FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 18, 2016) -- Staff Sgt. Marlene Davis and Staff Sgt. Karen Carter made brigade history May 13 as they became the first female drill sergeants from the 198th Infantry Brigade to graduate from level one of the Marksmanship Master Trainer Course.
Davis and Carter, both drill sergeants with the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, were brought in by the 198th as they continue to improve training techniques and gain valuable marksmanship experience, which they will pass down to the Soldiers they will lead.
"This course gives you the ability to have that combat effect of lethality, that if I can see it, I can shoot it. It makes you a more competent leader, and therefore your subordinates will also be more effective on the combat field," said Staff Sgt. Sylvester Cook, senior instructor for the level one course.
The Marksmanship Masters Trainer Course trains NCOs to understand how to train marksmanship and develop primary and assistant instructors who assist the commanders in planning and implementation of their marksmanship strategy, according to the Marksmanship Master Trainer Course website.
The course was born out of a Maneuver Warfighter Conference recommendation and backed by former Maneuver Center of Excellence commanding general, Maj. Gen. Scott Miller.
The course launched Army-wide this spring and is available on the Army Training Requirements and Resources System. One of the outcomes of the course is to train NCOs as technical experts in marksmanship, according to the Marksmanship Master Trainer Course website.
Both female graduates agree that the course has done just that.
"This course has given me confidence. There's nothing like teaching back to someone how to use a weapon when you actually know about your weapon; you know about the ballistics, you know everything from when the round goes into the chamber," said Carter. "I gained confidence from this course because I can stand in front of 160 privates and I know exactly what I'm talking about, so that's what I gained from this course."
While they are the first two females from 198th Inf. Bde to graduate the course, they will likely not be the last.
Lt. Col. T.J. Siebold, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 54 Infantry, said he expects all drill sergeants to be smart, fast, lethal and precise, and the MMTC course helps NCOs become better trainers and shooters.
"Having these female drill sergeants, whose MOS's are not Infantry, go back into the force will ensure these skills they just learned are not only being taught and shared in the Army's Maneuver Force, but also happening across the entire Army Team," said Siebold.
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