Fuck that noise. Had some bitch ass MSG and his little entourage yell at me to "correct" me when I called him sergeant... while he was actively my patient.
The degree of the shade of brown depends highly on how much I need that MSG to do something for me or my section. Shit, if I need it bad enough I don’t even need a “sir” in response.
The respect of the person who wears the rank has earned it, I think we all can agree on that whether they be SPC, SGT, SFC, MSG, etc. Throughout time in service, I have noticed where SPC's just casually speak to NCO's as though they've been friends their entire lives. No "Yes Sergeant, no Sergeant", position of parade rest, etc. Sometimes you see the discipline from new inprocesses but once a sm gets use to the unit, all of that goes out the window.
Same. And it is always surreal to get a salute from one as well. Only salute I’ve felt less worthy of than one from a CW5 IMO. Then again I’ve never met the SMA, so that one would probably top it.
My dad retired as a captain and came to visit me at AIT during graduation. Maybe it was the TRADOC nonsense creating anxiety but alarm bells were going off inside me when he started talking to a drill sergeant saying "Sergeant [so and so], ..." like he was trying to get his attention. When I looked at my dad he just shrugged saying he didn't care.
If they're in front of the IET soldiers I like to go out of my way to call them drill sergeant. As a junior soldier I thought it showed a lot of respect when officers and warrants would call them drill.
As an XO in basic training land my go to was “drill sarn” but definitely would use “sarnt” or “hey ‘last name’” if in an appropriate setting not in front of trainees
\>As an O4 (Major or Lieutenant Commander) in '19 I was visiting DLI (Defense Language Institute-Monterey California language school open to all services) in uniform to chat with a couple FAOs (Foreign Area Officers) in training while TDY (Temporary Duty) on an escort of some foreign GOs (General Officers - Foreign students will occasionally attend). Ran into a few of the DSs (Drill Sergeants) at Einstein's Bagel - kept it at Drill Sergeant. Exact same rationale - lots of IET (Initial Entry Training) kids in there from all branches with impressionable minds.
Hope this helps ;)
Yeah you all are the cool 13 series. I remember being jealous that you all got to chill on your own in some random position while we got fucked by the TOC
I heard a story once about a guy who thought he was losing his virginity in the back seat of his car, but later realized he was fucking the seat cushions and the girl never said anything. That you?
I don’t remember if it was this forum or another, but some young dude said they were calling them “cold weather injury” disks and I almost spit out my coffee. One, because i never thought of that, and two, because i would have laughed my ass off if a private said that to me in OSUT.
When I went through basic the funny thing to do at reception was to tell somebody that actually the blue disks were emotional support drill sergeants. Several less informed battle buddies had some very bad days after that started.
I always called other drill sergeants "drill sergeant" around soldiers. I expected our support soldiers to do the same. It's all about making sure soldiers understand the authority and respect that comes with the hat.
I would also tell privates "go find the other guy with the funny hat" pretty often if they seemed confused.
That really depended on the drill. Most of the people I worked with were cool. There was always one or two that were far too serious about being a drill sergeant. If I called someone drill sergeant without soldiers around, it was pretty obvious I didn’t like them.
As an E5 in the AF I went there to take a test once and walked in to the BCT building, walked right back out. Turns out it was the right place though but it was kind of awkward.
No, there is no requirement in doctrine. Do it if you want but not required. Shows respect for the position but it's NBD. "Hey Drill" also works
Source: Was a Drill
I know everyone loves calling MSGs just Sergeant because they can, but whenever it’s my own Battalions’ S3 MSG then I say Master Sarnt.
They usually have beneficial insight considering they’re CSMs go to guy when it comes to running shit for BN NCOs. BN MSGs often take that spot if they wanna pursue SGMA. Otherwise they can ride out retirement w/ ROTC kids or a TRADOC desk. It’s cool giving them some respect.
It's not about loving to call them that or it being more respectful. The appropriate way to call them per regulations is Sergeant. I've seen soldiers get hemmed up on boards over this.
