Reserve Drill Sergeants Sharpen Skills by Training VMI Cadets

Capt. Michael J. Gilkerson, Commander, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 317th Regiment, 2nd Brigade

Drill sergeants from Alpha and Bravo companies of the 2nd Battalion, 317th Regiment of the 104th Training Division have developed a partnership with the leadership, cadre, and cadets of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virgina. The drill sergeants provided training, mentorship, and correction for 200300 VMI cadets during their spring and fall field training exercises.

VMI was founded in 1839 as the Nation’s first state military college. It grants degrees in 14 disciplines including engineering, science, and the liberal arts, and requires all cadets to participate in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Each field training exercise begins at the VMI Parade Field, where Bravo Company drill sergeants meet the participating cadets for a ruck march out to the training area. The route is approximately 3.5 miles long and culminates in a nice long hill enroute to the training area. Here the cadets and drill sergeants will bivouac and conduct several days of training.

The fall field training exercise takes place shortly after the first years, or MS1s, arrive at VMI. This

DS Stephanie Peterson providing face-to-face instruction. DSs McClintic and Jansen in instructor mode

is a great introduction to Army field training. Bravo Company’s drill sergeants will mentor the fourthyear cadets, or MS4s, so they gain the experience necessary to train and lead the MS1s and MS2s before they are commissioned at the end of spring semester. The drill sergeants use the time-tested “crawl, walk, run” method of teaching to put the MS4s on the path to successful leadership in a field environment.

VMI Cadets learning how to pull security and do medevac procedures

The fall and spring VMI field training exercises not only prepare the cadets for Cadet Summer Training, but also benefit the drill sergeants and drill sergeant candidates. The candidates get to see how it all works and are expected to follow the direction of the drill sergeants as they engage with cadets. This experience sets the tone and standards expected of our candidates and provides motivation to attend the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy to earn the coveted drill sergeant campaign cover and badge.

The process at VMI also builds esprit de corps across the 2-317th because all the companies have the opportunity to fill in and participate as well. This ensures that the battalion has cohesion when we come together during our summer mission at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The field training exercises also give the drill sergeants several opportunities to keep their skills sharp, so they hit the ground running during CST. If the 2-317th drill sergeants only worked with ROTC programs during CST, they would miss out on a fantastic winwin opportunity to increase their skill sets and time in front of cadets.