| 100% | SGT | 3 | Officer who drills recruits in boot camp: Abbr. |
| 57% | SGT | 3 | Officer who drills new recruits: Abbr. |
| 39% | SGTS | 4 | Boot-camp officers: Abbr. |
| 35% | SGTS | 4 | Boot camp barkers: Abbr. |
| 35% | SGT | 3 | Boot camp boss: Abbr. |
| 34% | SARGE | 5 | Boot camp drill instructor, informally |
| 34% | AWOL | 4 | Missing from boot camp: Abbr. |
| 34% | AWOL | 4 | Gone missing from boot camp: Abbr. |
| 33% | NARC | 4 | Officer who may not be in uniform |
| 32% | ELIOTNESS | 9 | Officer who was still hunting in the 1920s-'30s |
| 32% | DDS | 3 | One who drills, fills and bills: Abbr. |
| 31% | ENSIGNOFTHEZODIAC | 17 | Naval officer who's an expert in astrology? |
| 31% | COLINPOWELL | 11 | Army officer who met 39-Across in 25-Down |
| 31% | UHURA | 5 | "Star Trek" officer who famously kissed Kirk in 1968 |
| 31% | RET | 3 | Abbr. in many an officer's title |
| 30% | SRS | 3 | Students who are in their final year: Abbr. |
| 30% | DDS | 3 | Person who knows the drill?: Abbr. |
| 30% | ANTONIO | 7 | Banderas who voiced Puss in Boots |
| 30% | NCOS | 4 | Boot camp VIPs (Abbr.) |
| 30% | MATTHEWPERRY | 12 | "Friends" actor [or] Naval officer who sailed to Japan in 1853 |
| 30% | LAFAYETTE | 9 | French military officer who commanded American troops in the Revolutionary War |
| 29% | ICESKATES | 9 | Boots with blades for those who dance in a rink |
| 29% | PUSS | 4 | ___ in Boots, character from a fairy tale who is seen in the "Shrek" franchise |
| 28% | SGT | 3 | Rank of an officer conducting army drills, typically: Abbr. |
| 28% | LYLEALZADO | 10 | NFL player who appeared in "Ernest Goes to Camp" |
| 28% | DEBRA | 5 | Winger who starred in An Officer and a Gentleman |
| 28% | ANTONIO | 7 | Banderas who voiced Puss in Boots in "Shrek" movies |
| 28% | VPS | 3 | Elected officials who ride in Air Force Two: Abbr. |
| 28% | SGT | 3 | Drill instructor's rank, in the Army: abbr. |
| 28% | BANDERAS | 8 | Spanish actor who voiced Puss in Boots |