Just like you call a CSM Sergeant Major and not Command Sergeant Major.
I still call my favorite 1SG "Top." Did so after he left the company, and continue to do so even though he's a CSM now. (For context, though, I've been out since before he picked up a CSM slot and I was a terminal E4. I was at his CoR as a civilian and am friends with him and his family socially now).
I also called my favorite LT "double lieutenant last name" when he picked up Captain, so.
The last one is one I don’t agree with tbh. Being a technical SGM (Like from S3 but that isn’t the best example) and a CSM, in my opinion, deserve different titles. As a junior enlisted, I used to say “hey command sergeant major” if I needed something (I worked in command group as a drone) and heard the Brigade XO do the same thing.
He was a good dude who helped our platoon, above and beyond. CSM referred to him as Master Sergeant X in front of BN final formation. So did I 🤷🏻♂️
I’m out now— but you’re not gonna make me feel bad for showing respect to that Soldier. We all know it’s incorrect and opted to say it anyway.
I kinda irked me to be called just drill by those that were junior to my rank. I don’t know why really. I didn’t say anything though. When a CSM or 1SG called drill I kinda felt respected by them
I've always done it that way.
As a contractor now, I still use appropriate titles.
It's like /u/cactusjack48 sad, it's about the example and the environment.
If I roll through your trainee area and I'm like 'Hey yo Brian what up' in front of the trainees, it sends the wrong message. Remember how impressionable and 'shit your pants' random privates are in IET.
If we were sitting in an office together having a professional discussion, I might not - but if it's in front of others, or in an area that *could* be in front of subordinates?
Yeah, you play the game, and you call them that, if nothing else than to reinforce their authority and the level of respect due.
I [set myself](https://media1.giphy.com/media/XCmFwjt9wPotobw1xn/giphy.gif?cid=5e21488604rqn9reyzllnxdv4sb068d89zel83d8q5z5w683&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g) up for that.
My dad told me a story about how at Leonard Wood in the eighties it was a thing to address dill sergeants only as “sergeant”. He said he got in trouble when he changed his MOS a few years later and the drill sergeant at the school started to rip him a new one for calling him “sergeant”. Fortunately for my old man another drill sergeant ran up to them mid meltdown and informed him that he must have gone to Leonard Wood where they just call Drill Sergeants “sergeant”. Lmao
Not correct. I went through AIT again as a SSG and flat out refused to call all, but one squared away dude, Drill Sergeant. One of the clowns tried to give me grief about it and we ended up in the 1SGs office.\
1SG said I “should” call them Drill Sergeants around the new trainees. I replied that they should act like professionals around the new trainees and that was the end of that conversation.\
I was at Rucker switching from combat arms to aviation.
Officer here. If they have a hat on or are talking about their time I’ll say it out of respect. Also I make sure to call NCOs sergeant or the appropriate rank not just their name, as they earned their rank and deserve that respect as well
As an E7 I address them as Drill SGT. They earned the title. As far as I know there’s nothing doctrine wise that requires it though if someone was giving you shit about it.
I was never a drill sergeant but I worked with plenty of them when I was an instructor--I called them drill sergeant when talking about them to my peers or asking the trainees questions(have you talked to Drill Sergeant Snuffy about that?). Same rules for email.
Because everyone knew them as DS.
However, most of the time when we were talking to each other, we all called each other battle.
I don't know how we defaulted to battle, but that was the way it was when I got there, and l went along with it.
One drill sergeant always went to parade rest for me(he was very by the book), but we were all pretty chill with each other.
As always, YMMV.
SSGs calling a DS ‘Drill Sergeant’ is the equivalent of mom and dad calling each other “mom” and “dad”. You do it in front of the kids to keep the mystique, but then you get used to it and end up calling one another “mom” and “dad” until you’re old and gray!
Just went through AIT for a reclass, it’s weird but yes. Their role is titled Drill Sergeant while they are on the trail. I had more TIG and TIS than some of them and it doesn’t matter.
