How Army Drill Sergeants Are Trained

Before they train Army recruits at basic training, drill sergeants must graduate from the nine-week United States Army Drill Sergeant Academy. Insider spent a week at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, to see what it takes to become a drill sergeant. The Drill Sergeant Academy has adopted a new strategy where the old days of breaking down recruits with yelling and push-ups have been replaced with a more collaborative and respectful tone. Drill sergeant candidates are taught how to effectively lead recruits through physical readiness training, teach basic rifle management, and organize a culminating event that tests students on all of the skills they gained during the training.