Drill Sergeant - The Big Picture

National Archives and Records Administration
ARC Identifier 2569851 / Local Identifier 111-TV-662
Big Picture: Drill Sergeant
Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984). This film depicts the methods used in basic combat training. It also shows the big role played by the Drill Sergeant, in the system of personalized training created by the U.S. Army.

[@Lockbar]

I had basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in 1973, at these same barracks. We had no pool table or ping pong. We were not allowed to leave the barracks to do anything for the first 4 weeks unless it was involved in training. Snuck out to the PX a couple of times to get chips ahoys and baby ruth bars. At the end of our cycle our platoon scrapped together about $60 and one of the guys went to main PX and bought our Drill Sargent SFC Garcia a nice watch that we gave him on Graduation day. He was really quite surprised and moved by our gesture. I still have some of the paper targets we used to sight in our M-16s. I never will forget those days.

[@billgoat2011]

Who gives a fuck

[@Lockbar]

BILL GOAT Is it possible you are the dumb fuck of all dumb fucks?

[@billgoat2011]

Lockbar YES I AM

[@NastyNatey]

Lockbar went through marine boot camp in 2001, MCRD san diego platoon 3035 mike. My drill instructor said he'd tell my family I was an embarrassing piece of shit on graduation day. Needless to say, when we were 'turned to' after graduation, I got my seabags and got the fuck out of there as fast as possible

[@RickNethery]

Nthrilla Semper Fi, I remember mine too. Platoon 1054 MCRD San Diago 1991

[@judgemental3069]

No ping pong or billiards but a big fist slamming down on the table during breakfast while screaming EAT UP AND GETTHEFUCKOUTA MY MESS HALL!!! 1966 Ft. Campbell

[@Rossbach2]

I had BCT at Ft. Knox in 1967 (C-9-3). At every meal, we were told, "You goddam people are eating too slow! Eat and get out! I got 3 more platoons to feed!" The food was excellent notwithstanding the mess sergeant's bad manners.

[@montiliusbeatty9831]

You had a max of 4 minutes to eat or seemed to be.

[@guiseppe46]

FT Jackson, 1965, RA! 18 year old invincible hahahaha!

[@eastcoastgrandison4855]

@@Rossbach2 😂 eat it and taste it later they used to say to us at fort sill

[@friendofcoal]

As of 2020, these trainees, which are still living this year, are in their late 70's or older. I thank all who served and are serving.

[@NgJackal1990]

Back then they didn’t have a choice.

[@pixelgamer2579]

Same barracks.

[@Black_Patriot-Veteran-1970]

@@NgJackal1990 And yet nowadays kids of the same age group whine that they even have to clean their rooms!

[@kishascape]

@@Black_Patriot-Veteran-1970 Not true. That was 10 years ago. These days kids are unparented and roam freely out of control. The room cleaning losers are now the failure overindulgent parents that sit there intoxicating themselves mindlessly and staring at a screen inside all day.

[@Black_Patriot-Veteran-1970]

@@kishascape No I said these kids nowadays whine about anything. I never said being a room cleaning "loser" made you into a stellar parent. You must be of the Gen-Z variety to leave a stupid comment like this in the first place.

[@brianp5564]

1984, Senior Drill Sergeant, Sergeant First Class Deal, Fort Benning Ga. Slender black man whose eyes never stopped moving, and whose body showed some pretty brutal wounds from Vietnam Nam. He never appeared to sweat, he just became more violent, appearing to dare his body to sweat. After the first month, fear of him brutalizing us for mistakes was replaced by a worse fear, that of letting him down. A great man who I will always remember.

[@waydevarney9637]

I was there in 84!! E-8-2!!

[@deborahchesser7375]

@@waydevarney9637 funny how we went from fearing to respecting and even liking our drill Sgt’s we didn’t want to let our senior drill instructor down either 👍🇺🇸

[@aesonmoritz2100]

This is a Army information & orientation film for NCOs that were being assigned to Drill Sergeant Duty. A key point this film doesn't point out is that The U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Program was modeled after the U.S. Marine Corps Drill Instructor School. The very first Army Drill Sergeant Instructors in the Army were trained at Parris Island USMC. After training they developed the training curriculum for the Army Drill Sergeant School now known as The U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy. This is a great example of the services working together. One team one fight.

[@kishascape]

One Box of Crayons.

[@buckmerdoc8860]

Thank you for pointing this out.

[@aesonmoritz2100]

@@kishascape 🤣🤣🤣

[@wilhard45]

So true. There were soldiers at MCRD San Diego undergoing training in the early 1960's. We got a real kick out of seeing soldiers learning from Marines on how to be a soldier. Here we are 50 years later and the Army still uses what they learned from Marines.

[@Blap552]

@@wilhard45 That is Encouraging to know actually! From an Army soldier!🙂👍

[@AmericanMan556]

This is the most family friendly depiction of basic training I’ve ever seen

[@UnicornstalkRGaming]

No shark attacks on film yet for sure

[@BlueEuph]

The shark attacks back then were probably brutal 😅

[@paulnunya9355]

Yeah, the shark attacks were crazy. It would take us an hour to walk a block because we constantly had to half left and do push ups because of one guy getting out of step.

