
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 4, 1993                   TAG: 9305040033
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

1ST WOMAN PICKED AS TOP DRILL SERGEANT

In a real about-face for the fire-breathing, order-barking stereotypical drill sergeant of yore, the Army has named a woman as "Drill Sergeant of the Year" for the first time in its history.

"It's better to lead by example than intimidation and fear," explained soft-spoken Staff Sgt. Jill Henderson, 27, from Fort McClellan, Ala., who recently beat out 15 male colleagues for the honor.

Henderson's ascension is the first time in the 24 years of the competition that a woman has won the title. Women have served as drill sergeants - training both men and women - for about 20 years, and fill 263 of the Army's 2,548 drill sergeant slots.

"Her success demonstrates that the decisive factor for success is performance," declared Sgt. Maj. Richard Kidd, the Army's top enlisted soldier.

Not only is Henderson shy, but she said she "very seldom" swears at young recruits, an admission that would be heresy to those legions of drill sergeants who trained America's troops to fight in the mud of Europe, the jungles of Southeast Asia and the deserts of the Middle East.

"Cussing signals a loss of control," Henderson said. "As a military leader, I should always be in control of the situation."

Drill sergeants always have been the blacksmiths of the Army, pounding the crude iron of young recruits into the hardened steel of highly trained soldiers. Many are remembered as screaming brutes who scared recruits into submission.

Henderson argues that the stereotype is dated. "Today's drill sergeant is different from yesterday's," she said. "I wouldn't want a soldier scared of their leader because he or she thought their leader was going to beat 'em up."

Sgt. Calvin Smithers, whom Henderson replaces as the Army's top drill sergeant, agrees. "Years ago, the drill sergeant would yell at you, curse at you, kick you and throw stuff at you," he said. "But now we try to be more positive."

Today's drill sergeants teach young recruits how to march, salute and the basics of soldiering "not by physical force, but by example and training," Henderson said.

"It's a drill sergeant's job to take a civilian and give him or her the right qualities to be a soldier," she said.

Henderson was chosen for the honor by a panel of six senior noncommissioned officers, representing the Army's most experienced enlisted troops, during a six-day competition in April conducted by the Army's Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va.

She won top billing after a four-day competition that included tests of soldiering and teaching skills, physical stamina and an oral exam.

Sgt. Dean Clinker of the 13th Armored Regiment at Fort Knox, Ky., edged out by Henderson for the top spot, said he had "no doubt" she is the Army's best.

"She was very well squared away," he said. "She deserves all the glory that comes her way."

by CNB