MDNG RRB De-Hats a Senior Drill Sergeant

Photo By Staff Sgt. Chazz Kibler | At the direction of Senior Drill Sgt. Quintin Queen, senior drill sergeant of the Maryland Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Recruit Sustainment Program soldiers assigned to the same battalion run to their formation area during drill weekend at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland, on March 5, 2022. The RSP drill weekends serve as an introduction to the military lifestyle that helps soldiers mentally, physically, and emotionally prepare for the rigors of Basic Combat Training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Chazz Kibler) (This photo was cropped to bring attention to the subjects)  

REISTERSTOWN, MD, UNITED STATES

03.05.2022

Story by Staff Sgt. Chazz Kibler 

29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

REISTERSTOWN, Md. - Drill sergeants wear the campaign hat as a testament to their demonstrated professionalism, commitment to the mission, and proven leadership. However, no soldier can wear the campaign hat forever. On March 5, 2022, the Maryland National Guard Recruiting and Retention Batallion celebrated Sgt. 1st Class Dave Clark, a recruiter and retention noncommissioned officer assigned to the same battalion, during his De-Hatting Ceremony at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland. The De-Hatting Ceremony is a symbolic tradition where drill sergeants retire their campaign hats after completing their tour.

"My time as a Senior Drill Sergeant has come to an end," said Clark in a post he wrote on his social media. "It has been the best years of my Army career. I want to thank everyone that played a part in it, onto the next chapter."
Sgt. 1st Class Dave Clark's demonstrated professionalism, commitment to the mission, and proven leadership will continue in a different role as a recruiting and retention noncommissioned officer in the MDNG, where he has already won the Rookie of the Year award for recruiting in 2021.

However, where one journey ends, another begins. Sgt. 1st Class Quintin Queen picked up where Clark left off and assumed responsibility as the MDNG RRB's senior drill sergeant.

Queen said the road to becoming a drill sergeant was tough because his packet was denied several times. But Queen did not let the word "no" stop him from pursuing his goals. He continued to apply year after year until he got a yes. Queen graduated from the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy in March 2020 and assumed the role of senior drill sergeant two years later.

Clark and Queen's recent success adds to the growing accomplishments of the RRB. During the 2021 fiscal year, the MDNG's RRB finished as the top state in region two for year-to-date accessions.

• Date Taken: 03.05.2022
• Date Posted: 03.16.2022 15:18
• Story ID: 416587
• Location: REISTERSTOWN, MD, US