FORT EUSTIS, Va. (June 16, 2010) -- The Drill Sergeant of the Year competition has brought the Army's top drill sergeants together to contend for the active and Reserve title for decades, but this year marked the first time they would be evaluated by drill sergeant leaders.
Five drill sergeant leaders, selected by Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King, the commandant of the Drill Sergeant School, came to the Army-level competition to grade the eight competing drill sergeants on Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills.
"The [competitors] are doing a good job," said Sgt. 1st Class Darlene Sanders. "It's mentally tough, as well as physically. You can tell that the competition is doing what it's meant to do".
"There really are eight winners," said Sgt. 1st Class Racheen Douglas. "They're exhausted and nobody quit".
Drill sergeant leaders teach drill sergeants how to instruct new recruits at the Drill Sergeant School at Fort Jackson, S.C. There are currently 73 drill sergeant leaders in the Army. To become a drill sergeant leader, a noncommissioned officer must complete one year as a drill sergeant at a basic training unit, meet prerequisites, receive recommendation, and interview with the commandant of the Drill Sergeant School.
"If you're a top-notch drill sergeant, you should consider it. We need those expert drill sergeant leaders to get those NCOs ready to go and put out the best product," said Sgt. 1st Class John McHaney.