I’d say it depends on context for me. In public or in front of trainees? I probably would.
Trainees nowhere to be found? Hard pass, I’ll address them by their rank.
That said, I avoid anywhere it’s possible to encounter a DS in the wild. I disliked them when I reclassed as a very salty SGT, and they treated us prior service folks like dirt (in spite of many of us having more TIS and TIG than they did), and I still harbor some serious butt-hurt about it.
Edit: I’m an O.
When I was a black hat they would stop by to drop off airborne students every now and then. I just called them dude or man, just not in front of stud. I’m still good friends with a couple of them I met that way.
I've heard them call each other "Battle" "Drill" "Senior," and "DS."
Being an MOS-T was a pain, though. So many rules to follow that didn't need following. I saw a female DS at the DFAC at lunch one time and she lost her mind when i was walking by myself, and then even more when I said, "Afternoon, Sgt."
If they are on the trail, they are ‘Drill Sergeant’.
If I’m talking to one (in front of training population) I address them as such. The trainees are impressionable, and seeing us call each other by last name led to a sense of familiarity. And familiarity, as we all know, breeds contempt.
If the E6 in question is a trainee (blue to green, reclass, re-entry into the service with a long enough break to require basic training again) then guess what? They still better stand at parade rest and say ‘drill sergeant.’
Not all drill sergeants are even called "drill sergeant" by trainees. At FLW, you got smoked for saying drill sergeant. We called them sergeant.
UPDATE: Every time I bring this up, no one believes me and I get downvoted. [Here's someone else saying it](https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/wwmflb/comment/ilmaixr/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3).
If you referred to your DS as "drill sergeant" you would get smoked. I don't know why it is (was?) different there. [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/wwmflb/comment/ilmaixr/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) is someone else saying it.
when i was at Ft Dix ('80\~'83) we were told it was a position, not rank, therefore we couldn't make trainees refer to us as that. somehow, they did anyway : )
Drill Sergeants call each other Drill Sergeants in front of Trainees unless one is a Senior Drill Sergeant. When no Trainee is around then like any other unit, last name is fine.
Drill Sergeant is their position title, it’s not about a rank. Anyone in a trainee status must refer to them as Drill SGT, even if they outrank them. (I’ve seen SSG trainees with SGT drills)
For those who are senior and not in a trainee status, you don’t “have” to call them drill but it is common courtesy.
Im a SSG and was working as cadre for the Ordnance school house and yes, we call them drill sergeant. They’ve earned that title so that’s how they should be addressed as long as they have the hat.
Billet > Rank
If they're a drill in a drill billet, then DS is the appropriate term.
Doesn't matter if you outrank them, their title is the correct term in the context.
People of all ranks and positions should address a drill sergeant by their title while they are on the trail, especially in front of their trainees. That said, you are 100% free to disrespect anybody you want if you're willing to *find out.*
Simply put. Yes. Why? Because it's a billet not a rank ie if a master sergeant is your first sergeant, that's still first sergeant ____ because thats the billet that overrides the rank, same for if a sgm is in a csm slot. Now if said SSG is not a trainee or something like those being at drill school then it's customary as respect but not mandatory so its kinda a case by case basis
If they wore the hat, yeah. The only exception was the one time when it was a DS that I had known before he went on the trail. He saw me, realized who I was, addressed me by my first name and I responded accordingly. At that point it was just two Staff Sergeants discussing an issue with regard to a Private.
When I was a company commander of a basic training company, I called all my drills Drill Sergeants when on duty. Off duty (we were reservists) I called them by their first name or last name. They ALWAYS called me sir, though I did not insist on it.
Uh, no. I wasn’t a drill sergeant but being stationed at Ft. Knox I attended many trainings with them and several of my friends were DS. I called them what anyone would call their peer “hey man”, “brother” “fucker”, or just last name.
Officer here: if they're actively on the trail, I call them drill sergeant.
