A spot in Drill Sergeant School. It's one of the highest honors the U.S. Army can bestow a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). Only the most qualified NCOs are chosen to attend Drill Sergeant School, where they are trained to fulfill a role of utmost importance—the role of a Drill Sergeant. After all, Drill Sergeants teach new recruits every aspect of Basic Combat Training—which means they have the great responsibility of shaping recruits into the best Soldiers in the world.

NCOs who attend Drill Sergeant School are called Drill Sergeant Candidates. Their training is strenuous. The School's curriculum mimics Basic Combat Training, week for week, because Candidates must be experts in all facets of BCT to begin training recruits. They receive top-notch training from their Drill Sergeant Instructors because they'll soon be expected to deliver great training.

For many Candidates, becoming a Drill Sergeant is a "military dream." It means they have proven themselves again and again—so much so that they're entrusted with training new recruits. They know that when they receive their Drill Sergeant hat, they'll have the ultimate job—being a role model—and they take it very seriously.

Earning the Drill Sergeant's hat is not easy. When NCOs are tapped to attend Drill Sergeant School, they know they'll have to be able to teach new recruits the proper way to do absolutely everything in the Army—from making a bed, to wearing a uniform, to firing a rifle. They will have to become the best, because U.S. Army recruits deserve to learn from the best. In the end, Drill Sergeants are instantly recognizable. Not only because of their unique hat, but also because of the way they speak with authority and carry themselves with utmost pride.

Training at this school is not MOS dependent. You can volunteer or be selected for Drill Sergeant School—only the most qualified from this group are chosen.

There are no related civilian jobs with this type of training, but you will gain confidence, leadership skills and a sense of pride.