FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Let me start out by stating how proud I am that Fort Jackson last week had the opportunity to host the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant of the Year competition.
This marked the first time that the event was held here; and rightfully so, considering that Fort Jackson is the home of the drill sergeant in that drill sergeant training is located here.
Of all the competitions that the Army schedules each year, Drill Sergeant of the Year is one of the most grueling. It’s a four-day grind and gut-check that tests the mettle of the best-of-the-best NCOs that our Army has to showcase. No flash-in-the-pan or one-trick-pony NCO is going to walk away with this title, rest assured.
Staff Sgt. John Heslin of Fort Benning, Ga., was awarded the active duty title, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Palmer with North Carolina’s 3rd Battalion, 518th Regiment, took home the Reserve title.
Even so, I would be remiss if I did not mention the great effort put forth by Fort Jackson’s competitor, Staff Sgt. Samantha Goscinski, with Company E, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment.
As you know, drill sergeants are a very prestigious group. They are a special breed of NCOs who have been entrusted with the critical mission of training more than 90,000 Soldiers each year. They turn civilians into Soldiers, which in my book, is the most important thing that we do.
Drill sergeants come from virtually all parts of the Army. Currently, there are roughly 2,300 drill sergeants in the Army’s active component and 3,000 in our Reserve component. In addition to being located here on Fort Jackson, active duty drill sergeants can be found at three other TRADOC installations: Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Sill, Okla.; and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Drill sergeants personify what we are all about here. They set the tone in training by personally demonstrating their own strength, stamina, determination and resilience in all that they teach. Their days are long, their weekends short " and almost non-existent. Their requirements are rigid and demanding. They know all this, accept it and actually feed off it. They realize that the lives and welfare of young Soldiers, as well as the success of the mission, hinge heavily on how well they execute.
Those are just of the first thoughts that come to my mind when I think of these distinguished NCOs. It’s no wonder that these men and women take such pride in competitions such as Drill Sergeant of the Year.
During last week’s competition, the candidates were tested on their knowledge of Soldier tasks and how they teach those tasks to new trainees, and Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills that all Soldiers must master. They were also graded on the newly proposed Army Physical Readiness Test and Army Combat Readiness Test that will test each candidate’s level of physical fitness.
The selection process culminated with each candidate appearing before a board of command sergeants major to answer questions on leadership and training.
It takes a tremendous amount of stamina and determination to prevail in a competition such as this. But for drill sergeants, it’s all part of their makeup. In essence, it’s all in a day’s work.
They demand the most and the best from the Soldier-in-training, so it is only natural that they demand the most and the best from themselves. In an Army that is constantly evolving, the challenges that our drill sergeants face continue to increase. Whether they are instructing warrior tasks and battle drills, basic rifle marksmanship, or first aid, all of our drill sergeants are called upon to master these subject areas and the combat importance of each.
Again, congratulations to all the competitors.
Army Strong and Victory Starts Here!
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