U.S. Army Drill Sergeant (DS) Program Overview

Army Drill Sergeant Program Summary (AR 614-200)
DSs are the primary representatives of the Army during the formative weeks of an enlistee’s training; therefore, only the most professionally qualified soldiers will be assigned to DS duty.

Soldiers may volunteer or be involuntarily selected for DS duty. DSs are authorized only for the specific purpose of training:

• Receptees in reception stations.
• Soldiers undergoing initial entry training.
• DS candidates at DS schools.
• Soldiers undergoing English as a second language training at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center (DLIELC), Lackland AFB, TX, or the Puerto Rico Army National Guard Language Center, Puerto Rico.
• Soldiers undergoing physical readiness training at authorized fitness training units.

AA and USAR/ARNGUS soldiers from all career fields will be considered for selection and assignment into the program.

On declaration of general war or full mobilization, provisions of this section remain unchanged. e. During the initial orientation at the Drill Sergeant School, drill sergeant candidates will be asked to fill out the Background Screening Assignment Eligibility Questionnaire indicating whether they have been arrested, apprehended, or investigated for any Type I or Type II Report of Unfavorable Information within the previous 12 months. Forms will be forwarded to PERSCOM (TAPC-EPC-S, ATTN: EBSS).

If a soldier indicates possible misconduct that could be a disqualifier from DS duty, PERSCOM will make the final determination and notify the DS school if the soldier will be removed from the school.

Upon successful completion of DS school, soldiers will be awarded SQI “X,” a DS identification badge per AR 600–8–22, Be eligible for SDAP,and incur a 24–month obligation for DS duty.

Soldiers must take appropriate action to meet the length of service requirement prior to attending school. (See AR 140–111, AR 601–280, and NGR (AR) 600–200.) AA drill sergeants will be stabilized for 24 months with an option to extend, on a one-time basis, for an additional 6 to 12 months. The stabilized tour will begin the month the soldier reports to the DS position and will terminate the last calendar day of the same month, two years later. Normally, the DS tour will not exceed 36 months. AA soldiers will normally serve only one tour as a DS

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to enter the Drill Sergeant (DS) Program, all noncommissioned officers (NCOs) must meet the prerequisites outlined in AR 614-200, Enlisted Assignment and Utilization Management, Chapter 8, section 8-15.

Additional Drill Sergeant candidate prerequisites:

• Be physically fit (maximum profile guide is 111221), meet body composition requirements in AR 600–9, and be able to pass the APFT (no substitution of events) upon arrival at DS school.
• Be 36 years old or less. However, volunteers may be 37 years old or older provided they have the appropriate medical clearance (see AR 40–501) at the time of request. Medical clearance should state that soldier is medically cleared for DS duty.
• Have no record of emotional instability as determined by screening of health records and clinical evaluation by competent mental health officer. (4) Have no speech impediment.
• Be a high school graduate or possess the GED equivalent.
• Be a graduate of BNCOC.
• Display good military bearing.
• Have demonstrated leadership ability during previous tours of duty and have demonstrated capability to perform in positions of increasing responsibility as Senior NCO in the Army, as reflected on the NCOERs.
• Have had no court-martial convictions.
• Have no record of disciplinary action or time lost under 10 USC 972 or letter of reprimand filed in OMPF during current enlistment or in last five years, whichever is longer (does not include Article 15 directed for filing in the restricted portion of the OMPF).
• AA soldiers may not have received EB or SRB for current service obligation if PMOS is not among those authorized for DS positions.
• Have a minimum GT score of 100.
• Have qualified with M16A2 rifle within last six months.
• Be SSG through SFC (not applicable to USAR/ARNGUS soldiers) (not applicable to DS school first sergeant positions).
• Have a minimum of four years continuous active Federal service.
• Have a commander’s evaluation by a LTC or higher.
  • A Commander’s Evaluation Form and a DA Form 3822 will be forwarded to the commander (LTC or higher) of DA selected soldiers. These forms must be completed and returned within 14 calendar days to PERSCOM DS Assignment Team (TAPC-EPK-ID).
  • All DS volunteers must request and return a completed copy of the Commander’s Evaluation Form and a DA Form 3822–R with their application. These forms may be obtained from PERSCOM DS Assignment Team (TAPCEPK- ID).
  • Commander (LTC or higher) will personally interview the soldier (this may not be delegated) and ensure soldier meets prerequisites. Commanders will consider the “whole soldier” when making their recommendation. Input should include, but is not limited to, demonstrated leadership ability and potential; physical fitness; character/integrity; the soldier’s ability to perform in stressful situations; any incidents of abuse that the chain of command is aware of. All negative evaluations must include a full explanation.
• Have a thorough background screening conducted by PERSCOM. Soldiers with Type I reports of unfavorable information disqualifiers will be excluded from DS duty permanently. Soldiers with Type II reports of unfavorable information disqualifiers will be excluded for consideration for DS duty for five years from the date of the incident.
• Type I reports of unfavorable information disqualifiers (automatic rejection):
  • Sexual harassment; assault of a subordinate, spouse, child; rape; or indecent acts with minors.
  • Incest, bestiality, adultery, sexual activity with subordinate soldiers, or fraternization.
  • Conduct in violation of the Army’s policy on participation in extremist organizations or activities.
  • Any court-martial conviction in the soldier’s career, provided it has not been reversed by a higher court or other appropriate authority.
  • Any repeat offenders (or combination) of Type II offenses
• Type II reports of unfavorable information disqualifiers (time related—any record of unfavorable information below committed within five years of DS consideration):
  • Driving under the influence (DUI).
  • Assault (other than subordinate, spouse, or child).
  • Any drug offense.
  • Larceny/theft.
• A traffic violation with six points or more assessed. Other disqualifiers—Any record of unfavorable information other than the above in the past three years.
• PERSCOM will screen/coordinate the following records for all potential DS candidates based on criteria listed above:
  • Department of the Army Inspector General’s (DAIG) records.
  • Personnel security and criminal records indexed in the Defense Clearance Investigations Index (CDII) as present in the Army Investigative Records Repository (AIRR), Army Crime Records Center (ACRC), the Defense Security Service (DSS), and other Federal agencies and military departments—Central Clearance Facility (CCF).
  • OMPF restricted files—Enlisted Records and Evaluation Center (EREC).
  • Community and Family Support Center (family advocacy) records.