Michael Tuttle, graduated from the school in 2009, and attended his son's graduation on Fort Jacks... VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Sgt. Jesse Tuttle, Company B, 1-330th Infantry Regiment, graduated from the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School last week. His father, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Tuttle, was in the audience and no stranger to the grounds. Now assigned to Company C, 1-330th Infantry Regiment, the elder Tuttle graduated from the school in 2009. Both men are Army Reservists who reside in Fort Wayne, Ind.
"I was very proud," Michael said. "It was an excellent experience. Going through it yourself is a little bit different than watching your son or daughter go through it. A lot of pride instilled,
knowing what they went through, what you went through and knowing they went through the exact same thing at the exact same place."
Jesse said growing up in a military family helped prepare him for the life when he enlisted.
"Some people get there, and it's a whole other world for them," he said. "I felt like that was the lifestyle I grew up with, and it's suited for how the military does things. There was still a lot to learn, but the basic outline was there, which made it easier for me. Some people talk about getting 'culture shock' because it's so different."
Michael has been in the Army for 13 years and decided to pursue the job of a drill sergeant when joining the Reserves. His son sought out the same career path.
"The biggest challenge was just always being prepared," Jesse said of the Drill Sergeant School.
"You always had to be prepared. I've never been to a school, either civilian or military, with so many tests. This school is really great about showing you what you needed to learn and then testing you."
His advice for Soldiers walking through the doors of the school is simple: "Be prepared to adapt to change and be ready to learn."
"You're going to be training the sons and daughters or people who don't have military backgrounds, in a lot of cases," Michael said. "Basic training is their first view of a military life. You've got to mold them into Soldiers who are going to go out and fight for their country."
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