William Carroll exudes a "just the facts, please" attitude as he goes about his responsibilities as an Army reservist and college student.

A non-commissioned officer (NCO) assigned to drill sergeant unit in Renton, Carroll served six years on active duty and served two tours of duty in Iraq.

He knows the value of teamwork.

Carroll related how eight new soldiers would not work as a team.  In order to instill in them the need to function as one, he made them lie down on the ground, interlock their arms and do 25 sit-ups.

"Before long, one or two of them would begin to lag, and the line would begin to sag.  I would make them do the exercise over," he explained.

It took them four-and-a-half hours to do the sit-ups.

That is a no nonsense approach to instilling teamwork.

Carroll will soon relocate to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and serve a year tour as a drill instructor.

For a man who joined the Army to find focus in his life and go to college, Carroll will now help mold recruits into soldiers.

He believes he is competent and effective.

"I knew when I enlisted that I had to make my own way in life," he said as he sat in a history instructor's office at Pierce College.

"In order to do that, I had to be focused, responsible, and this is a message I can bring as a drill instructor."

The Air Force helped Carroll join the Army.

He joined the Army only because the Air Force recruiting office next door was closed.

"I was living with my best friend; we were renting a house; we were broke; it was just after 9/11," explained Carroll.

The two men decided to join the military, thinking it would be the Air Force.

But with the recruiting office closed, the two simply went next door and joined the Army.

"The recruiter said, ‘Join us,' and the rest is history," said Carroll.

As a (NCO) Carroll believes the greatest value he has in working with fellow soldiers is respect.

"Respect is the most important value, without it you can't have the other six values," explained Carroll.

He went on to explain that respect starts with how soldiers view themselves and their fellow service members.

"Respect yourself and the men and women you're with."

As he got up to go to class, Carroll turned and said, "Lead by example - show and do what you say you will do."