Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

[coastaltrash]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Andrew "Abner" Martin, of Sloppy Beagle fame, former Sgt Major of the WIG and 1st Sgt of Cleburne's was the best Sgt I ever marched with. Been out of the hobby a little over 3 years.

Dat Pat Craddock is SO over rated! :tounge_sm

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Pards And comrades,

These are fellas who have taught me an aweful lot and are good men to boot.

Nick Medich

Mark Hidlebaugh

Steve Acker

Terry Sorchy


RM

Rod,

You've just listed something like 120 years of experience... probably much more!

[weed]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Don't know if they get any better than John Wedeward, 33rd Wisconsin. doesn't matter if it's a squad, company, or battalion......breaks it down to the very simple elements and then takes baby steps from the basics.....

I am honored to be mentioned, but Tom Rock of The Mudsills, who I learned from) is by far and away the BEST Drill Sergeant in the history of the hobby.

John Wedeward

[DougCooper]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

If you take the word "Sgt" out of this and just "best at drill" or "most influential drill experts" my list would be:

1. Dom
2. Tackitt (Silas)
3. Dunfee
4. Duffer
5. Osman
6. Eichler
7. Sorchy
8. Moffett
9. Washburn
10. Medich
11. Samp

The best news about the above is that most of the above are out there leading troops at the battalion level and above...which of course means they are training the maximum number of troops possible. Dom's and Silas' books have made a huge difference in the hobby, by getting folks away from heresay and other dribble and back into the real manuals. RJ is mentioned because he has been the prime mover at making battalion and above drill work through his bugle training and execution.

[nrandolph]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Thus far, this has been a very informative thread about those in the hobby that have deserved thanks and a wider recognition of their abilities. It's very interesting to see those that have influenced current leaders and soldiers and are continuing that influence.

As a teacher myself, I know teachers that understand their subject matter very well. But knowing your material doesn't guarantee that you can actually teach it! It's obvious that those recognized in this thread can teach and one thing that I would still like to hear more about is the methods/standards/expectations these men have used to teach others.

Thanks so far everyone!
Neil Randolph
1st WV

[BumpusTN]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

I am honored to be mentioned, but Tom Rock of The Mudsills, who I learned from) is by far and away the BEST Drill Sergeant in the history of the hobby.

John Wedeward

And a pretty darn good middle school history teacher!

Scott Bumpus

[CompanyWag]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Tom Rock is still out there drilling...just changed periods a bit. He's running a squared-away bunch at the China Marines.

See http://www.thechinamarines.com

Paul McKee

[CJSchumacher]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Best Drill Sgt:

Tom Williams, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Again, another who hasn't been around for a long time as many of us have dropped out. He, too, is still running around in another era with the USMC Historical Company.

[BrianHicks]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Gunny Williams, like Tom Rock and I, all came from the same 'School of Hard Knocks'.

It's odd, both of them have continued with their Living History activities, and in doing so, returned to their old 'Alma Mater'. Sigh... well... who knows. Years form now, after I've been separated from our beloved Corps as long as they have, I too may return to our origins.

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Best Drill Sergeant?

Joe Liechty. Hands down. :D

[terry winders]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

I'll second that.

Terry Winders
Mess No.1

[Mike Davis]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Yep. Has to be Joe.

[mattifatti]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

I would like to throw the name out there of Frank Sczytko (a.k.a John Burns) of the Mifflin Guard. Although he is now the Guard's Sgt. Major, he once was the 1st Srgt. of the 61st NY and the best I have ever seen. Although the Guard is a mainstream organization, Frank would have done well in progressive groups if he had pursued that.

[DougCooper]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

Tom Williams is a legend. At a WW2 event a few years ago I saw him put some GI's through a drill period that was the best I have ever seen...which considering his life's work, makes sense. It is safe to say that the success of several Hollywood movies from an historical standpoint can be directly attributed to Tom. Doesn't matter what period, some folks are born to it. Tom was both born and trained to it.

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Best Drill Sergeants at company/battalion level

any old 10th Texas guys remember Jeff Grantham? cat had it together, and made sure you did too.