COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three Ohio Army National Guard Soldiers recently became the organization’s first to attend drill sergeant training at Fort Jackson, S.C. Staff Sgts. Paul Browder, Michael Healey and Adrienne Corna successfully completed the nine-week course earlier this year.
In 2006, drill sergeant positions were authorized within the National Guard, with the intent that drill sergeants would have a positive impact on participants in National Guard programs including the Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP). All three newly qualified drill instructors are members of the OHARNG Recruiting and Retention Battalion, and were sent to the school to learn how to instruct new enlistees into Ohio’s RSP. These drill sergeants should provide the OHARNG’s newest Warriors with a smoother integration into Basic Combat Training (BCT).
The U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School is designed to place candidates in the instructor’s seat, allowing them to learn by teaching, in both classroom and hands-on environments. Candidates learn how to instruct physical fitness, drill and ceremony, combatives and weapons marksmanship basics, and are also taught how to operate a weapons range. Candidates also spend several days in a field environment, teaching and applying all sections of Warrior tasks and battle drills — including land navigation, buddy movement drills, roaming guard and live-fire movements — all of which Ohio’s three drill sergeants have taken back to the Recruit Sustainment Program for implementation.
Once all course evaluations have been completed successfully, candidates earn the drill sergeant badge and the intimidating “brown round” drill sergeant hat. These Soldiers are now recognized as subject matter experts of Basic Combat Training. |