[@rujackswing618]

Yeah.!!! Army seems more Supportive... But I had a train hopping / karate buddy who got Jack Up by the Big A. At 17, leading My Boot Camp PLT, in a run. In PT gear, a Lie-U-tenant came running beside me Screaming, I was trying to Out Run Him. Psychotic Narcissistic Totalitarian Dictators are everywhere. I'm a hard worker, & wherever I go Folks want to Pimp me..!!! Love Self, Protect Life, Cultivate Beauty, Peace.!!!

[@Gfysimpletons]

It’s the ARMY……one step above Girl Scouts! 😂😂

[@enlightenedwarrior7119]

I paid 10 dollars for a cigarette in basic and smoked it in the head while on fire watch best Marlboro I ever had

[@jamespatterson3153]

That opening scene, marching to or from the rifle range, was filmed in 1965. Part of that formation was my basic company and if you look real close you will see that some platoons were wearing ear plugs and some were not, all depending on the Platoon Sergeant. (My platoon did not wear hearing protection) After basic I was waiting on AIT orders, lots of kp and a few days as an extra in this film. Mid film, the famous pool table, I was sitting next to the pool table. That was in late June 1965. There was no leisure time during basic. Much of the filmed scenes that I was in got cut. Good few days of sitting around smoking and shooting the bull. And those new barracks were a quantum improvement over the WW II shacks at Ft. Leonard Wood. James C. Patterson

[@cartesian_doubt6230]

I was in Basic at Leonard Wood in 2003. Some of those WW2 shacks still existed then. Not sure about now though.

[@deborahchesser7375]

Sure made you appreciate a cold bottle of pop and a candy bar maybe some music, I know it did me.

[@deborahchesser7375]

To be honest, every kid fresh out of high school should have to complete basic training, not drafted or forced to enlist, just a few weeks of common sense training, it would do everybody a world of good later.

[@scottward49]

I did basic @ Ft Leonard Wood in 91 Jan. We stayed in the WWII era barracks in reception for about 2 weeks.

[@terminalblue]

What?! Can you speak up please?

[@jackfrost2288]

I was Army 1966 thru 1969. My Sergeants, were very tough, but very fair. I respect all of them.

[@Gypsy839]

Thank you for your service Jack Frost!

[@gleebgoob]

Thank you for your service.

[@anibalcesarnishizk2205]

What was your division?.

[@JScottCee]

Did you go to Nam?

[@blingbling574]

Best formal education ever. Basic, Infantry, machine gun and drivers training in twelve months. It was intense and I was pushed to a mental and physical level well beyond normal levels and I got paid and served my country!

[@Gypsy839]

Thank you!

[@notamoonraker]

12 months / 1 year? That's helluva a long time.

[@leoocta6510]

👍👊🤜🤛👆🇺🇸

[@notamoonraker]

That's good. 12 months of training in military. Camaraderie and sense of "watching each other's back". In civilian life, they give you no training and blame you instead.

[@budmeister]

Thank you to all my Drill Sergeants for making me the 25U Soldier that I became. I loved every moment of my job, even the worst parts.

[@erin19030]

What makes you think you were all that hot?

[@TheJoey1s]

@@erin19030 Maybe personally for him he became a better person after becoming a soldier. No need to be cynical.

[@gleebgoob]

@@erin19030 what makes you so unthoughtful?

[@phinehasjacob9122]

@@erin19030 why are you being a dick?

[@dudemusstinkmeyer9843]

@@erin19030 what made u such a douchebag. U know what made him so hot, giving up years of his personal freedom and life to help protect this country, no matter how much the government sucks, and the freedoms we enjoy. Ever since the last draft came and went they are all volunteers now, and I'm thankful

[@plumerjr]

Looked like summer camp compared to my basic at Fort Sill in 85. I guess they didn't want to scare recruits away,lol. Still interesting and fun to watch.

[@plumerjr]

Someone crap in your corn flakes this morning?

[@plumerjr]

Mike B I merely commenting on the dramatization of it. I’m sure it was much harder than depicted by the video. I have nothing but respect and admiration for those veterans.

[@GMATveteran]

Hahahaha... these are the most mellow drill sergeants I've ever seen... :-D & I didn't know basic training soldiers had time to play pool, ping pong, pinball machines, & visit the pool with hot girls back then.

[@raphmaster23]

And they say we had it easier in the 2000s 🤣

[@anthonywalden3029]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@gurrando3a6]

Awesome. I took Basic at Ft Leonard Wood from Sept through Nov in D-5-3 then AIT at Benning from Nov until Jan 1961 then on to Berlin from Feb 1961 until Aug 1963. Discharged Sept 3,1963 at Ft Hamilton NY. I have regretted my decision to leave the Army several times. My wife did not want to be an Army wife but I think she may have wished she had changed her mind after attending several Berlin reunions and seeing how close the Army members are.I lost her last Nov and our final resting place will be among veterans who are family.

[@deanlockamy2087]

when i got to boot camp and saw the soldiers that had been there a little bit and how good they looked marching in step and sounding off I was thinking we're going to look like that in a few weeks.. drills used to tell us dont look at them you haven't earned it. it was great.

[@SRR1213]

Wow... I stayed in the same barracks back in 2009, right before they demolished them. It's crazy how old those things were, and how nice they look from the outside in this video.

[@guyazbell8169]

SRR1213 they tore the brick barracks down or the ww2 barracks?

