As a current DS at Ft Benning, I can say that Soldiers in todays Army still have a decent amount of stress brought on them. For some reason the COC up to post level believe that foul language is unexceptable and unprofessional. However DS's are selected from the top 8% of NCO's in the line army we should not have a problem adapting to anything while still getting the job done. After voicing our opinions we support the COC and adapt this is a basic NCO skill. A Drill Sergeant can be relieved as a Drill for using foul language. I personally have never seen this but the threat has been put out there by higher. Does this hinder our effectivness as leaders. I don't believe so. Some CSM's, and BC's do not allow their DS's to "smoke" soldiers for corrective training, and prefer them to take a paper work approach to dealing with undisiplined Soldiers.
My CSM and BC support the DS and let us do what we do. The three cardinal rules are don't touch a PVT, don't touch his money, and don't curse directly at a PVT. Not to restricting. You just have to be creative. The attrition rate I can tell you is closely monitered by BDE level and higher. My CO told us that he would not except any more than 12% attrition. Obviously from higher because his first cycle we canned about 15% of our company. So we have to be a little more selective with who we put out.
In my experience NO ONE fails basic training for failing events. They fail for displinary issues, tiny heart syndrome, I miss my girlfriend, fiance, wife etc, etc...and injuries. If they fail something we will retest them over and over untill they pass. There are to many disiplinary and injury chapters to put out willing able bodies and still meet the 12% goal. The soldiers of today do not face the physically tough training I and many of you went through many years ago. (only ten years for me) Now they have to prove their mettle by learning 39 tasks and 9 battle drills comprising of over 200 sub tasks. so they are definately smarter if not harder when they leave. The best logic I've heard on this was from MG Wodjakowski. He said "Todays soldiers come to us more intelligent than ever before. They have spent their life playing video games where as we played outside. Their parents have never told them NO and meant it. they will read any book you give them to try and get and edge. You have to figure out how to relate to that" (Paraphrased of course.) By in large this has been a rewarding assigment. I was an 18X and ranger contract platoon DS so my soldiers tended to be more motivated than the rest of the company
My Senior DS is an 18E from 5th Group best leader I've ever worked for. Guess I was lucky in that aspect. Since I was selected class 05-07 I will be leaving as soon as I'm off the trail for the Q-course and will be working hand and hand with guys I personally put through basic training. I'm looking foward to it. I feel they were trained well and taught not to quit under any circumstances. I knew I was going to selection when I came down on DS orders so I took the training of my soldiers at the OSUT level very seriously. I keep tabs on them through my prior service 18X's and their survival rate is at about 85%. It all comes down to pride in your job.
Just a little on the ground insight. Mailed Foot.
Cobra 22
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