With a 1918 model French 75 mm cannon as a backdrop reminding all of Fort Sill’s historic past, Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) William Tazwell IV, poses In front of McNair Hall sans mask looking toward his future in the Army. Armed with a football, Tazwell recently starred in a rivalry video that has been entered into a competition for the Army vs. Navy football game. The winning video will play on network television during the game Dec. 12, 2020, at Michie Stadium on the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

FORT SILL, Okla., Dec. 10, 2020 -- Meet Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) William Tazwell IV, the Soldier behind the Army strength message in the 434th Field Artillery Brigade’s entry into the video contest for the Army vs. Navy football game.

The winning video will play on network TV during commercial breaks for the game Dec. 12.

Tazwell, the brigade’s drill sergeant of the year, honed his skills in B Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery. He is now assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Support, 434th FA Brigade, where he oversees the drill sergeant corps.

For the brigade’s video, Tazwell is the ball carrier hustling through an obstacle course. While he looks the part of a tough, rugged football player, his gridiron experience consisted of playing one year as a high school senior. Instead of carrying the ball on offense, he pursued ball carriers as a defensive end or tackle intent to plant them into the turf.

Staff Sgt. Josh Buxton, 77th Army Band member, produced the video and was featured in the Dec. 5 Tribune. To see Tazwell in action, the video can be found on YouTube by searching 434th FA Brigade Army vs. Navy Spirit.

Tazwell is a good example of Army strength and fitness. The 31-year-old from New York City said he’s been a participant in fitness-related activities since his youth and continued weight lifting after high school.

Which segues into his Army service. Following basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Tazwell attended advanced individual training here to become a 13J Fire Control Specialist.

Tazwell was selected by his career manager for drill sergeant duty believing it to be a good opportunity for him.

“Once I started preparing and studying for the Drill Sergeant Academy I realized it’s not that hard as for the information required to be successful as a drill sergeant,” he said.

Tazwell added physical fitness is definitely a must to develop into a good drill sergeant.

“Being a drill sergeant is probably one of the most physically demanding jobs the Army can ask you to do,” he said.

To get a better understanding of why he believes that, Tazwell said for two to three years drill sergeants do everything basic trainees do. “We demonstrate every single task, every obstacle course, every ruck march, and the Army Combat Fitness Test four times a year.”

Compounding that physical exertion, Tazwell said most drill sergeants are up at least an hour before trainees get up at 5 a.m. He said that’s when most are in the gym getting their own personal workouts in.

“It’s definitely a very demanding job, but it’s a rewarding one, and one we all love to do,” he said.

Aware that the two-year stint could go an additional year, Tazwell was thoughtful of what comes next.

“You have to keep your options open. You never know where the Army is going to take you. You just have to keep your mind open and be willing to adjust,” he said.

Along with his strength and fitness, Tazwell said he’s been enrolled in college throughout his enlisted years. Already he’s made good use of his education benefits by completing a bachelor’s degree, then following that up with a master’s degree in business administration.

“If the Army is going to provide me the resources, I’m definitely going to use them,” said Tazwell.

Admitting that he has little interest in social media, Tazwell has only seen the video once when his wife, Nicole, brought it to his attention. Even so, he said  Buxton and his crew did a great job directing him through each scene, which only took about two or three takes to get right.

In a sense, Tazwell keeps doing repetitions of the things that helped make him successful. He called it a competition to be better, whether a better leader, NCO, or drill sergeant.

“I keep studying the regulations and programs of instruction so I can assist the drill sergeants and be a mentor for the new drill sergeants hitting the trail,” he said.

Tazwell will be moving on to his next assignment in about a year, again with his branch manager’s assistance. At this point that next “starring role” may come as a sergeant first class, a warrant officer, or even a commissioned officer.

“It’s best to keep your options open in the military and find what’s best for you and your family,” he said.