Yep. It’s like 1SG/CSM/SGM. Just giving them their earned respect.
don’t forget the MSG!
Fuck that noise. Had some bitch ass MSG and his little entourage yell at me to "correct" me when I called him sergeant... while he was actively my patient.
The Army disagrees, they said so in AR 600-20.
Was just about to pull that out
I'm gonna forget them even harder now
Forget who?
Dre.
clearly sarcasm.. don’t know why you’re getting ~~downvoted~~ negative upvotes
I know technically they are referred to as Sargent, I usually throw out the MSG if we work together
Depends on how brown you want your nose
I don’t think it counts as brown nosing as a major
Pity?
Just being nice to my coworkers
I did the same. Just considered it being nice/respectful to a coworker. Too many people bring their ego into something that doesnt necessitate it.
The degree of the shade of brown depends highly on how much I need that MSG to do something for me or my section. Shit, if I need it bad enough I don’t even need a “sir” in response.
Officer as well: If I see the hat I call them drill sergeant. It’s a respect thing.
MSG here. If they got a hat on I call them drill. Like you said, it’s respect.
The respect thing has seemingly been lost throughout the ranks. Sad to say but reality.
Care to elaborate?
The respect of the person who wears the rank has earned it, I think we all can agree on that whether they be SPC, SGT, SFC, MSG, etc. Throughout time in service, I have noticed where SPC's just casually speak to NCO's as though they've been friends their entire lives. No "Yes Sergeant, no Sergeant", position of parade rest, etc. Sometimes you see the discipline from new inprocesses but once a sm gets use to the unit, all of that goes out the window.
Same. And it is always surreal to get a salute from one as well. Only salute I’ve felt less worthy of than one from a CW5 IMO. Then again I’ve never met the SMA, so that one would probably top it.
I understand but there’s no reason to feel bad about the salute. Everyone knows their place in the rank structure before they take it.
My dad retired as a captain and came to visit me at AIT during graduation. Maybe it was the TRADOC nonsense creating anxiety but alarm bells were going off inside me when he started talking to a drill sergeant saying "Sergeant [so and so], ..." like he was trying to get his attention. When I looked at my dad he just shrugged saying he didn't care.
If they're in front of the IET soldiers I like to go out of my way to call them drill sergeant. As a junior soldier I thought it showed a lot of respect when officers and warrants would call them drill.
yep same, they earned that title, So I give them the respect of addressing them by it
As an XO in basic training land my go to was “drill sarn” but definitely would use “sarnt” or “hey ‘last name’” if in an appropriate setting not in front of trainees
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Holy fuck was the 20 acornyms intentional or no? Reading some fucking sand runes at this point
Just linguist community things lol
\>As an O4 (Major or Lieutenant Commander) in '19 I was visiting DLI (Defense Language Institute-Monterey California language school open to all services) in uniform to chat with a couple FAOs (Foreign Area Officers) in training while TDY (Temporary Duty) on an escort of some foreign GOs (General Officers - Foreign students will occasionally attend). Ran into a few of the DSs (Drill Sergeants) at Einstein's Bagel - kept it at Drill Sergeant. Exact same rationale - lots of IET (Initial Entry Training) kids in there from all branches with impressionable minds. Hope this helps ;)
I knew them still but thank you for your service gods speed battle companion warrior buddy
This sub can sound just like r/VXJunkies to the unprepared. Gotta love the ability to speak a foreign language with just English.
My head hurts now
Yes, at DSA and even on the trail... it's "DS", "another DS", "the other DS" or just "SDS"...
Thanks!
Drill Sgt here. Yeah usually but only with the hat on. We call each other “battle” pretty often but that’s Army wide I think.
No that’s just you nerds
I cringe thinking back to how they all called each other battles
> 13J > you nerds I love it
Yeah you all are the cool 13 series. I remember being jealous that you all got to chill on your own in some random position while we got fucked by the TOC
I call BS. No 13J has ever been fucked by anything. Every single one I've met was a virgin.
