In 1962, Secretary of the Army
Elvis J. Stahr ordered a study of recruit training. The study not only focused on the U.S. Army, but the Navy, Marines and Air Force as well. The report found that training
NCOs were not well regarded. The report had five reasons for the lack of quality NCOs: • Long work hours. • Demanding nature of the work. • Lack of free time for family concerns. • Calibre of NCO’s being assigned to the army training centers. • Negative attitude of the trainers. A pilot course for a new training concept for instructors was created at Fort Jackson and by September of 1964 a Drill Sergeant School began at
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. to help view being a drill instructor as an honor. In January 2026, female drill sergeants began wearing the campaign hat and retired the bush style hat. == References ==