From left, Drill Sgt. Luis Macaranas, Drill Sgt. (Staff Sgt.) Albert Aldan, and Drill Sgt. Ricky Santiago pose for a photo after successfully completing the nine-week U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy on May 29, 2024, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
THREE Saipan-based U.S. Army Reserve soldiers successfully completed the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy on May 29, 2024.
Staff Sgt. Albert Aldan, 40, Sgt. Luis Macaranas, 34, and Sgt. Ricky Santiago, 32, completed the nine-week academy at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, earning themselves the distinct title of drill sergeant.
“The physical and mental challenges were tough, and being away from my loved ones added an extra layer of difficulty,” said Aldan, a husband and father of four. The 17-year Army veteran works full-time for the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
For Macaranas, who is also a husband and father of three, the experience was rewarding.
“Leaving my family, in addition being away from my three-month old newborn made the academy a challenging but also rewarding experience.” Macaranas said. Macaranas, a 16-year Army veteran, works for the CNMI Public School System as an instructor and P.E. teacher at Dandan Middle School.
In order to become a drill sergeant in the reserves, soldiers must first pass a selection phase known as the Drill Sergeant Candidate Program. The phase is made up of four-day vetting process, which will determine if a soldier is ready for the Drill Sergeant Academy.
Once soldiers make it pass the selection phase, they are then sent off to the nine-week course. There Soldiers go through rigorous training at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy, which trains, educates, certifies and validates a non-commissioned officer’s abilities to execute and teach the core tenants of the Enhanced Basic Combat Training Program of Instruction, Physical Readiness Training, Drill and Ceremonies, Basic Rifle Marksmanship, and Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills.
According to Santiago, a husband and father, the most challenging part of the academy was maintaining the high level of mental and physical endurance required throughout the training.
“The mental fatigue was overwhelming at times,” said Santiago, a nine-year Army veteran and an instructor at Dandan Middle School. “But pushing through those limits taught me resilience and determination that I carry with me every day.”
Drill sergeants are considered subject-matter experts in training. A drill sergeant is a symbol of excellence in initial entry training, an expert in all warrior tasks and battle drills, lives the Army values, exemplifies the Warrior Ethos, and most importantly, is the epitome of the Army as a profession.
The drill sergeants currently reside in Saipan and are assigned to Charlie Company, 2/413th Regiment, 95th Training Division, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
