2012 Drill Sergeant of the Year competitors complete day one

By Stephanie Slater, TRADOCJune 26, 2012

Drill Sergeant Ruiz directs a counter column drill movement in annual DSOY competition
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Four Soldiers perform a "Counter Column" drill movement at the direction of Staff Sgt. Cesar Ruiz, from Fort Benning, Ga., June 25, 2012, during the annual Drill Sergeant of the Year competition held at Fort Eustis, Va. During the week-long competiti... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Drill Sergeant McQuiston directs a combatives moving at DSOY competition
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Adam McQuiston, from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., directs two Soldiers on the proper way to perform a combatives move, June 25, 2012, during the annual Drill Sergeant of the Year competition hosted by Initial Military Training, U.S. Army Tr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Drill Sergeant Disla offers encouragement to Soldier at DSOY competition
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Danneit Disla, with the 98th Reserve Division, offers encouragement to a role-playing Soldier he suspects is suicidal, June 25, 2012, during the 2012 Drill Sergeant of the Year competition at Fort Eustis, Va. During the week-long competiti... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Drill Sergeant Moss demonstrates order arms at DSOY competition
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Jarod Moss, with the 95th Reserve Division, shows Pvt. Willie Sutton how to order arms, June 25, 2012, during the annual Drill Sergeant of the Year competition held at Fort Eustis, Va. During the week-long competition hosted by Initial Mil... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Drill Sergeant Heilman leads drill and ceremony movements at DSOY competition
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Heilman, from Fort Jackson, S.C., leads Soldiers through a series of drill and ceremony movements, June 25, 2012, during the annual Drill Sergeant of the Year competition held at Fort Eustis, Va. During the week-long competition ho... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Drill Sergeant Marquez conducts a uniform inspection at DSOY competition
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Victor Marquez-Rodriguez Sr., from Fort Sill, Okla., conducts a uniform inspection, June 25, 2012, during the annual Drill Sergeant of the Year competition held at Fort Eustis, Va. During the week-long competition hosted by Initial Militar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT EUSTIS, Va. (June 25, 2012) -- Six of the U.S. Army's best drill sergeants began vying for the title of 2012 Army Drill Sergeant of the Year, today at Fort Eustis, Va.

Four competitors from the active component and two competitors from the reserve component will endure physical and mental challenges during the four-day competition, which tests their knowledge of Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills and their ability to teach these tasks to new Soldiers.

The competition is hosted by Initial Military Training, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

On their first day, the drill sergeants were first assessed on their ability to demonstrate and instruct urban orienteering, such as clinches in combatives and correct actions to take in response to a role-playing Soldier suspected as suicidal. A second round of assessments included tests on drill and ceremony movements and providing care under fire.

The active and reserve Drill Sergeants of the Year will be announced during a ceremony June 29.

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