A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces, fire department, or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. Foot drill, military step, and marching are typically taught by drill instructors.
In the Australian Army, the staff responsible for training recruits are known as Recruit Instructors. They teach recruits discipline, fieldcraft, marksmanship, service knowledge and drill.
Each recruit platoon is commanded by recruit instructors, usually consisting of a lieutenant, a sergeant, and up to four instructors of the corporal or bombardier rank. A recruit instructor can be identified by a 1st Recruit Training Battalion colour patch on his or her slouch hat and a small Recruit Instructor badge worn on the right breast pocket, if the position has been held long enough.
Members from all Corps in the Army are eligible to become recruit instructors, including females. Experience as a recruit instructor is often a prerequisite to senior non-commissioned appointments in the military.
In the Royal Australian Navy, there are instructors at HMAS Cerberus, where the Recruit School course is held, and HMAS Creswell, where the NEOC (New Entry Officer Course) is held, as well as at ADFA.
Each division is made up of one of the following:
Divisional officer (a lieutenant)
Divisional chief petty officer
Divisional petty officer
Divisional junior sailor (a leading seaman, who is the class instructor)
Divisional able seaman (some large divisions may have a few able seamen serving as assistant instructors)
In the Australian Federal Police, drill instructors are trained and accredited by the Recognition and Ceremonial team. Each accredited drill instructor wears an AFP pin with the wording "DI" positioned 5 mm above their name plate or citations. Drill instructors are also issued with a black coloured Hellweg brand leather basket weave Sam Browne belt and strap. The AFP is the only police agency to formally train and accredit police drill instructors in Australia, with a number of New South Wales Police Force members attached to the NSW Police College holding that qualification.