Drill Sergeants are the stuff that movies are made of and with good reason. It’s these men and women who mold the future of the United States Army, taking average young men and women and turning them into the nation’s strength and defense. Their drill sergeants guide them through this journey and bring them out the other side as soldiers fit to wear the uniform.

What It Takes To Be A Drill Sergeant

If you want to be a Drill Sergeant, first you must complete the basic NCO course and meet the height and weight standards. Since drill sergeants are the role model for new soldiers, you must of course have good PFT (physical fitness test) scores and have four years of continuous service. You must have a minimum GT score of 100 on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and be qualified with an M-16. To apply for drill instructor school, you need to first achieve the rank of Sergeant (E-5) or above.

Soldiers who meet these requirements can apply to Drill Sergeant school and learn the techniques and skills necessary to shape tomorrow’s Army. Before being accepted, the Army conducts extensive background checks. Because there are so many soldiers serving on the frontlines around the world, the demand for drill instructors is especially high right now. The school carries prestige among the troops and in the nation.

Back To Basics

Drill Sergeant School beings with the basics as you review all of the skills that you first mastered in Boot Camp. This time around, you’re learning not as a recruit, but as an instructor. You’ll polish your skills as a marksman and in hand-to-hand combat. You’ll drill in ceremony and protocol. You will spend your days in physical training and academics giving you the tools to make United States soldiers.

As a Drill Sergeant, you’ll learn about taking a platoon of recruits and turning them into soldiers who fight as a team. In addition, you’ll be armed with the skills to handle stress and counsel individuals.

Army Strong

Army Drill Sergeants are respected in the United States and across the globe. Of course, in addition to the satisfaction you’ll get from training the future of the U.S. military, you’ll also have all of the benefits of serving.

In a time when many face layoffs and insecurity, as a soldier you’ll have a steady income, medical and dental insurance for you and your family, housing, and a food and clothing allowance. In addition, you’ll have access to free and discounted shopping, entertainment, and travel benefits. Should you choose to make the Army a career, you’ll have a retirement plan that few civilian companies can rival. If you choose to leave the Army, you’ll take with you not only the basic skills that make every U.S. soldier an asset, but also the added benefit of your special training in management and instruction that comes from your time on the Drill Field.

As a United States soldier, you’ll know you’re making a difference in the world and as a Drill Sergeant, you’ll be training others to do the same. If you’re interested in finding out more about becoming a United States Army Drill Sergeant, click HERE.

Photo courtesy of Army.mil