LIFE LESSONS IN THE US ARMY
One Day as a U.S. Army Drill Sergeant
The Army Drill Sergeant in Basic Combat Training (BCT) teaches the new recruits the ways of the Army.
There is so much to learn in nine weeks, rifle marksmanship takes up nearly all of two weeks, other weapons to learn how to operate, there’s first aid, marching, physical training, tactics and traditions of the Army, grooming and proper wear of the uniform, and so much more.
The US Army website says:
During Basic, you’ll learn how to work as a member of a team to accomplish tasks. You’ll learn discipline, including proper dress, marching, and grooming standards. Most importantly, you’ll be instilled with the Seven Core Army Values and the Soldier Creed.
The Soldier Creed
I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained, and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
The Drill Sergeant Creed
I am a Drill Sergeant.
I will assist each individual in their efforts to become a highly motivated, well disciplined, physically and mentally fit soldier, capable of defeating any enemy on today’s modern battlefield.
I will instill pride in all I train. Pride in self, in the Army, and in Country.
I will insist that each Soldier meets and maintains the Army standards of military bearing and courtesy, consistent with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
I will lead by example, never requiring a Soldier to attempt any task I would not do myself.
But first, last, and always, I am an American Soldier — Sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
I am a Drill Sergeant!
What a Regular Day Looks Like for a Drill Sergeant
If you hear a new recruit talking to their mom or girlfriend on the phone while they’re in BCT, you will think they have it rough. Well, they actually do. They have to wake up around 0430 (4:30 am) and go until 2130 (9:30 pm).
They don’t even consider that the Drill Sergeant wakes them up and cannot go home until they are in bed. My children were sleeping by the time I got home, and still asleep when I left in the morning.
As a Drill Sergeant, you learn multitasking very quickly. Actually, you learn that before you become a Drill Sergeant at Drill Sergeant School. During those nine weeks, you go through everything the new recruit will go through while learning how to become a Drill Sergeant.
One of the funniest things I remember about Drill Sergeant School was when the Drill Sergeant School Superintendent, a Command Sergeant Major, came through for his inspection. He had a recorder taking note and giving demerits, which you had to work off in the little bit of free time you had on the weekends. It was January and February in Missouri, so that mostly meant shoveling snow.
While he was inspecting my wall locker, he said, “One demerit, no comb.” After he finished my locker inspection, he inspected my uniform and grooming. He then told his recorder, “Cross off the demerit — he obviously doesn’t need a comb. Bald as a cucumber.”
Training Security & Discipline
One of the things we instilled in the Soldiers was security. We warned them to secure everything, or someone would steal it.
One day when we came back from training, I walked through the barracks and found a Soldier had left his wall locker unlocked.
I threw all of his stuff out of his wall locker onto the floor. Then, I noticed he had an unfinished letter he was writing to his girlfriend.
It said we have two Drill Sergeants. Drill Sergeant Smith is really cool, but the other always walks around with his chest pushed out and screaming. He has these huge biceps, and a bald head. All the Privates call him Popeye, but not to his face. I swear to God, this guy is a major dick.
After I had thrown everything out on the floor and all around the bay, I put his three-drawer chest back in the locker, underlined major dick, and put the unfinished letter on top of the three-drawer chest.
Then, I went downstairs and called Private (PVT) Wright. He came running up and reported correctly as he had been taught.
I told him he left his wall locker unsecured, and he should go up and secure it, while his platoon buddies waited for him in the front-leaning rest position — which is the push-up position. The push-up is one of the favorite means of discipline for a Drill Sergeant, as anyone who has ever been in the Army, will tell you. Of course, peer pressure is also one of our favorites.
When he returned after a few minutes, as his platoon buddies were screaming like they were dying, he ran up and reported, “Drill Sergeant, I have secured my locker as ordered.”
I said, “Oh no, PVT Wright. Drill Sergeant is not what you told your girlfriend my name was, now was it? For the rest of your time here, you will address me as Major Dick. And every time you see me, you will drop and give me twenty-five. Do I make myself clear, Private?”
This is one of many of my favorite stories about being a Drill Sergeant. I plan to tell you more in the future. If you’re interested, come on back. My stories probably aren’t as good as R. Lee Emery, but some of them are pretty close.
References:
https://www.army.mil/values/soldiers.html
https://www.goarmy.com/soldier-life/being-a-soldier/living-the-army-values.html
More of My Stories
Stephen Dalton is a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Currently living in the Philippines, Stephen is a Top Writer in Virtual Reality.
You can see his portfolio here. Email [email protected]
