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

[@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.

[@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!

[@MacrohardOnfireExcelSuite]

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

[@leoocta6510]

👍👊🤜🤛👆🇺🇸

[@MacrohardOnfireExcelSuite]

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.

[@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 👍🇺🇸

[@felixmadison5736]

During my tour in Vietnam in 1969, I understood why these Sergeant's were so tough on us. I remember one old timer who served in WWII telling us that any man he taught wasn't going to 'get his ass shot' in Vietnam because he wasn't properly trained.

[@robertluke6300]

I was there in 86. E-8-2.

[@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.

[@PumbasSporty]

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

[@CarterTheAmerican]

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! 😂😂

[@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?

[@Gojongis199]

@@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

[@felixmadison5736]

During my basic training at Fort Dix, N.J. in 1968, we still had the old WWII barracks AND the 'old' Drill Sergeants from WWII and Korea. Those guys took no shit!!! The Vietnam War was raging at that time, and they were tough, but they had a reason for being tough. When I served in Vietnam in 1969, I appreciated all that those drill sergeants taught me. We learned how to use every weapon the army had except for tanks and howitzers. From hand grenades, to .55 caliber machine guns, we learned how to use any and all of them just in the case the situation presented itself in 'Nam.

[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@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.

[@charlesharrington9116]

I attended Drill Sergeant School at Ft. Leonard Wood in 94. Drill Sergeant Duty at Ft. Jackson 95-97. Finished as Sr. Drill Sergeant. One of the most rewarding and demanding assignments of my career. It was an honor to be selected and an honor to train young soldiers. Hard but Fair! SFC/USA (Ret).

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@douglascorrell]

F 1/19 fort sill graduated jan 28 1988

[@shadowwolf9503]

​@@douglascorrell Ft Sill, OK. Summer of 1982. Basic Training and AIT. 13Bravo. Charlie 2. 4th Platoon. DS Hardy and DS Fells. I was in the old wooden WW2 barricks.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@ltcajh]

The country I remember as a kid. Long gone!

[@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.

[@shredda4831]

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

[@ackamack101]

I love this! Thank you for the upload!!

[@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]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mohammedcohen]

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

[@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.

[@risteardwest3384]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@FriendlyMxdder]

This is the America I wish I grew up in.

[@thejmc4074]

You and I both

[@papi-champoo6033]

Ehhh, not so much.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@billygoat520]

I wound up in finance for a year and later did it as a DOD employee.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@gotwa229]

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.)

[@FinishedGamesLLC]

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…….🙋‍♂️

[@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.

[@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😬😬

[@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.

[@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!!

[@bigbadbamboo1]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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]

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.

[@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.

[@deckiedeckie]

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

[@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. 👏

[@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.

[@billygoat520]

I remember hearing that in 1969, and we young soldiers talked about the brown boot army. So I am not worried.

[@patricklaurojr7427]

@aesonmoritz2100 I didn't vote for it at all I'm red not blue🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@patricklaurojr7427]

@@billygoat520 theirs few out their if their is they were raised by men old school but now some drill sets don't even gave combat experience all my drill sgt had combat patches CIBs and patches were 82nd or SF

[@billygoat520]

@@patricklaurojr7427 See a doctor about your problem, because anyone who would vote for anyone in the current GOP has serious mental issues. When was America so great you would wish to make it so again. When exactly was it?

[@relaxmope]

I love these videos! Keepem coming!

[@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

[@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!

[@ralphriffle1126]

Fort Ord 1967 B-2-1 2nd Platoon. Drill Sargent Smith, thank you. What you taught stayed with me all my life. Yes Drill Sargent Smith, my Gig line is still straight

[@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.

[@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

[@waydevarney9637]

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

[@stevekaczynski3793]

Although the description suggests it was made later, there is a 1960s feel to the film, and the fact they are firing M-14s rather than M-16s on the range adds to the impression.

[@germanstudent06]

Drill Sergeants were what fathers should actually be, but for the Army. My dad was rough, but I grew to appreciate it as I saw peers without dads in the home who actually gave a damn,

[@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….

[@trishazechel8402]

Nice video. HOO-RAH!!

[@packtray6569]

All of the furniture at 2:42 is still in use.Those barracks still stand at Fort Leonard Wood.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@zackbogart2604]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@LKS-1976]

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

[@johnossmann7036]

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

[@billhuber2964]

The drill sargent : the recuits new best buddy .

[@jimbailey5681]

Sergeant.

[@septemberquest6393]

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

[@carycorley502]

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

[@gotwa229]

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

[@SuperColonel91]

@@gotwa229 Yea? What was he like as a Private?

[@erin19030]

@@gotwa229 now there is something to be proud of. Me , I served with Elvis in Frankfurt Armor.

[@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!”

[@williamjones6053]

So are these drill sargent's for the cub scouts ? Not like what I remember but then again I'm old and forgetful ..no wait cannot forget my drill instructors

[@ziggy44132]

Perfect recruiting video. I would have liked to have seen the Privates ask the Drill Sergeant when they get to play pool and ping pong.

[@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

[@venson8380]

Boy this was some Army propaganda shit here. I know damn well they were not shooting pool, playing ping pong, and sitting around at a table shooting the shit in BCT. LOL. I went to BCT at Fort Dix in 1988 D 1/22 IN and that shit was not happening so I know it was not happening in the 1960s. It's funny to watch though. Looks like the Army was trying to make this look fun.

[@whydoplaythis574]

Was at Leonard Wood in Summer 2022. Some of these barracks still exist

[@stevekaczynski3793]

18:45 - the white T-shirts here were found to be a bad idea in Vietnam as they were conspicuous and attracted fire. So olive drab ones were introduced, although quite a lot of servicemen stripped to the waist anyway.

[@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.

[@williamanderson4999]

Did Basic training 3 times. Ft Dix NJ. Failed BRM and was recycled to another company day 1. Passed BRM at last. And went through Basic training one last time at Ft Benning GA. After ETS in 1983 and returning back into the Army in 1987. Being recycled broke my heart but I stayed with it. Leaving going Awol was in the back of my mind, but I didn't do it. I think that's why the military prefers HS Grads. They do have a don't give up attitude.

[@russellgover8899]

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

[@Icantkeepout]

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

[@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

[@DinoTuned]

went through basic at fort dix, aug. sept. 1964. Echo co. 4th. training reg. I actually enjoyed it. Am I nuts or what?

[@rpm12091]

Alan Olbrych No your not nuts you just say it like it was. I enjoyed basic and AIT, there was always something to do, I may not have enjoyed it at the time but later I realized how important it was. A hippie stopped me in an airport and said I needed to go with her and that all the army was doing was teaching me how to kill, I told her that she was wrong the army was teaching me how to stay alive. She just walked away. I still hate hippies.

[@DaveP326]

Me, too 12/64-3/65, X-2-1. Then AIT also Ft. Dix in a WW2 barracks 11C. Graduated in 6/65

[@skye1212]

Had basic at Ft Dix in 71 and these uniforms date from before then. Maybe mid/late 60's.

[@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…..

[@WalterTimmons-jm7js]

Never forget the immune system will never reject food pick and choose the foods you love after basic training

[@dannykruse1920]

Sent to Fort Leonard Wood December 1968 winter time!

[@towdjumper5]

Great stuff.