[@anonymousm9113]

The Drill Sergeant...a unique and challenging role that's essential to the Army. Many things have changed since this was filmed, for better or worse. The six Drill Sergeant Schools (DSS) are gone, replaced by the Drill Sergeant Academy at Fort Jackson, SC. The last Fort Benning DSS class was going through when I was at BNCOC in 2007. I graduated from the Academy in 2016. Not all Drill Sergeants deserve the assignment, and many that are selected fight it. Active, Reserve, and National Guard all go through the Academy, and range from Sergeant to Sergeant First Class with as little as five years in grade. I was a Staff Sergeant with 14 years in when I reported to Sand Hill, but one of my coworkers had less than six years in. He was a lot less mature and experienced than most of us, and it showed in his interactions with Trainees. In Infantry training units we have mostly 11-series Infantry Drill Sergeants, but there are some 18-series Special Forces and even 37F Psyop NCOs. When I left the Trail we had three 11B E7s, a 37F E7, 18C E7, and six 11B E6s. Twelve Drill Sergeants (three per platoon) is an ideal. We usually had 9-10. The Senior Drill Sergeant should ideally be more hands-off, doing admin stuff like paperwork and counseling, but in reality all Drill Sergeants end up in front of the Trainees. As a Private, my Senior Drill Sergeant was a scary Sergeant First Class that we didn't want to see. As a Senior Drill Sergeant myself, I got a lot more face time than I wanted. Training stays the same even while it changes. Bayonet training is long gone, though the Platoon competitions remain. Over all I enjoyed my two years at Benning. In a sense it was the last time I got to feel like an Infantry NCO. Afterward I moved to desk jobs at two-star headquarters and never had anywhere near that level of influence on junior Soldiers again.

[@FriendlyMxdder]

This is the America I wish I grew up in.

[@thejmc4074]

You and I both

[@papi-champoo6033]

Ehhh, not so much.

[@cavscout62]

Man they really toned it all down for this film! LOL! 😎

[@SuperColonel91]

I bet...

[@nomadfishermanak]

About to say as A Marine Vet this looks like a country club.

[@schrodingersgat4344]

The cast was composed (entirely) of recruiters.

[@paulstough2995]

@@nomadfishermanak As an Army vet who did Basic at Ft. Leonard Wood in 1970, this looks like a country club! :)

[@jjalf42]

I went through as a 12B in 2000… no way were they this gentle, lol. This video was definitely watered down, especially knowing this was the “old” Army.

[@dudemusstinkmeyer9843]

I never served but I loved this video and all these kinds of videos. Thank u all serving and former members for your service.

[@bryanball8909]

Well not much has changed in 50 yrs. Only the faces, and uniforms. When I went through, we had no phone time, we had no free time unless you went to church. Personally I'd do it all over again, and love every minute.

[@pixelgamer2579]

As a 2020 graduate, I can say that you’re right. Not much as changed. Way more yelling (even still) than in this video, though.

[@PeteKay]

I remember my Drill Sergeants....one an E5 was little prick who knew about blanket parties and did nothing. Last night in BT, some dickhead privates were running around in the middle of the night, flipping bunks with soldiers in them. Kids were hitting their heads on the floor waking up to the cold floor on their face and a metal frame on their ass. Still, I fondly remember BT...and I understood it as a process, one I wanted to be part of, just not the DS part. So I became a recruiter at around 10 years...did that for 4 and retired at 20. Wouldn't you know it, some of the kids I put in the army already outrank me (me being an E7 at retirement). I loved the Army.

[@garybanglebangle7949]

For me B C T 1966. Ft Benning Ga. C 9 3 was my home for that time. It was his job was to make us Soldiers. We had the old wood building in army tan back then. This did bring back memories. Thanks for the video.

[@hayesman76]

He wasn’t my platoon’s Drill Sergeant but the Ragin’ Cajun Drill Sergeant Hardy at Tank Hill, Fort Jackson in the summer and fall of 1986 was a character for sure. Scared the crap out of us at the start of Basic Training but by the end of it I had developed not only a deep respect for him but actually liked him. Our Company Commander was West Point graduate Lieutenant Boslego, top quality soldier, and I’ve sometimes wondered if he continued his career in the US Army. I always thought he had what it took to be a general.

[@Lupinthe3rd.]

Boslego retired as a col. He is mentioned in a news regarding a memo concerning the deaths of Iraq civilians by blackwater personnel in 2007 that was critical of blackwater. dtowww.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/04/nicholas-slatten-iraq-blackwater-conviction-overturned&ved=2ahUKEwiE9vucsbroAhUwTt8KHQt3C1AQFjADegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw3BNB2sBEYgjqNTQ99zTcKM&ampcf=1

[@Sergigrinkovvolponyfan]

I was at Ft. Jackson tank hill in 1986. When females were not with guys in basic.

[@herbiesnerd]

I was 17 starting basic, Aug 1976 Ft. Knox, KY “SOUND OFF”, “C-19-4 Best damned fighting force in the United States Army-Ramrods Drill Sergeant”. “ON YOUR FEET. NOT LOUD ENOUGH, DO IT AGAIN”! Before I was 18 1/2 years old I had my Expert Badge in Rifle and Grenades and my Aviation Wings as a Helicopter Mechanic. I served my 3 years and was 20 years old when I earned my Honorable Discharge. I don’t think I appreciated what I accomplished at 20 years old but I’m proud I served in the US Army. It prepared me for my 38 career as a fireman paramedic.

