FORT SILL, Okla. -- Drill sergeants past and present were honored on Polo Field Sept. 27 for the 50th Anniversary of the drill sergeant program.
"Today we honor you and your families for what you've done and what you will continue to do on behalf of our Army. You've developed and professionalized a fighting force rivaled by none other in history and we salute you and wish you a happy fiftieth birthday," said Col. Jose Thompson, 434th Field Artillery Brigade commander.
The anniversary commemorates what is now the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School. The program began in 1962 when then-Secretary of the Army Stephen Ailes asked for a survey of recruit training compared to the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
The findings showed the noncommissioned officers chosen for the task of training recruits were below the other three services, and their negative attitudes had a demoralizing affect on the trainees. It also had a negative impact on the NCOs who were qualified and the quality of training presented.
"In spite of having fought and decisively won numerous wars and campaigns in the first half of the 21st century the general consensus at the time was that the people the Army were selecting to train our newest Soldiers and our future ranks was doing more harm than good," said Thompson.
As a result of the Ailes Report the first U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Course, which was a pilot course, was conducted in the spring of 1964 at Fort Jackson, S.C.
"I can think of no other leader regardless of rank, position, or title who makes a greater personal and lasting impact on those they lead than a U.S. Army drill sergeant. I have yet to meet a Soldier young or old who when asked can't instantly close their eyes, picture the smiling face of their drill sergeant and remember the gentle soothing sound of their voice," said Thompson.
Former drill sergeant Clifford Sampson, who now works for Directorate of Logistics, can attest to that.
During a visit to the post commissary, a former trainee of his, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffery Powell, recognized him right away.
"He said are you drill sergeant Sampson? He said I know that voice," explained Sampson's wife, Gina.
She said Powell shook Sampson's hand and thanked him for making him the man that he is.
"Being a drill sergeant was the most rewarding job in the Army," said Sampson.
He said the transformation of his Soldiers from Day 1 until they left his care, which in 1982 was longer than it is now because it was One Station Unit Training, was worth the long hours.
Sampson no doubt left an impression on another one of his trainees, now 214th Fires Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Aaron.
Basic memories
Others reminisced on the field after the ceremony as retired Master Sgt. Dwayne Jones attended to thank his former drill sergeant John Bazor who retired in 1981.
"He was mean as a tiger. I thought his wife fed him nails and glass for breakfast. He'd stand up on that stage in the morning and you could hear a pin drop," said Jones.
Training leaders
During the ceremony all of the Soldiers in 434th FA Brigade formed along Polo Field. Many had only been in Basic Combat Training for a week.
The drill sergeants stepped out of the formations and marched to the front of the grand stand to recite the Drill Sergeants 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 standards of the U.S. Army.
"I will lead by example, never requiring a Soldier to attempt any task that I would not do myself.
"But first, last, and always, I am an American Soldier, sworn to defend the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
"I am a drill sergeant!" they shouted in unison.
"To add some perspective of the roughly 540,000 Soldiers currently on active duty today, less than two percent even make the preliminary prerequisites for consideration to enter the drill sergeant program and there's only a couple thousand of them across the Army," said Thompson. "There are fewer drill sergeants than there are colonels in our Army."
Command Sgt. Maj. Taylor Poindexter, 434th FA Brigade CSM, shared that drill sergeants don't stop leading once they take off the drill sergeant hat. He gave examples of those who led in 434th and continue to do so throughout the Army and across the United States.
"The success stories never end. The drill sergeants of this brigade have trained in excellence and created Soldiers of excellence like Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti and Sgt. Ryan Pitts," said Poindexter.
Both Soldiers are Medal of Honor recipients who went through BCT here.
Poindexter also thanked his drill sergeants who took the first steps in shaping his military career.
"I doubt they would've guessed they created a brigade sergeant major, but that's what drill sergeants do: They create leaders for the Army."
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