The U.S. Army Drill Sergeant molds American youth into U. S. Army Soldiers. They exemplify the Warrior Ethos, the Army Values, and serve as an example for all Soldiers to emulate.
Each Drill Sergeant coaches, counsels, and mentors hundreds, if not thousands, of Soldiers as they transform them from a civilian to a combat-ready Soldier. A Drill Sergeant's typical day begins before dawn and ends long after "lights out" for their trainees. Drill Sergeants stand as the initial impression of the Army for all recruits, and, as a result, are both feared and respected.
Drill Sergeants conduct Initial Entry Training (IET) for newly enlisted personnel, instructing and assisting with training basic Soldier and combat tasks such as physical fitness, military bearing, personal hygiene, first aid, drill and ceremonies, basic rifle marksmanship, and maintenance of assigned equipment.
Drill Sergeant duty is considered one of the most prestigious, demanding, challenging and rewarding assignments in the U.S. Army. All Drill Sergeants are selected by the Department of the Army and are required to complete the highly challenging Drill Sergeant Course administered at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy located at Fort Jackson. Upon successful completion of this training, the new Drill Sergeant is presented the iconic Drill Sergeant headgear before assuming his/her duties as the premier trainers for the world's greatest Army. Drill Sergeants will impact all new recruits for the rest of their lives. No Soldier forgets his/her Drill Sergeant!
For more information on U. S. Army Drill Sergrants, go to the United States Army Drill Sergeant Association website.
U.S. Army 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’s 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
Training for American Soldiers goes back to the militia companies were formed with the first English settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and the first militia regiments were organized by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636. The famous Minutemen of Lexington and Concord also underwent regular drill training.
Formalized US Army basic training can be credited to Baron Von Steuben at Valley Forge in 1778. Joining an army on the verge of dissolution, he set out to create an improved command structure, develop a training manual and begin a regular raining program. Starting from scratch, he taught basic arms drill and formation movements.
He also trained the Soldiers, who greatly lacked proper clothing, in full military dress uniform, swearing and yelling at them up and down in German and French. When that was no longer successful, he recruited his French-speaking aide to curse at them in English for him. His instructions and methods have a familiar ring, as much of what is done today in BCT stems from his teachings, Von Steuben's book of traning regulations, known as the "Blue Book" was used by the U.S. Army until 1814.