[@schlamben1]

He was hanging out at the PX in Kaiserslautern? K-Town was the best duty station my father ever got. 1971-1975, I hit my teenage years when I got there and almost every other NCO in the housing area had daughters my age. I had females fighting to carry my books. Things went from sugar to shit when dad came up for orders to Ft Campbell, KY in Dec 1975. I joined the US Army to get the hell out of there and they sent me somewhere even worse, Ft Stewart, GA.

[@eastcoastgrandison4855]

I never hear much about fort stewart. What was wrong with it?

[@phillyphilhouse79]

@@eastcoastgrandison4855 The air fucking stinks, the water comes out yellow, the water also smells like shit, it's an hour away from Savannah, its HOT and HUMID. 100 plus degrees with 100 plus humidity. Small ass post with only 1 dfac open. I was at Campbell twice. I did my time as an 11B, got out and was called back to active duty. Made to reclass to a shitty support mos with shitty NCOs and I re-enlisted for K Town to escape toxic and useless female NCOs. I did my tour in Germany and ended up in shitty Stewart.

[@eastcoastgrandison4855]

@@phillyphilhouse79 I always thought it might be a nice post but I can understand the Georgia heat and humidity. I was thinking the area around Savannah was nice. Even though I haven't been there. Just by the pictures and videos I've seen

[@dennisholiday1868]

You was lucky because you didn't go to Fort Polk! Did your father ever go to The Friedburg TA or Wildflekin? Those two was not one of my favorite spots when I was in The Army in West Germany!

[@schlamben1]

@@dennisholiday1868 US Army had tiny installations dotted all over the place in southern Germany. You would ride the trollies for an entire week in Frankfurt in order to in process or our process at all the small installations for finance, personnel, TA-50 etc.

[@bearing44]

I did basic training at Fort Benning in 1981. All of my DI'S were Vietnam veterans, and crazier than bat shit.

[@darrylmarable9050]

bearing44 So true, My main drill was cool E7, but the other was a asshole, wake us at 4 am and get outside to do push-ups. in underwear.

[@brodocbetty4856]

I did my BCT at fort knox in 1974 and I know what you mean, All my DI's were fresh out of Vietnam and crazy as hell.

[@openrange4999]

bearing44 me to, E-5-1 Harmony Church then A-7-1 Sandhills 1981

[@Keith52188]

I was there in Oct 81. C-9-2 on Harmony Church. I had SSG's Hall and Norris

[@richbutler7828]

Your right about that. they were crazy we had them also. Ft. Dix summer of 81

[@deckiedeckie]

SFC Dulin, SSG Edwards....my DIs in basic training back in 1972....damn good guys..

[@garycooper8687]

Had a professor ask me about military training in college in 1986. He wanted to put it down. I told him it was the best there is. You do it on paper and then you do a practical exercise. Nothing better.

[@xlavahott4547]

We did our basic training using Zoom earlier this year and we will be deployed to Fort XBox.

[@risteardwest3384]

A great video on the United States Army Drill Sergeant The Big Picture

[@shredda4831]

I miss it 20years later & miss every aspect of one on 1.

[@robertofinocchio2316]

I just about passed out when getting orders for drill sergeant school. I was working in finance. Did DSS at Fort Sill. It was hell. Just like basic training.

[@brittsmith8260]

Nothing like being voluntold.

[@patricklaurojr7427]

if only drill sgts were still this tough our army wouldn't be a mess

[@aesonmoritz2100]

Blame the elected official DA DOD civilians and Senior Army officers that set the tone and policy for the Army. I'm sure Army NCO's would rather be tough & fair rather then hobbled by powder puff policies of political correctness.

[@stevemorris8865]

I also took my training at fort Leonard wood many years ago, & I stay'ed in the army for 35 years retiring as a Master Sargent. Steve.

[@jamesmccarthy1686]

Ft. Bragg 1967 B-9-2 Sgt. Barrs. He had very extensive vocabulary of obscenities just like Gunny in FMJ. He was Kia in 1969 with the 25th Inf. Div. His favorite was 3rd platoon form a line at the garbage can. This usually came after your first bite.

[@sabretom7594]

Ft Polk 1970. C-2-1 South Fort. Infantry AIT Tigerland. SSG Brooks finest soldier I ever met. Called me Youngblood, he called everybody Youngblood.

[@jaymaloney8321]

I did BCT in the summer and fall of '67 at Ft. Jackson SC. I recall it was like being in prison. No ping-pong or pool. We covered the windows with blankets at night when we were supposed to be sleeping so that we could buff the floors and clean every inch of the barracks which were relics from WWII. If one guy came down with a cold, we all caught it and suffered serious bronchitis from lack of sleep, lack of rest, and significant physical exertion. We were allowed to make a phone call once per week. We were never allowed off the company area. Infantry AIT was at Ft. Dix NJ. It was significantly more brutal

[@sarge6870]

I went to Jackson for reception in 1981. Then because Jackson was "Full", they sent us to Ft. Gordon for BCT & AIT. We had the old WW-II barracks there too. No dayroom the entire time and like you, phone privileges once a week. And what's with the pool...during BCT??? We couldn't even drink soda!! Came back from our 15 mile force march after bivouac and our barracks were torn apart with bunks flipped over because our Senior DS decided to do an inspection while we were gone and found one locker unsecured. Still, the 12 years I spent in were the best of my life. A lot of great people I met along the way!