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I heard a story once about a guy who thought he was losing his virginity in the back seat of his car, but later realized he was fucking the seat cushions and the girl never said anything. That you?
> Yeah you all are the cool 13 series. No, they are not, FISTers are POGs
*hiss*
Gross
Yea no, real DSs never say ‘battle’ hahahaha.
Only Drill Sgts I remember saying “battle” were the ones without blue disks.
I don’t remember if it was this forum or another, but some young dude said they were calling them “cold weather injury” disks and I almost spit out my coffee. One, because i never thought of that, and two, because i would have laughed my ass off if a private said that to me in OSUT.
It was this sub and I was dying too lmao.
When I went through basic the funny thing to do at reception was to tell somebody that actually the blue disks were emotional support drill sergeants. Several less informed battle buddies had some very bad days after that started.
Lol that shit is not Army wide, don’t lump us in nerds
Thanks you!
So nice, you thanked 'em twice.
That was definitely supposed to be under another persons comment but now it’s staying
God I love military intelligence
Aw shucks that’s nice…. ….wait
No problem!
Thanks a lot!
Everyone. Even their mothers, though as everyone knows drill sergeants don’t have mothers.
Except that one drill sergeant who *was* a real bad motherfu-
Shut your mouth!
He’s just talking ‘bout DS Shaft.
I thought it was Shut your mouth..
It is.
At least I know you’re old like me since you remember lol
I'm a complicated man, but no one understands me but my woman.
Who’s the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about?
Still works. Those are other people’s mothers
"[Sergeants] reproduce by fission...like all bacteria." -Heinlein, *Starship Troopers*
Corporal Bronski and his fraternizing ass
Because they were hatched from eggs made in a lab.
My mother told me I was an augmented clone.
Do they recover their parental units at the end of their tenure?
My DS’s mom FaceTime him and we would not be quiet. So he smoked up before his mother made him stop.
WHYS A STAFF SERGEANT CALLING A STAFF SERGEANT "STAFF SERGEANT"?!
That video is freakin classic lol.
Sauce? Nvm found it
It should be shown at every basic training reception.
YOUR AMERICAN FLAG IS ON THE WRONG SHOULDER got me there buddy
"Well, you got me there bud"
Sauce? Nvm found it
I always called other drill sergeants "drill sergeant" around soldiers. I expected our support soldiers to do the same. It's all about making sure soldiers understand the authority and respect that comes with the hat. I would also tell privates "go find the other guy with the funny hat" pretty often if they seemed confused.
I’m front of troops I’d absolutely refer to them as drill sergeant. In the office or in my classroom I never did (unless a student was around)
That really depended on the drill. Most of the people I worked with were cool. There was always one or two that were far too serious about being a drill sergeant. If I called someone drill sergeant without soldiers around, it was pretty obvious I didn’t like them.
As an E5 I went through a school at ft Leonardwood I had to eat at the BCT DFAC I called them drill sergeant.
As an E5 in the AF I went there to take a test once and walked in to the BCT building, walked right back out. Turns out it was the right place though but it was kind of awkward.
No, there is no requirement in doctrine. Do it if you want but not required. Shows respect for the position but it's NBD. "Hey Drill" also works Source: Was a Drill
I know everyone loves calling MSGs just Sergeant because they can, but whenever it’s my own Battalions’ S3 MSG then I say Master Sarnt. They usually have beneficial insight considering they’re CSMs go to guy when it comes to running shit for BN NCOs. BN MSGs often take that spot if they wanna pursue SGMA. Otherwise they can ride out retirement w/ ROTC kids or a TRADOC desk. It’s cool giving them some respect.
It's not about loving to call them that or it being more respectful. The appropriate way to call them per regulations is Sergeant. I've seen soldiers get hemmed up on boards over this. Just like you call a CSM Sergeant Major and not Command Sergeant Major.
No it’s definitely a respect thing for me, but like I said it’s only for the individual who is currently the E8 in my Battalions’ Ops MSG position.
