What Would Happen if a Recruit Tells a Drill Sergeant What His/Her Pronouns Are?

SPC July Macias — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 19:06:13 -0400

I'm curious how you'd react if you're the drill instructor.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 27 at 2024 7:53 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 19:53:08 -0400

I would look at the Recruit and say "Your Pronoun is Private, My Pronoun is Drill Sergeant."
There is nothing else that needs to be said.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2024 1:22 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 01:22:35 -0400

Had 2 DS in my Basic that had a workaround years before this came to pass. One called everyone "Hero" and the other always called us by "Hey, Stupid."

Response by SPC James Neidig made Jul 28 at 2024 2:33 AM

SPC James Neidig — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 02:33:41 -0400

All Of The Drill Instructors I Had Would Have Said, Your Pronoun Is Maggot ! Front Leaning Rest And Give Me 20 And Then Ran Them Till The DI Got Tired.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jul 28 at 2024 11:20 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 11:20:59 -0400

My Drill Sergeants would have introduced you to a whole new series of nouns and pronouns, then made a series of suggestions that I'm pretty sure are physically impossible, but I never pushed it enough to find out for sure.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Jul 28 at 2024 12:26 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 12:26:10 -0400

Our drill instructors routinely called us, "You f**king bitches" among other things! I wouldn't trade my boot camp experience for anything. It was a major turning point in my life.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jul 29 at 2024 7:22 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 07:22:57 -0400

When I was in there was no such thing

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Aug 1 at 2024 1:03 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:03:54 -0400

I don't think that I ever heard any of the DS call anyone by personal pronouns when I went to basic. It was private or recruit to everyone usually.

It may only matter if they had to write up a counseling or some other paperwork where a personal pronoun might be used...I just don't think it's likely a big issue in IET.

Response by SSG Tim Newell, PhD made Aug 2 at 2024 8:23 AM

SSG Tim Newell, PhD — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 08:23:26 -0400

OMG! So, for starters, agree with the other posted responses. I joined in the 80's, when this was not a thing. However, as I read your question/post, I started literally laughing out loud in public as I imagined Drill Sergeant Lowe's response! I reclassed as a PFC, and drove my POV to my AIT. AS I got out of my car, and was dragging my duffle AND suitcase to the company area, this SHORT SFC RAN up to me, yelling and spitting "where the F*CK have you been, Private? Just going on and on, I was not able to get in a single word. When he finally ran out of steam, I told him who I was and why I was there. Since there were no trainees around, he became more polite, and we discussed stuff. That being said, I can only imagine what would/could have happened if I brought up pronouns!
That being said, if I was ever a Drill Instructor, I probably would have stroked out from the sheer amount of yelling and screaming.

Response by MSG Gerry Poe made Aug 5 at 2024 4:11 PM

MSG Gerry Poe — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 16:11:18 -0400

I went to Basic and AIT back in 1994, so the only words coming out of my mouth when addressing the Drill Instructor was "Drill Sergeant, my question or response, and lastly Drill Sergeant!" However, if a Soldier ask me that question today, I will most likely just tell the Soldier I was a him/he and next to "beat feet out of my face!" lol

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2024 12:36 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:36:41 -0400

"Okay..... Anyways...(moves on to completely different topic)"

Response by Cpl Craig Howard made Sep 14 at 2024 12:09 PM

Cpl Craig Howard — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 12:09:38 -0400

I would love to see what any of my Marine D.I.'s would say back in the '80s. We had a diverse platoon as well as diversity in our DI's. And all we saw was GREEN. The same went for gender, but we only had two back then.