[@macsdaddy3383]

I could not help smiling at parts of the video with the narration. When he said the Army will take in @350,000 recruits this year, that is like just about 1/2 of the US Total Force Army today. And when the showed the career counseling part, the narrator called them recruits. They were not recruits for most then anyway, they were all draftees' and most of them then all in 1966 were either headed to Vietnam, or the lucky ones got sent to some God forsaken in the middle of no-where Kaserne on the Fulda Gap in Germany as a POL Clerk freezing one's ass off in the middle of winter. But watch this does bring back memories of Good Times,......3rd Plt. "B" Co. 1-34 BN INF, Fort Jackson, SC fall of 1988.

[@xxxxxx-tq4mw]

I was drafted in 1968 to Ft Dix given a clerk MOS then to South Korea way down to the port of Pusan, very relaxed, and extremely thankful i wasn’t sent to Vietnam

[@SegaGentleman]

MUCH respect to you sir! I spent my 90s and 2000s childhood growing up in Columbia exploring the wooded areas of Fort Jackson. We thought the old abandoned jeeps were so cool. Sadly, after 9/11, they fenced in even the most obscure sections of the Fort Jackson woods that were right in our backyards. I miss hearing the sounds of target practice and cadence in the late afternoon before supper.

[@berzerker1100]

Everywhere I go There's a drill sergeant there, CADENCE, sing it ! I CAN'T HEAR YOU ! yes, I heard before that drill sgts had a high divorce rate, don't know for Sure? but all my drill sgts were cool as hell Vietnam combat veterans, I joined ARMY MID 70'S after high school My training Cycle still wore all the Vietnam era clothing & used the same equipment of the 50's & 60's specially in West Germany we we issued,old style wool clothing from the 50's for cold weather issue, just saying, AIRBORNE !

[@MikeB128]

Nobody cares...

[@danettenapier3389]

Thank you for serving.

[@hectorheathcote9495]

Did basic at Ft. Gordon, Ga in 1978. Wow did this bring back some memories. Thanks for the post.

[@sarge6870]

I did BCT at Gordon in 1981. I was one of the last BCT claases to go through. They are FULL AIT now...no more BCT.

[@michaelthomas7178]

Just looked it up this picture made 1965. I wonder how many made it back from nam.

[@erin19030]

Hand up!

[@dennisholiday1868]

In my case a big YES! In73 all of them were wearing a CIB. You learn right away those Drill Sargeants did not play around!

[@christopherlarsen7788]

I trained at the U.S. Army School of the Infantry, Ft. Benning, GA from August through November 1985. I have mixed feelings - pride in some accomplishment, but that is seasoned for an extreme dislike of Drill Sergeants. They punched, kicked, and threw us against walls and onto the ground. They walked on our backs with jump boots while we did pushups in the Georgia heat. I personally witnessed two trainees sent to the hospital by the violent actions of our platoon's Drill Sergeants. Both recovered and graduated with us at the 13-week mark. I am a legacy Soldier, the son of a career Soldier. I learned to care for my Soldiers from better NCOs than the ones I got at the School of the Infantry. I went on to a successful career as a Senior NCO in the Infantry and ended up serving in two combat theaters...but I've never forgiven those Drill Sergeants for their utter lack of professionalism.

[@bobbysimpson6239]

Fort Knox Kentucky 1971 drill Sargent SFC Fore just back from Viet Nam cool black man. I’m from the south but had a lot of respect for this man.

[@owenmccann5590]

I did my basic training fort benning Georgia feb.1967 Sandhill we were in the old World War II Barricks

[@11binfantryfollowmeus.army95]

Went through those in 1996…trashed, old…..abandoned…but you could feel and hear the memories….

[@jodan4]

Basic at Ft Jackson in tents from Nov 1957 thru Feb 58. They didn't call them DI's but Cadre. All Korean and WWII vets. Infantry AIT at Ft Dix and Jump school 101st ABN at Campbell. Got out for three months in 1960 and reenlisted. They sent me to Basic again to Ft Benning, Sand Hill with the 2nd ID. Retired in 1978. What a ride.

[@phillyphilhouse79]

They had jump school at Campbell back than? I was with 3/327th Infantry but in 2002 to 2005. Got out, got called back to active duty 18 months later and made to reclass from infantry to a shitty transportation mos and went back to Campbell for another 3 years. I reenlisted to get away from the toxic female NCOs in that shitty support unit to go to Germany.

[@jodan4]

@@phillyphilhouse79 You better believe they had jump school. They reactivated the 101st in late 56. They took over from the 11th Abn at Campbell. I'm surprised that most young troopers didn't know that. The jump school was on the corner of Colorado and I forget the other street. If you wish to see some pictures, give me your email and I'll shoot you a couple.

[@texman81]

We could smoke in basic in '63. During breaks in training the Sarge would say, "Smoke 'em if you got 'em." After smoking we had to field strip them. The PX sold ciggies for .19 cents a pack ($1.90 a carton). Some think the cigarette companies sold them to the PX's cheap to get young guys hooked, knowing they'd be paying full price after they got out.