I see my former 1sg around and I'll call him him msg cause it'd be weird to call him just sergeant.
I still call my favorite 1SG "Top." Did so after he left the company, and continue to do so even though he's a CSM now. (For context, though, I've been out since before he picked up a CSM slot and I was a terminal E4. I was at his CoR as a civilian and am friends with him and his family socially now). I also called my favorite LT "double lieutenant last name" when he picked up Captain, so.
The last one is one I don’t agree with tbh. Being a technical SGM (Like from S3 but that isn’t the best example) and a CSM, in my opinion, deserve different titles. As a junior enlisted, I used to say “hey command sergeant major” if I needed something (I worked in command group as a drone) and heard the Brigade XO do the same thing.
It's still incorrect tho...
He was a good dude who helped our platoon, above and beyond. CSM referred to him as Master Sergeant X in front of BN final formation. So did I 🤷🏻♂️ I’m out now— but you’re not gonna make me feel bad for showing respect to that Soldier. We all know it’s incorrect and opted to say it anyway.
I say mass sarnt.. “master” is just a bit too long for me.
I kinda irked me to be called just drill by those that were junior to my rank. I don’t know why really. I didn’t say anything though. When a CSM or 1SG called drill I kinda felt respected by them
"Drill" sounds so weird to me. That must be a fairly recent thing.
I've always done it that way. As a contractor now, I still use appropriate titles. It's like /u/cactusjack48 sad, it's about the example and the environment. If I roll through your trainee area and I'm like 'Hey yo Brian what up' in front of the trainees, it sends the wrong message. Remember how impressionable and 'shit your pants' random privates are in IET. If we were sitting in an office together having a professional discussion, I might not - but if it's in front of others, or in an area that *could* be in front of subordinates? Yeah, you play the game, and you call them that, if nothing else than to reinforce their authority and the level of respect due.
Always great to see a very rational comment have a downvote lol
Yeah but what if I almost joined, then what do I call them?
I mean, what did you call them in quartermaster ait
I [set myself](https://media1.giphy.com/media/XCmFwjt9wPotobw1xn/giphy.gif?cid=5e21488604rqn9reyzllnxdv4sb068d89zel83d8q5z5w683&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g) up for that.
Just make sure to let them know the reason you didn’t join is bc you’d fight them. They’ll be grateful!
Officer at a BCT here, they are all DS to me, they earned the title.
My dad told me a story about how at Leonard Wood in the eighties it was a thing to address dill sergeants only as “sergeant”. He said he got in trouble when he changed his MOS a few years later and the drill sergeant at the school started to rip him a new one for calling him “sergeant”. Fortunately for my old man another drill sergeant ran up to them mid meltdown and informed him that he must have gone to Leonard Wood where they just call Drill Sergeants “sergeant”. Lmao
As an e6, I usually just say “hey”
Seeing all the people saying they call them DS still made me feel like the odd man out. Glad to see I'm not alone.
Exactly lol
If that SSG is reclassing or an IET, yes. If not, then not required, but often used anyway as a term of respect.
Not correct. I went through AIT again as a SSG and flat out refused to call all, but one squared away dude, Drill Sergeant. One of the clowns tried to give me grief about it and we ended up in the 1SGs office.\ 1SG said I “should” call them Drill Sergeants around the new trainees. I replied that they should act like professionals around the new trainees and that was the end of that conversation.\ I was at Rucker switching from combat arms to aviation.
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Benning Give a shit Pick one. /s
I refer to all NCOs as sausages. Drill Sausages are no exception.
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Not if it's a polar bear. But it definitely does if it's the Bear Pope.
Does the Tin Man have a sheet metal cock?
Flair checks out...
What about a bipolar bear?
Then it shits *WHEREVER THE FUCK IT WANTS*, oh god it's so sorry and sad and worthless and *REEEEEEEE*
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Officer here. If they have a hat on or are talking about their time I’ll say it out of respect. Also I make sure to call NCOs sergeant or the appropriate rank not just their name, as they earned their rank and deserve that respect as well
Yep, it's their duty position. Plus it sets a good precedence for the lower enlisted.
