Drill takes pride in influencing Cadets, Soldiers

By Joe Castelli
Staff writer

Staff Sgt. Mark Gatto offered some calm, constructive criticism to the Cadets of his squad after they fell short of finishing an obstacle at the Team Development Course Monday.

“Nobody here knows everything,” he said. “Including me.”

In a brief but wisdom-rich lesson in teamwork before 4th Squad, 4th Platoon of Co. C 1/46th Inf. rotated to its next challenge, the drill sergeant of two years passed along a key concept he learned years ago – functioning as a unit requires thinking as a unit, and it’s not a bad thing to seek the counsel of a peer who might know how to better handle a situation.

It’s that molding of individuals that gives Gatto a strong sense of pride in his work.

Staff Sgt. Mark Gatto has led Co. C through the first few days of their training. Photo by Ryan Stone

“Especially when you go 10 weeks and you see this kid with raggedy hair just getting off the bus, doesn’t know Adam from Eve and 10 weeks later you see him marching across a parade field in a uniform and you’re like, ‘That’s my product,’ ” Gatto said of basic combat training, which is what he instructs at Fort Knox while not at the Leader’s Training Course. “It’s kind of like a parent complex.”

Gatto had been intrigued by military structure and lifestyle since childhood, leading to his participation in JROTC in high school. That is where he became hooked for good, he said.

“Once I graduated high school, I was gone,” Gatto said. “Haven’t looked back since.”

His interest in the persona of drill sergeants, such as those who once served as role models to him, motivated him to eventually request to become one himself.

“I wanted to be a part of that, kind of put my legacy in the military” Gatto said. “I kind of volunteered for it, and with the better graces of the gods above, they said ‘Hey, you got it.’ ”

He not only got the job, but excels at what he does.

“He’s very deliberate, very smart, thorough and conscientious about what he’s training,” said Lt. Col. Jeffry Williams, the platoon tactical officer for 4th Platoon. 

Gatto remembers the experience of doing push-ups under the bark of a drill sergeant, and how it helped make him the man he is today. Though he will soon leave his role as a drill sergeant at Fort Knox to head to Fort Richardson, Alaska, he still relishes his opportunity to carry on the tradition of making a difference in the lives of incoming civilians.

“It’s definitely something that has a big impact on people’s lives. You’re taking a civilian, and you’re making them a Soldier,” Gatto said. “They never forget who their drill sergeant is.”

Being a source of guidance is particularly satisfying to Gatto when he’s helping someone from a tough civilian background find his way in life.

“You get the chance to take somebody who has either a discipline problem, or came from a broken home or really didn’t have structure in their life and you give them a purpose,” he said. “You teach them, and you train them and you mentor them, you get them to where you want them. And then once you do that, you’re able to see the end product. That’s really rewarding – to see how it turns out at the end.”