[@allandavis8201]

texman81, probably true, it was the same in the United Kingdom military, the NAAFI (Navy Army & Airforces Institute, the poor relation to the PX) sold most things you needed as a “Singly”, and the sort of things “Scalise” needed on a daily basis(bread & milk etc) at reduced prices, but when you did an overseas tour was when it was best, a fair few things were tax free, so to stop people buying to much in one go, the most attractive and addictive things, Booze & Fags were rationed, with of course, officers and SNCOs, getting a higher ration, same with petrol (gas), but then, the first encounter with the PX, what a difference, everything you could possibly want or need, even on the smallest USA bases, the range was fantastic. But back to your original point, I started smoking and carried on drinking when I joined up, kicked the booze into touch when I became a “Civvie” again, but not the fags, and no matter what warnings or pictures they put on the packs I haven’t managed to kick the habit, so yes, I believe the manufacturer did sell them cheap to get a captive and addict audience in the military. Ok, Sandbag Story over, back to the video. 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@mikeschumacher9715]

$1.90 a carton? DANG! They are about $155 a carton here in Washington now. My uncles, all Navy, would tell me about hitting international waters, in the 60's, on their ships, and the price of cigs dropped 50%, to about 35¢.

[@surgeongeneralsmokes]

Back in '63 ,19 cents a pack was not that much cheaper than in the civilian world ...I remember my Dad buying them for a quarter a pack back then (but this was in North Carolina which had practically no tax on a pack)

[@Ted_Stryker]

@@mikeschumacher9715 That is crazy. A lot of it has to due with them being tax free as also. Well, at least they used to be. Not sure about now, but they were about $17 a pack at the px when I was in from the early to mid 2000's.

[@ackamack101]

I love this! Thank you for the upload!!

[@billhuber2964]

The drill sargent : the recuits new best buddy .

[@jimbailey5681]

Sergeant.

[@user-yx8bh9gu4t]

I did my Basic and AIT at Ft. Benning , or what was called "11B OSUT." I was at Benning's infamous Sand Hill, Treadwell Barracks: 1st ITB, Delta Co., 2-19th Inf., Roster #229, May-Aug of 1988 (I was in the same cycle as Pvt. Timothy McVeigh, except he was across the street from us in 1-50th Inf.)

[@devinmorse3607]

I was in Charlie 2-19 in 2005.

[@davidcraft4636]

McVeigh was 1-50th? What company?

[@jeremyberry9422]

@Chesty McStudmuffin no one gives a fuck which group of barracks you lived in for Basic or OSUT.... the individual company or battery and the training cadre make it what it is. It helps if you don't get stuck in a company full of dumbfucks. If you are at Benning with a good company that does what it's supposed to do, compared to a company full of shitheads at Jackson, guess who is going to have a rougher experience.

[@garypulliam3740]

I was there Apr - Aug 88. A-1/38. Infamous Harmony Church. 15 weeks OSUT 11B Then 3 weeks 11M.

[@11binfantryfollowmeus.army95]

Summer of 1996 1/50th Alpha company 4th platoon…….🙋‍♂️

[@terrenceprzybylski3226]

I was in the Illinois national guard in February 1970, went to basic training in May 1970, at Fort Knox Kentucky, the US draftees and RAs hated us. After basic went to Fort Gordon Ga.for military police. I spent 6 years in the guard, finished my obligation in February 1976. I shot the m16, m14, m60 m79 and 45 pistol.

[@carycorley502]

my dad Was A Drill Sgt At Ft Benning in the 60s

[@user-yx8bh9gu4t]

Did 11B OSUT at Ft. Benning, Sand Hill from May-August of 1988. I was in the same cycle as Private Timothy McVeigh.

[@SuperColonel91]

@@user-yx8bh9gu4t Yea? What was he like as a Private?

[@erin19030]

@@user-yx8bh9gu4t now there is something to be proud of. Me , I served with Elvis in Frankfurt Armor.

[@CanadaMatt]

Ah, yes, I'll never forget those endless hours of snooker and ping pong during my basic training. Our training sergeant was so nice, he never even raised his voice while helping us casually board the bus.

[@donfulton5765]

Fort Ord, CA March 1966 A Co. 3-3-1 SFC Honda and SP5 Love barracks was located on 7th Street and Giggling Road. Lots of memories and stuck around for 27 years. AIT at Fort Devens MA. for special training apart from the regular army units. Drill officer was 2LT Jasper A. Williams

[@geneaker915]

I remember seeing this film during the first week of BCT in 1966.

[@floydvaughn836]

I watched them every summer, on The Gulf Coast (Keesler AFB) and West Point, MS. (Columbus AFB). Air Force brat. Mommy got divorced, Daddy didn't.

[@xxxxxx-tq4mw]

When i came back to McChord AFB/Fort Lewis, Wa in 02/1970 from a 13 month Korea tour, there was an army recruiter at the base of the plane’s stairway asking each of us as we filed off if we were interested in becoming drill sergeants so they must’ve been really short handed as most of us were E.T.S ing. It surprised me that they went to that length.

[@relaxmope]

I love these videos! Keepem coming!

[@mohammedcohen]

fifty years ago this summer - June - October 1971 - basic & AIT

[@AWDfreak]

1:02 holy shit, the barracks I was in during AIT in late 2011 date back all the way to this video?!?! Doors still off, white painted brick, and old-looking fire alarms and all! Supposedly my cycle was the last to go through these barracks before they tore 'em down for the new ones that I hear are much like hotel rooms.

[@erin19030]

We lived in wooden barracks made of plywood from WW2 in 1965

[@victorbailey6233]

I went thru basic training there at FLW in November 1974 and go to go home for Christmas and came back and finish In January 1975 B-2-3 then went to AIT there for combat engineer B-2-4 Feb 1975 to April 1975 and the Fort Hood,Tx B company 8 engineer BLT 1 Cav

[@waydevarney9637]

I did my basic in fort benning in 84 E-8-2 harmony church drill sgt tucker!! Miss it

[@zackbogart2604]

My grandfather was a drill sergeant at paris island 70-74. One of the toughest mfer i knew. Miss ya pap

[@CaptainAmerica322]

Well my Drill Sergeants at Infantry OSUT at Benning were not like this at all. They made Gunnery Sergeant Hartman look soft. Golf Company, 2-19. Fort Benning GA.

