17:10 -0500

First and foremost congratulations! Drill Sergeant duty is without question the most rewarding job I have ever had in 18 years of service. Although you will be tested while performing your duties by Privates and your chain of command, the impact you will have on developing each and every civilian assigned to you into a soldier is truly a humbling and rewarding experience. I recommend you invest in a very comfortable pair of boots because you will spend a lot of your time on your feet. DS school is pretty easy for the most part. Just go there motivated, have the first three modules and history of the badge, hat, and DS creed memorized and you will do just fine. Depending on how good you are at memorizing lots of information will in all honesty determine how "stressful" DS School is. If you have any questions, message me.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 1:43 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:43:13 -0500

"The Campaign Hat makes a good NCO better, and a Bad NCO worse". That is the most true statement I have ever heard re: being a DS. Followed closely with, "If you are a DS and you have not been called on the carpet, you are not doing your job". A lot of PVT's /  children these days cannot stand to be told "NO", or "you are doing it wrong". Most kids these days do not have parents that are willing to tell them no or correct them. So, when they get to BCT, they think you are either great, or an asshole trying to "tell them what to do". Well, that is our job and when they get to the point where they can't handle it, they accuse you of being sexist, racist, or that you are picking on them. What is worse, is when you have a COC that believes their allegations and immediately tries to punish you for it. It is mostly a game of CYA for them especially since there are SOOO MANY fraudulant complaints out there over usually trivial b.s. and the Army's push to make sure punishments are handed out turns it all into a mess. Being a D.S. was also one of the most fun things I have had the privilege of doing. 1, watch out for YOUR battle buddy's, they will throw you under the bus in a heart beat, always do what is right, and report them when they are doing wrong or they will take you down with them. 2. YOUR battle buddy's will be the first ones to fail you, especially when it comes to taking responsibility when YOU have "duty platoon". If they want you to fail, they will make it happen and walk away with a sh*t eating grin... When a PVT can get away telling the 1SG that a D.S. is picking on them (AKA making corrections because that PVT is constantly chewed up) and the COC tells that D.S. to stop picking on him, there is something wrong with the system. (I saw it first hand in my Btry). Our COC used to tell the PVT's to call this number () and tell them if their D.S. has done something to offend them. SMH,, STUPID!!!    BUT... It is a good gig, you really just have to watch out for your self because your COC if they are shady, will screw you, and your battle buddy's do not always have the best interest in mind. <br>

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 1:52 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:52:28 -0500

Value your time with your family NOW!!! If your a good Drill Sergeant, and you really care in a BCT unit you will only get 1 four day weekend per cycle. I have sacrificed alot of time away from my family for the good of my Platoon and these privates. This is by far the hardest job I have ever had to do in the Army. I am very thankful and greatful for being given this opportunity, but after almost a year and half on the trail I am starting to feel it.

The trail will break you down. Your working 7 days a week, not eating very well, getting hardly any sleep at all due to training, ranges, duty week, short hit times, etc.. but you can make it work as along as you have a good team of Drill Sergeants in your Platoon/Company. There are alot of Drill Sergeant politics out there. Everything from who wins a Company Streamer, to who should be voted in as the Drill Sergeant of the cycle. Just go there and be you.

I wish you all the best in your journey on the trail. Just go into this with an open mind and everything will work out for you in the end. You are going to see first hand some of the most squared away NCO's the Army has ever produced wearing Campagin hats, and then sadly you will see those who you look at and wonder how they ever made it threw Drill Sergeant School. Same goes with the Chain of Command... I will just have to let you figure those things out for yourself.

This We'll Defend!

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Mar 25 at 2014 5:30 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 17:30:24 -0400

Becoming a Drill is one of the best career accelerants available in a peacetime Army. DSS isn't easy, it's not for everyone. It's a real test of "how bad do you want it" sort of thing. The Drill Sergeant class I just saw graduate from Jackson in SEP had room for 80, enrolled 63 and graduated 38. That tells you how difficult that school can be. I've been told it's at least as difficult as Ranger School. Don't know. I'm not a Ranger. I can tell you the cow's brown on this side, though, because I AM a Drill Sergeant (to the bone!)

As I recall, most people wash out of DSS because of the academics; a fair few from PT.

