For the first time in more than two decades, the Army's top active-duty drill sergeant hails from Fort Benning.
SSG Michael Johnston of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment, is the 2009 winner after a weeklong competition that tested the service's best drill sergeants on warrior tasks, battle drills and their ability to instruct young Soldiers. It took place June 21-26 at Fort Monroe and Fort Eustis in Virginia.
GEN Martin E. Dempsey and CSM David Bruner of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command presented Johnston with a trophy Friday during a ceremony at Monroe's Continental Park.
"When they called my name, it didn't click right away," he said Tuesday after returning to Fort Benning. "One of my buddies had to nudge me to go up ... It still hasn't hit yet completely."
Johnston is the first active-duty recipient from Fort Benning since SSG S.P. Watkins earned the honor in 1988. SSG Joshua Marshall of the 95th Division in Oklahoma City was named this year's best reserve drill sergeant.
Drill sergeants chosen for the 2009 competition represented the five basic combat training centers and two reserve training divisions. All seven worked their way up from battalion and brigade selection boards.
"Think about what they do. They take a civilian volunteer and forge that raw material into a Soldier," Bruner said. "Each and every one of these drill sergeants has proven themselves already, just by being here."
The candidates were tested and graded on more than 60 events.
The challenge began with the Army physical fitness test and ended with a written essay and interview with TRADOC leaders. In between, the drill sergeants battled in combatives, firing-range activities, an obstacle course, land navigation and orienteering. They also were evaluated on how well they teach recruits tasks such as emergency care, how to enter and clear a room, and deal with improvised explosive devices.
There was a 3 a.m. wakeup call one day after the drill sergeants got only five hours of sleep. Throughout the week, they also walked almost everywhere they went.
"The worst part was not knowing what's next," Johnston said. "On the road marches, you never knew how long they'd last ... Except for the APFT, you had no idea who was winning throughout the competition."
Johnston, who's been a drill sergeant for about 18 months, described himself as "confident, competent, and tactically and technically proficient," and applied those same attributes to the contest.
"They're definitely the traits I live by," he said. "You have to know your job and know the Soldiers you train. Recognizing their needs is the hardest part. You have to take each one of those Soldiers and see what you need to do to build them up as a Soldier."
Johnston, who's been in the Army for more than seven years and deployed to Afghanistan twice, said his first drill sergeant and the officers, noncommissioned officers and privates he's worked with and trained laid the foundation for his military success. He credits his father, Kevin, a 23-year Navy veteran and retired master chief petty officer, for giving him the right building blocks in life.
During a 14-week training cycle, Johnston said drill sergeants might get 11 off days. He said his wife, Malinda, pushed him to study and prepare for the Drill Sergeant of the Year selection boards, which cut into time with his two daughters, ages 7 and 6.
"I just want to thank her for all the hours she's helped me," he said. "All those Sundays, it was many, many hours."
Johnston and Marshall will spend the next year as liaisons between drill sergeants and TRADOC, which oversees all Army training. They also get to plan and execute the 2010 Drill Sergeant of the Year competition.
"It's more than just a competition. Now, I have a whole new set of duties and responsibilities I've got to fulfill," Johnston said. "My focus is on preparing for the job. I hope I do as well as the previous winners ... I don't want to let anyone down."
Next month, Johnston will be reassigned to TRADOC headquarters at Fort Monroe and work directly for Bruner and the command staff. He said he views it as an invaluable opportunity.
"I want to learn as much as I can (and) ... be able to bring that back into the NCO corps," he said. "I'll be a staff sergeant working right below generals, colonels and sergeant majors. I'll be that one little guy, but have a big part to play as long as I perform my duties properly.
"Hopefully, I'll be able to relay what I've already learned as a drill sergeant in today's modern Army ... to make training better or more realistic for the Soldier."
Later this summer, Johnston will receive the Stephen Ailes Award at the Pentagon as the Army's active-duty Drill Sergeant of the Year.
After the TRADOC stint, Johnston said he plans to attend the Special Forces Selection Course at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Carroll Kim, of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command public affairs office, contributed to this report.
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