[@johndrake6288]

B Co 1/38. 1996. Airborne school was a joke. RIP in 1997 was not.

[@johnossmann7036]

@@johndrake6288 I was in B Co 1/38 (2nd Infantry Division) in Korea from 78-79! Before the days of OSUT.

[@waydevarney9637]

E-8-2 fort benning!! 84 harmony church!!

[@11binfantryfollowmeus.army95]

Summer of 1996 A-Company 1/50th 4th platoon…..

[@russellgover8899]

Basic at Ft. Sill. 1981. D.I. Harold E. Lewis, damn good man.

[@thomashouse6090]

This must have been a long time ago. We didn't have that much time off. About the only free time we had was Sunday morning and the hour of personal time we had at night

[@bigbadbamboo1]

Training to get ready for early Vietnam. I loved and love my M14. Battle axe!!

[@nola305]

Pvt. E-1, Charlie Company, first battalion, first training brigade C-1-1(South Fort), Fort Polk, La. (summer) 1966 (Vietnam era). In other words, i took my basic and AIT in a HELL HOLE!

[@armanflint]

+nola305 Did you get the jungle rot?

[@nola305]

LOL, no, i didn't suffer from "jungle rot" (in my combat boots), i did my overseas (Vietnam era) duty in Korea (2nd Infantry Div).

[@davidmcghee660]

I was there in 1963.. marched up and down Alabama street to classes, ranges and mess hall... lol...

[@MikeB128]

Yay, another "Vietnam Era" "Vietnam Vet".

[@floydvaughn836]

@@MikeB128 yay, another ignorant wannabe. Duty in the Indian Head was no joke.

[@juliorodrigue9108]

Ft Dix NJ 1 Oct 14, 1968 PVT Rodriguez Julio 19yr Old

[@joefrazier6780]

dis you go to NAM ?

[@guyazbell8169]

julio rodrigue I was there around that time. Drill Sgt.Benning weird name same thing Ft.Benning but poop happens.

[@davidmcghee660]

I was at Ft Polk in 1963 we had a little banty rooster SGT called himself a Drill Sergeant.. we called him asshole....

[@septemberquest6393]

Drill sergeant Blake...Ft Benning GA....basic training class of 1992...never forget him.

[@ski8799]

FLW, MO. 1993, D-4-10, one great Summer

[@imapaine-diaz4451]

I remember basic very well. June 1968, Ft Ord Ca. My brother was in three years before me, so I was prepared. didn't have hardly a hair on my head and didn't get on the bus with anything but the old clothes I stood in. I was advised "if the army wants you to have it, they'll issue it to you!" anything else gets thrown out at intake. they still ran the clippers over my bald head though and took some skin just to indicate the principle of the thing😬😬

[@towdjumper5]

Great stuff.

[@LKS-1976]

Been watching these, my pop was a DS during this time, Ft. Dix, NJ

[@texman81]

I was in '63 to '65 and we had the white name tags on our fatigues.

[@larrytesh5781]

I recognized the barracks in the film and new it was fort leonard wood. Was there in the fall and winter of 1965. It wasnicknamed little korea because it was so cold there

[@sarge6870]

I did BCT at Ft. Gordon back in 1981 at 17 yrs old when Ft. Gordon still had BCT. Now, they are full AIT. I still remember my DS's names. I felt like I went in at 17 and came out as 27. I miss every minute of the 12 years I spent in the Army!!

[@johnossmann7036]

D-7-3 Ft. Dix, NJ summer 1976. Platoon's Drill Sergeants were SSG Pearson and SFC Fisher, both Vietnam vets.

[@Icantkeepout]

Me, Ft Bragg, NC Feb 1969 Delta Co 10thBn 2nd Basic Training Brigade. The mildest winter I have ever experienced, thank God.

[@MrDefiant2]

I was in the last basic training class that was issued the OG-107 uniform shown here. The following class had the BDU issued to them, I had to buy my own when I was in AIT, although the 107s were still authorized.

[@paulguerrero3560]

FT. POLK, LA 1967 The Best Drill SGTs

[@nickmad887]

thanks

[@diveranger100]

I attended the Drill Sergeant School at Ft. Leonard Wood back in 96 and did time at A-1/10, surely enjoyed the time instructing and miss it even more.

[@ziggy44132]

I went through Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood in 1996/ 97. I was in E-3/10.

[@dannykruse1920]

Sent to Fort Leonard Wood December 1968 winter time!

[@ChileMiPais]

My basic training was at Ft. Dix, 1980. The army was in transition we were issued od green and the newer bud pattern uniforms also got khaki uniforms along with the hideous green class b. Other than that, I wore a flight suit 90% of my time in.