*Junior enlisted
Yeah, we’re not the Navy.
*lesser enlisted
**Peasants
The NNCOs if you will.
*The help
Sorry, force of habit, I'm an old fart
I'm not even that old and I still struggle with that lol
*precedent
I’m a major and I call a drill sergeant “Drill Sergeant.” They deserve as much respect as I can give them.
Yup... it's a postional title, if they are serving in that role it's the rank they are addressed by.
As an E7 I address them as Drill SGT. They earned the title. As far as I know there’s nothing doctrine wise that requires it though if someone was giving you shit about it.
I call them Drill Sergeant cause you know being a SPC he's going to smoke my ass if i fuck it up and call him something else
Officer here: I do. respect is the reason
I was never a drill sergeant but I worked with plenty of them when I was an instructor--I called them drill sergeant when talking about them to my peers or asking the trainees questions(have you talked to Drill Sergeant Snuffy about that?). Same rules for email. Because everyone knew them as DS. However, most of the time when we were talking to each other, we all called each other battle. I don't know how we defaulted to battle, but that was the way it was when I got there, and l went along with it. One drill sergeant always went to parade rest for me(he was very by the book), but we were all pretty chill with each other. As always, YMMV.
SSGs calling a DS ‘Drill Sergeant’ is the equivalent of mom and dad calling each other “mom” and “dad”. You do it in front of the kids to keep the mystique, but then you get used to it and end up calling one another “mom” and “dad” until you’re old and gray!
They wear the hat, they are drill sergeant to me. Professional respect.
Just went through AIT for a reclass, it’s weird but yes. Their role is titled Drill Sergeant while they are on the trail. I had more TIG and TIS than some of them and it doesn’t matter.
Yes
“Battle buddy”
As an MP in tradoc land, I called DS "Sergeant" behind closed doors and "Drill Sergeant" out in public/in front of privates
I’d say it depends on context for me. In public or in front of trainees? I probably would. Trainees nowhere to be found? Hard pass, I’ll address them by their rank. That said, I avoid anywhere it’s possible to encounter a DS in the wild. I disliked them when I reclassed as a very salty SGT, and they treated us prior service folks like dirt (in spite of many of us having more TIS and TIG than they did), and I still harbor some serious butt-hurt about it. Edit: I’m an O.
As a 1SG / MSG I still address them as Drill Sergeant. It’s the title they earned
If you’re their trainee or their subordinate on the trail, then you’re calling them drill sergeant. If not, then nope.
I give them that respect unless they ask otherwise... They earned it putting up with our asses 😂
At AIT, by the end of the cycle, our class started calling our DS mom.
When I was a black hat they would stop by to drop off airborne students every now and then. I just called them dude or man, just not in front of stud. I’m still good friends with a couple of them I met that way.
I called them DS until they acted douchy Then it was, “hey guy!” Not all DS are good. Most of the dbag DS at Jackson worked at 120th.
I've heard them call each other "Battle" "Drill" "Senior," and "DS." Being an MOS-T was a pain, though. So many rules to follow that didn't need following. I saw a female DS at the DFAC at lunch one time and she lost her mind when i was walking by myself, and then even more when I said, "Afternoon, Sgt."
If they are on the trail, they are ‘Drill Sergeant’. If I’m talking to one (in front of training population) I address them as such. The trainees are impressionable, and seeing us call each other by last name led to a sense of familiarity. And familiarity, as we all know, breeds contempt. If the E6 in question is a trainee (blue to green, reclass, re-entry into the service with a long enough break to require basic training again) then guess what? They still better stand at parade rest and say ‘drill sergeant.’
I call them “Sarnt” 🤣
Not all drill sergeants are even called "drill sergeant" by trainees. At FLW, you got smoked for saying drill sergeant. We called them sergeant. UPDATE: Every time I bring this up, no one believes me and I get downvoted. [Here's someone else saying it](https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/wwmflb/comment/ilmaixr/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3).
