Under the watchful eye of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Staff Sgt. Brady Benedict, endured four demanding days of competition against thirteen of the Army’s top drill sergeants from across the Total Army.
The September heat lingered, testing not only physical strength but focus and willpower as candidates tackled obstacle courses, marksmanship, and evaluations on how they instruct and lead.
Benedict recalled the long hours, exhaustion, and self-doubt that came with being under constant scrutiny. He said every event required both endurance and humility.
When his name was called as the 2025 U.S. Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year, he described the moment as validating the commitment and perseverance it took to stay disciplined through fatigue and uncertainty. The recognition symbolized not only his own effort but the resilience of all who wear the campaign hat.
The competition pushed him physically and mentally, testing every skill expected of a drill sergeant: leadership, adaptability, and the ability to teach under pressure. The title, awarded by the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training, signifies a personal success and places Benedict among the Army’s most capable trainers responsible for shaping how new Soldiers enter the force.
He said the competition reminded him that even for instructors, growth comes from discomfort. The exhaustion and pressure, he explained, reinforced his belief that success means pushing past obstacles and finding strength when the body and mind are tired.
Benedict believes carrying the title forward means setting the standard for others and sharing what he learned with fellow drill sergeants. He viewed the recognition as motivation to mentor new Soldiers and to keep improving, knowing that others will look to him for guidance and example.
“There was no real mentor pushing me,” Benedict said. “So being a drill sergeant actually helps me put myself in a position where I can be a strong mentor to others.”
Benedict described the Army Reserve’s contribution to the training enterprise as a force multiplier for the active-duty component.
“The Reserve provides additional drill sergeants to the active component so they can train Soldiers effectively and ease the strain of a very demanding profession,” he said.
For Benedict, the path to that role began at seventeen when he joined the Army looking for structure and purpose.
“Showing up to Basic Training, I wasn’t phenomenal, but leaving, I had one of the best PT tests I could ever ask for,” he said. “Those habits are still with me today.” His experience as a young trainee impressed on him how discipline and small successes build confidence, lessons he strives to pass on to every Soldier he trains.
That motivation, to be the mentor he once needed, drives how he approaches his duty. The drill sergeant is the first military leader new Soldiers experience, and Benedict treats that responsibility seriously. He said his focus is on connecting with each Soldier and developing them through consistency, patience, and leading by example.
The competition that earned him the title of Drill Sergeant of the Year tested that kind of leadership through a series of events that challenged judgment, endurance, and teaching skill. Benedict said it required focus, adaptability, and confidence drawn from experience in the training environment. He explained that his success came from preparation and maintaining professionalism under pressure.
He also spoke about the strengths of working in an active-duty environment as a reserve Soldier, explaining that the missions between the components differ but align toward the same purpose.
“There’s a different mission for reservists and active component drill sergeants,” Benedict said. “They’re all in support of the big goal, which is to train and develop capable, lethal Soldiers to send out to the operational force.” He described how Reserve drill sergeants balance their civilian careers while integrating with active-duty units during periods of increased training demand, often supporting battalions during summer surges by standing up ‘Echo’ companies to train new Soldiers.
Benedict said his military experience gives him an appreciation for teamwork and shared purpose. He explained that Reserve drill sergeants take pride in contributing to a mission much larger than themselves and that recognition, such as Drill Sergeant of the Year, reflects the collective effort of the entire team. Every instructor, whether active or Reserve, play a part in preparing Soldiers for the operational Army.
That sense of collective purpose reflects what his leaders and peers see in him, a professional who embodies the Army Values while connecting with Soldiers on a human level.
Benedict’s story reflects what defines the Army Reserve at its best, Citizen-Soldiers who bring diverse experiences, unwavering discipline, and a shared commitment to building the future force. Through his leadership on the training field, he continues to show that excellence in the Reserve is not separate from the active component, it is integral to the Army’s strength.