New Sill drill sergeants talk learning the trail

By Ms. Marie Berberea (TRADOC)December 5, 2013

Training Soldiers
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Drill sergeant
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FORT SILL, Okla. -- A group of Fort Sill's newest drill sergeants in E Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery broke down what it's like to walk on the trail for the first time.

"I have more expectations than I do experience so far," said Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Matthew Kolbinski.

A few days into his new role as a drill sergeant he joined a group of trainees the week before their graduation.

"My main mission was to not step on those drill sergeants' toes. That's where the Soldiers were getting their guidance from, that's the model that they've seen for the last nine weeks."

Kolbinski along with two other newer drill sergeants said in the beginning they have to find their footing, and it helped to watch seasoned drill sergeants on the job.

"I get to learn just as much as the Soldiers get to learn. I get to be part of 260 privates' lives for nine months at a time for the next two years. I don't think there's any other leadership NCO or otherwise position that you get to do that. I'm pretty lucky to be able to say that," said Kolbinski.

"You just kind of break the ice, whether you fall down a flight of stairs -- that's what I did my first day here in front of everyone. Once you break the ice with the Soldiers and they realize their drill sergeant is a human and not a walking time bomb then they tend to react to you better so whenever you're teaching them it's easier to give a class and they adapt better," said Drill Sergeant. (Sgt.) Christian Jackson.

While all of the new drill sergeants were selected by the Army, for Jackson this was her only choice of assignment.

"This is what I joined the Army to do. I don't even know what I'm going to do after this. My dad was a drill sergeant so when I came into the Army that's all I wanted to do. Now that I am a drill sergeant I'm like my time is running short."

Different backgrounds

The new drill sergeants are like a microcosm of the Soldiers they are training. Each of their duties drastically transformed from being the Fires Center of Excellence command sergeant major's aide in Kolbinski's case, to a Sexual Harrassment/Assault Response and Prevention representative for Jackson to an infantryman for Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Bryan Dospapas.

"It's what creates the Soldier. If you have all the same people making the same Soldier you get that same product over and over. You want to have a diverse Army so you want to have a diverse set of leadership," said Kolbinski.

Training

Training to become a drill sergeant takes place at Fort Jackson, S.C. They go through a two-month course and then an orientation process here where they are certified to train on courses like Treadwell Tower.

"They teach you the rules and regulations of what you can and can't do; how to teach in a better way and how to teach civilians how to be a Soldier," said Dospapas.

"They bring you back to the roots of the Army. What you're supposed to be as far as a Soldier. Even if you're in the top 10 percent there's always room for improvement," said Kolbinski."

Shape don't snap

The drill sergeants disspelled myths that part of their coursework involved how to yell at Soldiers. On the contrary, they were given examples of different teaching styles and they said they will use trial and error to fine tune them with the trainees.

"It's an urgency thing. To help them move with a purpose. It's not like drill sergeants just jump out of the bushes and start screaming. These are young people who are coming into the Army, and they're not used to people screaming at them so their response to learning is probably not going to be the same. There are other cultures and other backgrounds that are coming in, so it's almost like a culture shock and they don't learn as well," said Jackson.

"I think there has been a change, but I don't think it's just necessarily as a drill sergeant, I think it's as the Army as a whole. We're learning how to reach people, how to actually create and mentor, construct a Soldier from a civilian. And, it's not necessarily that you have to snap them in half and rebuild them. You can take the mold that you're given and kind of reshape them 'til you get them there," said Kolbinski.

Long hours

The drill sergeants knew of the time and dedication that comes along with their new jobs on the Basic Combat Training side of post, and they said that is not an issue.

"That's not a hidden secret. Everyone's like there's long days being a drill sergeant. You're a Soldier 24/7. That's your job and there's a rewarding part about it," said Kolbinski.

"I love going to the ranges with them because the motivation seems to be higher when we're gone in the field," said Jackson.

Soldiers

Drill sergeants stand out because of their iconic hats, but they all agreed it's not their hats that truly symbolize what it means to be a drill sergeant.

"To a drill sergeant it's more how you influence younger Soldiers because you're the first impression on them when they come in the Army. So to me what you do now will build the habits they will stick with when they move out," said Dospapas.

"I can't wait to see that end product because when I got here they had a battery full of Soldiers, and I know on Day 1 that wasn't a battery full of Soldiers. I know on Day 1 that was a bunch of civilians, who really wanted to join the Army and serve their country. When I got here they were already transformed. I think that's probably the most rewarding part of being a drill sergeant, so I can't wait," said Kolbinski.