Drill instructor

Depending on the Army concerned, a Drill Instructor (DI), Drill Sergeant (DS), or Military Training Instructor (MTI) is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces who is either:

Related Topics:
Army - Non-commissioned officer - Armed forces

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(i) in the case of the United States, assigned the duty of initiating new recruits entering the military into the customs and practices of military life; or

Related Topics:
United States - Recruit

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(ii) in the United Kingdom and other states, assigned the duty of instructing recruits in drill only.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - States - Drill

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In the U.S., the drill instructor's responsibilities usually include instilling military discipline, improving recruits' physical fitness, and initial weapons training.

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Drill Instructors in the United States Marine Corps normally hold the rank of sergeant (E-5) through gunnery sergeant (E-7), while Drill Sergeants in the United States Army are staff sergeant (E-6) or sergeant first class (E-7). Military Training Instructors in the United States Air Force are generally staff sergeants through master sergeants. Company Commanders in the United States Coast Guard are Petty Officer Third Class (E-4) through Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). They are held responsible for the welfare, behavior and military education of the recruits assigned to them on a twenty-four-hour basis throughout the period of initial training, popularly known as boot camp.

Related Topics:
United States Marine Corps - Sergeant - Gunnery sergeant - United States Army - Staff sergeant - Sergeant first class - United States Air Force - Master sergeants - Boot camp

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In the United States Marine Corps, candidates for Drill Instructor duty are almost without exception volunteers. The tour of duty is three years. Candidates report to either Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in California, or to Parris Island, South Carolina, where they are assigned to Drill Instructor School. The school has a professional and challenging curriculum that requires students to complete every task Marine recruits are required to. Training day usually starts around 0630 (6:30 A.M.) and ends around 1730 (5:30 P.M.), with specific training evolutions and end-of-day cleanups requiring even longer days. After the completion of the day, students have to practice effective time management in studying for exams, practicing drill, rehearsing teaching drill movements verbatim, preparing uniforms, all while still making time for rest, nutrition, and hydration to ready the body for the upcoming physical training sessions. Physical training is conducted at least three times a week, with each session lasting at least two hours. In addition to warming up and stretching, students complete the "DI Playground", a circuit course that focuses on enhancing upper body strength. As a Drill Instructor is required to spend often up to 20 hours a day on his or her feet and move fast at all times, various running sessions are conducted to enhance speed and endurance. Students are led by their squad instructors in ability group runs, gradually increasing distance and speed throughout the course, track workouts, formations runs, and fartlek runs. Drill is a crucial part of Drill Instructor School currciculum. Every student is evaluated, corrected, and mentored continuously, with attention paid to even the smallest details, such as placement of a finger, angle of the sword, and positioning of the student in relation to the unit. Knowledge is constantly taught and evaluated in the forms of written exams, practical applications, and inspections. Uniforms are inspected frequently, with surprise inspections conducted randomly in addition to the scheduled inspections. A Marine Drill Instructor is expected to convey the perfect Marine image and conduct recruits should strive to emulate. Upon completion of Drill Instructor School, Drill Instructors are assigned to Recruit Training Battalions as junior members ("third hats") of usually three Drill Instructor teams. His or her job is constant corrections, keeping unremitting pressure on recruits to pay attention to details. He or she also teaches and reinforces academic knowledge to recruits. It is his or her duty to command the recruit platoon for initial drill evaluation, where in addition to the platoon receiving a score, the Drill Instructor is evaluated as well. After completing a few 13-week cycles, the Drill Instructor is moved up to the position of Experienced Drill Instructor (EDI), also called the ?heavy?. He or she teaches drill and various military skills. The next step in a Drill Instructor career is Senior Drill Instructor. He or she holds a highly coveted and respected position, which is also distinguished by wearing the black sword belt instead of the green duty belt. A Senior Drill Instructor is ultimately responsible for the training of his or her platoon and for the efficiency of his or her subordinate Drill instructors. He is considered to be that ?father figure? who takes care of recruits? problems. After completing a number of cycles, Drill Instructors are often assigned to duties outside of recruit training platoons. Such assignments are referred to as quotas, and include jobs as academic instructors, martial arts instructors, water survival instructors, warrior training instructors, or any of the number of available quotas. A successful tour on the drill field is one of the most rewarding periods of a Marine?s enlistment, and it is a significant career advancement boost. Many Drill Instructors choose to do a second tour of duty on the drill field. These volunteers still report to Drill Instructor School, but are referred to as course challengers, and are only required to complete a short refresher curriculum. Second and third tour Drill Instructors, based on rank and experience, are usually assigned as series gunnery sergeants, company first sergeants, or battalion sergeants major.

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In the U.S. Army, soldiers (of appropriate rank) may be selected or volunteer to go to Drill Sergeant School. The school is nine weeks long and consists of the exact same activities as basic training (drill and ceremony, basic rifle marksmanship, obstacle/confidence courses, field training exercises). The prospective drill sergeants are treated just like new recruits. In some cases a student may find himself being yelled at and ordered around by a soldier of lesser rank. This is quite a change from the respect normally paid to a staff sergeant or platoon sergeant.

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A U.S. Army drill sergeant's normal tour of duty is two years (with a possible one year extension), during which time he will train approximately eleven cycles of nine weeks each. The breaks between cycles are extremely short: a cycle will usually graduate on a Thursday or Friday, and new recruits will arrive the following Monday or Tuesday. Breaks between Marine Corps cycles are even shorter: after a class graduates the thirteen week cycle on Friday, a new class is picked up the following morning.

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Statistics show that most cases of trainee abuse occur in the first six months and last six months of drill sergeant duty. Drill sergeants refer to these periods as 'the red zone'.

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Because of the extremely arduous and demanding nature of this duty, drill instructor assignments are regarded as among the most prestigious carried out by enlisted military personnel. Those who become drill instructors are eligible for a variety of military awards, such as the Drill Instructor Ribbon and Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.

Related Topics:
Enlisted - Military awards - Drill Instructor Ribbon - Drill Sergeant Identification Badge

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