[@mariekatherine5238]

When I get outta bed, there’s a drill sergeant there. “Get your sorry ass up and start pushing. Half-right!” When I go to school, there’s a drill sergeant there. “On the floor and push! Git up! Half-right!” When I go the store, there’s a drill sergeant there. “Drop them Doritos and push! Push!” (These things ain’t bad. Where’s the damn salsa?). “What ‘r you looking at? Did I say stop?” “NO, SIR!” “Push! Push! Push! Scream Aye, Sir”. “Aye, Sir.” “I said scream. AYE, SIR! AYE, SIR! AYE, SIR!” “When I take a shower, there’s a drill sergeant there!” “Gimme 20, you naked hunk of lard!” “AYE, SIR! AYE AYE, SIR!”

[@ltcajh]

The country I remember as a kid. Long gone!

[@wwoolworth]

1981 fort Leonard Wood. SFC Blizzard. Then went to Fort Sam Houston for medic training

[@williamborges3914]

This a rather interesting overview of DS responsibilities and basic training curriculum. Based on my receiving-end experiences during BT at Fort Ord in 1967 I can't say the portrayals very realistic, though. Personal time and recreational opportunities? Really? One-on-one counseling? Yeah, sure . . . "Push-up til I get tired", said the DSs. 😃 Leisurely meals . . ."you've got 5 minutes, choke it down!" Fortunately, the DSs did a great job . . . I'm still here. 👏

[@wcatholic1]

Basic Training 1981. Miss that 'shark attack!"

[@videomaniac108]

I should have taken basic there at Ft. Leonard Wood, instead of at Ft. Gordon, GA. We didn't have any of the amenities that they have here.

[@armanflint]

+Jim Nesta You got to choose where you went to basic? That must have been nice. I was put on a plane, then bussed to Ft. Knox where I had the same Drill Sergeants for 16 weeks BT/AIT.

[@wcatholic1]

+Jim Nesta Ft. Gordon B-1-1 BCT March to May 1981. C-2-2 AIT at 'brick city'.

[@highstick100]

No kidding. Spent only 3 nights in reception in a barracks...The entire rest of the time I was in a 7 man tent at Ft. Jackson (March-May, 1966).

[@wcatholic1]

I had nice VOLAR era Barracks all through AIT and permanent duty station. Nowadays, the Barracks look like studio apartments!

[@alanroach3692]

@@wcatholic1 I went BCT Ft Ord one of the first VOLAR cycles Nov1970. We were allowed "facial hair" most of us grew mustaches just to piss off the DI's

[@josephpatrick9174]

1967, volunteered to type and wound up filling sand bags all day on my 22nd birthday. . . Ft. Pewk, I meant Ft. Polk.

[@sldessel]

Loved those old uniforms.

[@prac42]

I had basic training at Fort Jackson south Carolina, I look at this film now and I ask myself, did I really did all that. But after serving the U S Military for 30 years, I guess I wasn't so bad after all.God Bless America and Long live Our Military.

[@texman81]

I did basic at Fort Dix about a year or so before this film was made and we didn't have any such recreational facilities, but then we were in the old wood World War II "temporary" barracks. The barracks in this film are the multi-story brick ones. Could be they had Day Rooms in them with pool tables, ping pong, TV, etc.

[@guyazbell8169]

texman81 those 3 story brick barracks did not have day rooms durring basic once we started AIT then there were day rooms then once we got to our permanent stations they had day rooms gyms with saunas and if a bunch got togather we would rent a apt we had it made after Vietnam we were making good money 300 bucks a month! those old ww2 barracks were being phased out in the late 70,s.

[@marcdemmon471]

What happened to bayonet training I bet that still out phycologacal fear in to Emmy or a riot

[@JohnStark72]

Wow, has this ever been cleaned up for public media! Those buildings near the start look like the barracks at Fort Dix. The footage must be a few years before I entered basic. Back in my day, BCT was tough.

[@raxxtango]

IF IT AIN'T BROKEN...LET THE ARMY KEEP FIXING IT UNTIL IT IS

[@patcupolo9274]

Ft. Dix nj 1965, froze are butts off, one recruit kept screwing up, now looking back, he did it on purpose, probably now a civil liberties lawyer, did not want to go to Vietnam.😡

[@reddevilparatrooper]

Brings back funny but bad memories . Drill Sergeants I will always remember .

[@djones9122]

reddevilparatrooper one thing for sure you had to be young to survive this 101st

[@benjaminwilliams3568]

Wow, I knew immediatelyThat fist shot of the drill Sergean Standing infront of those red brickbuildings That IscFort Leonard Wood. then they Showed a pulled back over view shot and That chapel in the background amongst the trees Again I knew Fort Leonard Wood. 1980 was when I first entered Fort Leonard Wood as a PCF in basic training B Company Second Battalion, Second Brigade. (B22) - (OSUT) As it was called 12B or 12C Combat Engineer Training. After wards I was assigned to the 5Th Engineer Battalion, B Company, Third Platoon, First Squad. I worked there for six months Than I was transferred to HQ Brigade, HQ Company and assigned as a Colonel's Driver at Post HeadQuarters across the street from the main base hospital. From there I finished my remaining three year contract and ETS'D The Army and attended College at Rolla Missouri and served in the IRR serving my reserve duties at Fort Leonard Wood. I greatly appreciated my assignment at Leonard wood, I Meet a wonderful lady at Leonard Wood whom I married and together we enjoyed working there she at AAFES as a PX manager, and I as a soldier. It was interesting She was a manager at the PX store right across the street from where I was attending Basic and AIT training. My first unit patch was the Blue White Red Horizontally oriented Forscom Patch. My Second was the Blue Yellow Red Vertical Tradoc Patch. Both had the same Black Green subdued Colors in their respective orientations.