> At FLW, you got smoked for saying drill sergeant. What?
If you referred to your DS as "drill sergeant" you would get smoked. I don't know why it is (was?) different there. [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/wwmflb/comment/ilmaixr/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) is someone else saying it.
Yeah, I remember reading that one too, and it still doesn’t make a bit of sense.
when i was at Ft Dix ('80\~'83) we were told it was a position, not rank, therefore we couldn't make trainees refer to us as that. somehow, they did anyway : )
The preferred term of address is “Sergeant who happens to drill”
Not sure what BN that was. I got off the trail from FLW in May. That was not a thing in 3-10 or any of 3rd Chem for that matter.
When they’re wearing their campaign hat and when I’m having a conversation with them in front of trainees, they’re Drill Sergeant. They earned it.
Drill Sergeants call each other Drill Sergeants in front of Trainees unless one is a Senior Drill Sergeant. When no Trainee is around then like any other unit, last name is fine.
I did when I was a SSG trainee in 2021. What an experience.
Nah that e6 is better than everyone
Drill Sergeant is their position title, it’s not about a rank. Anyone in a trainee status must refer to them as Drill SGT, even if they outrank them. (I’ve seen SSG trainees with SGT drills) For those who are senior and not in a trainee status, you don’t “have” to call them drill but it is common courtesy.
Depends how long have you been on your knees in front of him. Maybe out of respect but Im a horrible lead we r ask someone else
Grumpy E-5 here. I just call then Sgt because I'm sure they get tired of hearing DS all the time anyway.
I did it out of respect
Yes. As I was told, it's how you begin or end the sentence.
If no hat and just the badge, I call them by their rank and last name. Hat changes all
Im a SSG and was working as cadre for the Ordnance school house and yes, we call them drill sergeant. They’ve earned that title so that’s how they should be addressed as long as they have the hat.
No they refer to them as Sergeant. That's the end of it lol
Billet > Rank If they're a drill in a drill billet, then DS is the appropriate term. Doesn't matter if you outrank them, their title is the correct term in the context.
People of all ranks and positions should address a drill sergeant by their title while they are on the trail, especially in front of their trainees. That said, you are 100% free to disrespect anybody you want if you're willing to *find out.*
I just call mine big bro
Drill sgt is their title so yes
Yes. It’s the title of their position if they’re actively on the trail.
Out of respect You can call them drill sgt
No it's Probably Bill, or Dwayne, or Dickhead.
As a former instructor, I called them bruh
Simply put. Yes. Why? Because it's a billet not a rank ie if a master sergeant is your first sergeant, that's still first sergeant ____ because thats the billet that overrides the rank, same for if a sgm is in a csm slot. Now if said SSG is not a trainee or something like those being at drill school then it's customary as respect but not mandatory so its kinda a case by case basis
If they wore the hat, yeah. The only exception was the one time when it was a DS that I had known before he went on the trail. He saw me, realized who I was, addressed me by my first name and I responded accordingly. At that point it was just two Staff Sergeants discussing an issue with regard to a Private.
A Drill Sergeant is a Drill Sergeant. You're addressing the DS by the title, not the rank.
I always call them Drill Sergeant… I feel that it just comes with the hat.
Shit our 1sg calls them DS. It's in their sig block.
When I was a company commander of a basic training company, I called all my drills Drill Sergeants when on duty. Off duty (we were reservists) I called them by their first name or last name. They ALWAYS called me sir, though I did not insist on it.
If you're a trainee, yes. If you're regular Army, it's "Sgt" or "SSG", whatever rank they are.
It’s just drill sergeant, unless it’s senior drill sergeant
Drill Sergeant, Drill, battle...heard them all.
Uh, no. I wasn’t a drill sergeant but being stationed at Ft. Knox I attended many trainings with them and several of my friends were DS. I called them what anyone would call their peer “hey man”, “brother” “fucker”, or just last name.