Marine Corps Drill Instructors Creed

"These recruits are entrusted to my care. I will train them to the best of my ability. I will develop them into smartly disciplined, physically fit, basically trained Marines, thoroughly indoctrinated in love of Corps and country. I will demand of them, and demonstrate by my own example, the highest standards of personal conduct, morality and professional skill."

Drill instructors epitomize the word "Marine." It is their sole responsibility to take Americans who want to claim the title and transform them into basically trained Marines. Drill instructors are an example and a mentor to the recruits while they are in training.

In order to become a Drill Instructor, an enlisted Marine must go through Drill Instructor School, an intense 12-week course and is considered to be one of the most respected and demanding positions a Marine can hold. The screening process in order to be selected can be extremely competitive. In order to get past the screening process, a Marine has to meet these minimum standards to even be considered:

1. Must be between the ages of 22 - 37 with the rank of Sergeant (E5) through Gunnery Sergeant (E7). Corporal's (E4) may be considered if they will achieve the rank of Sergeant (E5) prior to graduation.

2. Have an ASVAB score of 90 or higher on the general and technical portion of the test that is taken for the entry into military service.

3. Must not have any adverse Page 11's, which are "official" counseling within the last two years.

4. No alcohol related incidents within the last three years.

5. No court-martials within the last five years.

6. No non-judicial punishments within the last two years.

7. Must not have filed bankruptcy within the last two years.

8. Cannot be going through divorce or separation proceedings prior to reporting for DI School.

9. Must have a first class Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

Drill Instructor school was the most demanding training that I ever endured in my career. It is 12 weeks long consisting of but not limited to: Leadership, Professionalism, Time-Management, Physical Fitness, Marine Corps History, Standard Operating Procedures, Close Order Drill, Combat Conditioning, Instructional Techniques, Marine Corps Common Skills, Crucible, Weapons/Marksmanship, Uniform Inspections, Teach backs, and much more...  Upon graduation from Drill Instructor school, the new DI's will be assigned a Battalion, Company, and a team.   

When a Drill Instructor begins to train recruits with his team, he is usually accompanied by two to three other Drill Instructors all assigned to one platoon. A platoon will generally have approximately 60 to 80 recruits. These Dill Instructors wear green duty belts combined with a hat called a campaign cover, i.e. smokey bear cover.

Leading the platoon's Drill Instructors is the Senior Drill Instructor. The Senior Drill Instructor has already served several cycles, or 12-week periods it takes to train one platoon of recruits. He wears a black duty belt and the campaign cover. On pick-up day, the recruits are introduced to their drill instructors.

Drill instructors are the first Marines recruits see when they arrive at MCRD and are the Marines that take them the entire way through recruit training up until graduation day. Drill Instructors are literally with recruits 24 hours a day.

History of the Campaign Cover

The unique style of hat worn by today's Marine Corps Drill Instructors, shows a direct line from the U.S. Army felt hat of 1855. As the hat's crown became shorter and the brim became wider, it was referred to as a campaign hat. As the Army moved out onto the frontier (1870-1890), various styles were issued, but the major complaint of soldiers was that the hat was black and hot. (It was not until 1888 that the U.S. Army finally issued a brown campaign hat. The U.S. Cavalry never wore a white campaign hat except in the movies.)

During the war with Spain in 1898, the Marine Corps fielded a battalion of Marines who were the first troops to land in Cuba. Wearing their traditional blue uniforms of the period, Marines requested campaign hats from the U.S. Army to help combat the tropical heat and humidity. These were the first "field hats" worn by Marines, and would also be worn in the Philippines; in China, during the Boxer Rebellion, and later during the Philippine Insurrection. At this time, the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe and Anchor was normally worn, pinned to the left side in the British fashion.

In 1912, the Marines introduced their own style of field hat, with brim folded over and stitched to give the hat the appearance of a thicker brim. Marines who have worn the campaign cover, pride themselves on keeping the brim perfectly straight. The field hat remained in service until the beginning of WWII, when felt became a critical war material.

During the war and after, the campaign cover was used exclusively by Marine competitive marksmanship teams. The present campaign cover was reintroduced in 1956, for use by Drill Instructors as a mark of their professionalism.

Only two hat cords are authorized for wear on the Marine Corps campaign cover. A gold cord for flag officers (generals), and scarlet and gold for officers - Both warrant and commissioned. The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force have also adopted the use of campaign covers in recruit training.