Why The Army Is Changing How Drill Sergeants Are Trained | Boot Camp | Business Insider

Before they train Army recruits at basic training, drill sergeants must graduate from the nine-week United States Army Drill Sergeant Academy. Insider spent a week at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, to see what it takes to become a drill sergeant.

The Drill Sergeant Academy has adopted a new strategy where the old days of breaking down recruits with yelling and push-ups have been replaced with a more collaborative and respectful tone. Drill sergeant candidates are taught how to effectively lead recruits through physical readiness training, teach basic rifle management, and organize a culminating event that tests students on all of the skills they gained during the training.

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Why The Army Is Changing How Drill Sergeants Are Trained | Boot Camp | Business Insider

[Jake-zkeb]

People dont leave because of how their drill sergeants treat them. They leave because of how the whole organization treats them.

[bateman]

I had an ex drill instructor as a teacher in high school. I forget what his rank was when he retired but he'd retired an officer of some rank. We all called him Colonel. He could effortlessly control a room full of high school idiots without raising his voice. He just exuded authority. He gave respect and got it in return from every student. I asked him after class one day if he was like that in the service. He looked confused. I explained that everyone was waiting for the classic drill Sargent, screaming lunatic to pop out. He laughed and said he was that way as a young man but discovered that treating recruits like human beings locked into a situation they had no control over and no real way to know what was coming got better results than the stereotypical completely breaking down and rebuilding approach.

I learned more about being a leader in the year he was one of my teachers than I have anywhere else. He was a good man and the world is a lesser place without him.

[doc.rankin]

Best Drill I ever served under rarely cursed people out or did anything you'd see of a stereotypical drill. This guy was about character building, motivation, training, and education. Drill Sgt. Stancel. Will always remember that man. He learned everything about each troop and worked to develop their short comings. The man motivated everyone to be better.

[connorheather]

The guy who said “That shrapnel can’t yank it like that” was my DS in AIT. DS Berry. He was by far one of the greatest Drill Sergeants anyone could have. He was stern and disciplined but there was no doubt in anyone’s mind he wanted to make all of us the best soldiers we could be.

[rmdashrfv]

As a soldier of 6 years, it was very validating to read these comments. My leaving the military didn't have shit to do with my drill sergeants or whatever happened in BASIC. It was because of the shit leadership in my actual assigned unit. You may not like them yelling at you in BASIC, but I literally do not see how anyone can ever feel singled out when they are nonstop yelling at every single person there. It's very obvious that it's not personal lol

[Valpo]

Just an outside perspective, never served but I would guess the biggest reason for recruitment shortfall would be that Gen Z watched us fight 2 wars that extended through 4 presidencies that we more or less later decided were not worth it. I think most people if they are going to join the military want to know that if the POTUS is going to send them into war that it will be for a winnable cause that is worth risking their lives for. And historically that just has not been true.

[Corsuwey]

My father retired as a Sergeant Major. He was an instructor and was stationed in Texas during the Vietnam Police Action. Obviously, he was one of the lucky ones at that time. One of the things that he took notice of and never pushed on to his children, was the verbal abuse. However, the white glove did come out every once in a while after we cleaned.

[hinefamily]

I served 30 years in an allied nation, belittling or verbally abusing an individual does not make a better servicemen. Making them feel that they are special, needed, important and providing them the tools to become better will produce a better serviceman. My mother was dying of cancer so my service temporary posted me to a post near where she lived and my immediate superior allowed me to take early knock offs so I could spend time with her. My pay was not great but when the service gave me this I felt I owed the service everything I had left.

[kirkblocker]

Thank God combat has always been a gentle, no stress, low stakes endeavor.

[nilebrixton]

Prior service in the Army here. I'll say this: I didn't stay in not because I don't like the way Army conduct itself. I actually enjoyed my almost 10 years of service a lot. The structure, the endless opportunities, and the comradery are superior to the civilian world. I didn't re-up because I'm tired of the BS wars our politicians keep sending us in. I'm tired of being an expendable piece destroying innocent lives just so some 1% wealthy elites can sell more missiles and war machines to make even more money.

[vincentantonuccio]

Wow. I volunteered and completed DS school in 1992. This is way different. I like it. I was always focused on getting the soldier the proper training while ensuring they were well cared for mentally, physically and spiritually if desired. There were many DS who were just aggressive, I usually found that they were the least competent and that false bravado was just trying to hide it, whether they knew it or not.

If you are a competent leader, there is no need to humiliate anyone. You can be tough without being an jerk.

I enjoyed those 2 years. It was grueling but the reward was great.

[eluuhsc]

I was drafted in 72 and my home life was my father yelling screaming and physically abusing his eight sons and three daughters, boot camp was the best fun I had in a long time.

[altimate]

As someone who went through the Vietnam era training (which was still in effect when I joined in 2001 - yes I was in basic training when 9/11 happened), I think this is a good step to improve the culture. That being said, I didn't leave the army because of basic. I left because of how poor my leadership was, how they made life miserable, and because I vowed not to let anyone have that kind of control over my life ever again. I hope this truly turns a new leaf for the Army.

[koshertattoo]

Went to infantry basic training 2011. My SDS put the fear of God into me. I gained so much discipline because I was that clown who got his platoon smoked because I had no discipline before entering. He would cuss us out, smoke us for hours and made sure we were motivated daily. We won Platoon of the cycle. He won DS of the cycle. We won almost every event.

[chrissmith]

As a veteran of those days in the army I say „What a crock of crap!“. The yelling is to train you to react under pressure without hesitation. If you can’t adapt and deal with doing your job while someone is deliberately trying to sabotage you you won’t be able to when everything goes pear shaped

[definitelynotsnake]

this is the most genuine and insightful comment section in all of youtube. Very interesting to read soldiers experiences within BASIC and beyond. If I can extended an olive branch I'll say that whether civilian or soldier we can all relate to absolutely abysmal leadership and the feeling that brings

[Domogirl]

You can be hard on trainees as long as you actually gaf about them. I can't stand leadership who thinks their hot shit and hard but don't care about the guys under them. You can be an awesome nco and not act like you're untouchable. Everyone makes mistakes while learning and it's normal to ask questions. I don't think the problem is that DS are too hard on trainees its the fact some of them think they can get away with slick shit. Leadership is literally what gets people to either leave or stay in the military, aside from other things.

[Willie_will]

I joined the Navy right before 9-11 and bootcamp was so much fun to me. It was challenging but I had fun in basic training. I learned to not take "drill sergeant talk" to seriously and just keep pushing forward.

[jamesnieves]

When I did American Legion Boy’s State, I had a Marines Drill Srg who pushed me to do my best but understood me at my worst. That’s a good leader.

[blobnation]

When shit hits the fan, these new recruits are gonna crumble under fire because they were not broke of that opossum reaction that comes with fear. DI’s and DS’s screaming in your face breaks that habit of freezing when stressed. I’m not even in the military and I know that these new recruits will freeze up, they will get hurt, and they will die if DI’s and DS’s keep going softer