Drill Sergeant Leaders who instructed Drill Sergeant Course class 008-16 were recognized for their efforts during a graduation ceremony hosted by the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy at the Fort Jackson, S.C. Post Theater, June 22. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton/ released
FORT JACKSON, S.C. — Gen. Andrew Bassford, and the 95th Training Division command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. John Stumpf, the guest speaker and former drill sergeant.
Stumpf, in his remarks, spoke of continuing the legacy of those Soldiers who fought before us by training the most capable fighting force in the world.
He said, “It’s not what you do, it’s what the generations that follow you do.
“Our survival as a nation depends on how well you train your Soldiers and the job they do. We learned that lesson from the greatest generation. How they perform on future battlefields is your legacy.”
Staff Sgt. Rick Hurt, a new graduate of the Drill Sergeant Course at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy, calls cadence for the Soldiers of class 008-016 as they exit the Post Theater at Fort Jackson, S.C. after a graduation ceremony, June 22. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton/ released
The eight Army Reserve drill sergeants now take their place among the 2,700 Reserve drill sergeant positions that make up more than half of the total Army drill sergeant corps. Those drill sergeants regularly augment the active component at the Army’s four basic combat training installations across the country and at the Drill Sergeant Academy here on Fort Jackson, South Carolina as drill sergeant leaders, instructing candidates attending the Drill Sergeant course.
Drill Sergeant hats are stacked up to be presented before the start of the graduation cermony of Drill Sergeant Course class 008-16 held at the Fort Jackson, S.C. Post Theater, June 22. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton/ released
“These drill sergeants are now hitting the trail and the trail can be very hot, dusty, wet and tiring. But the reward at the end of the day is when you deliver the best product in the world, the U.S. Soldier. That’s what it’s all about,” said Stumpf.