Once you've got that hat and badge, there's no question in anyone's mind what you do for a living. Turning BCT people into Soldiers is a challenge with long hours. However, when you stand in front of that platoon on day 63 and think back to what they were like on Zero Day, when you know you taught that Private who was scared to death of a rifle and s/he qualified....ain't no better feeling noplace.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 26 at 2014 8:29 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:29:34 -0400

Hell Yeah! Enjoy Infantry OSUT at Fort Benning, you are going to work your ass off in one of the best jobs you will ever have!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2014 9:05 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:05:09 -0400

I honestly think it would be an honor to help mold civilians into soldiers.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Apr 14 at 2014 1:40 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 13:40:21 -0400

You should be nearly done with red phase, headed towards white, if I read the post correctly. How do you like the school? More importantly, are you getting anything out of it? Which school are you at?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2014 8:17 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 08:17:26 -0400

I am currently an drill.  I hang up my hat at the end of August.  I have to tell you that it has been the most rewarding experience in my military career.  You definitely see tangible evidence in the product your given vs the product you give the army.  Grind hard and watch your battles back.  Truly embrace the experience!<br>

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 15 at 2014 8:32 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 08:32:34 -0400

First off, congrats on the selection, it is a great honor to train our brand new Soldiers. If I could go back in time to 1995 when I was selected for recruiting duty, I would have done whatever I could have within the confines of good order and discipline to have gotten out of that particular assignment selection and would have submitted a drill packet. Hindsight is always 20/20, but it would have been better for my overall career to have been a DS than it did being a recruiter. I would have been thrilled if I had been selected! "TREAT 'EM ROUGH!!"

Response by SFC Christopher Walker, MAOM, DSL made Apr 15 at 2014 9:04 AM

SFC Christopher Walker, MAOM, DSL — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 09:04:32 -0400

Congrats! I recently came off the trail in July 2013 from
Fort Benning. Here are a few tips for school:

· Study your modules! Know how to pitch the position of attention, the hand salute and the rest positions at the halt (parade rest, stand at ease, at ease and rest) before you get to school. Here is a link to the video demonstration. http://vimeo.com/channels/524805

· Know how march, call cadences, give PRT and pass the APFT and HT/Weight. Believe it are not, there were NCOs that couldn’t march are squad are call cadence. Many even fail the APFT and HT/Height.

· This is not your typical NCOES school. Be on time and in the right uniform EVERYDAY. You can be kicked out for any infraction.

· Find a study group that really study. Some Drill Sergeant Candidates would just party and party and wonder why they failed the course.

· Be prepared for a few cry babies. Yes, there will be a lot of crying and complaining about everything from the Senior NCOs down to the Sergeants. Separate yourself from those individuals immediately. Here is the link to the DSS for all other relevant information. http://www.jackson.army.mil/sites/school/pages/127/Drill-Sergeant-School

Other than that, stay motivated and you will be a changed individual once you receive your badge and campaign hat. Remember, you will train thousands and thousands of recruits year round. You may not remember them, but they will remember you. You will be their first impression of the Army. Do it will pride and dignity. You don’t have to smoke a Soldier to get
them to do the right thing. Leading by example will show them what right looks
like. Whenever you get down time with your soldiers, share your stories and
mentor them. I found out that they will respect you more if you show them that
you care about their future in the military. Since leaving the trail, I see at
least two Soldiers a week that I trained. All of them thank me for sharing
advice, such as TA, medical, dental, counselings, etc. It is never too early to
share knowledge to these young Soldiers. They are the future of our nation and
our most precious resource.

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Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2014 11:14 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 11:14:30 -0400

AS a former Drill the best advise I can give you is " Always have a battle buddy with you when speaking to a Soldier male or female and ensure they have one with them at all times" There is no such thing as "A private conversation!" I was a Basic Training Drill for 3 years and enjoyed about 75% of the time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2014 6:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 06:25:38 -0400

When I got my orders it was definitely an "Oh yeah!" moment for me. This is what I've been working for since I joined the Army, this has been one of my long term goals since I was a PFC.

When I graduate DSS in December, it'll be one of the proudest moments of my career. I might've raised a few eyebrows with the "when I graduate" statement, but I mean it...I will graduate, this is what I want to do.

When's your school date SSG DeSerio?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2014 1:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:10:31 -0400

I am proud to say that I am Drill Sergeant. You will too. You will see half your classmates not make it and you will feel a sense of acclomplishment when the badge is pinned on you. I truly believe that we are the top ten percent of the NCO Corps. Know yourself and your weaknesses and work on strengthening them(privates can sense it). Most Drill Sergeants find that they are not done after graduation, especially with global address, Soldiers will come back to you for advice long after theyre gone. Make what free time you get about your family and you will be headed on the right path.
"This We'll Defend"

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2014 5:06 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 17:06:33 -0400

Ummm I have no advice. But, that is fricking awesome! Good for you!

Good luck to you!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2015 11:47 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 11:47:20 -0500

BEST JOB IN THE ARMY!!! Hands down!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2015 7:05 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 19:05:07 -0500

When do go to school? And congratulations on getting orders for Drill Sergeant

Response by PVT William Bresch made Dec 29 at 2015 9:17 AM

PVT William Bresch — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 09:17:24 -0500

leave, while you still can, lol

Response by CPL Earnest Brown made Sep 15 at 2020 2:56 AM

CPL Earnest Brown — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 02:56:27 -0400

Can someone please email me the DSS mods. I'm about to drop my packet for the Academy and trying to get ahead of the game. Thanks to anyone for the help.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2021 12:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 12:58:53 -0500

How long after receiving orders for Drill is the report date for school?