Posted on Jun 12, 2019
I am being told to go to PT by the command on only 4-5 hours of sleep. As a junior enlisted, how do I solve this problem?
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We have a new 1SG and new commander. The 1SG noticed one day that only 5 people in the whole company showed up to PT. Now he put out to all the platoon Sergeants that everyone must show up to PT at either the 0530 formation or the 1600 formation.
However, my section is the only one in the hospital that has a 1600-0000 shift. I am being told by my first line that the 1SG says that I have to be at the morning formation, no exceptions.
I don’t want to sound like I’m whining but at the same time it’s unfortunate that I have to explain to myself as to why this isn’t right.
As a junior enlisted I do feel stuck.
How do I bring this issue up and solve this effectively and professionally?
Also: Do you know of any Army Regulations that can support anything?
However, my section is the only one in the hospital that has a 1600-0000 shift. I am being told by my first line that the 1SG says that I have to be at the morning formation, no exceptions.
I don’t want to sound like I’m whining but at the same time it’s unfortunate that I have to explain to myself as to why this isn’t right.
As a junior enlisted I do feel stuck.
How do I bring this issue up and solve this effectively and professionally?
Also: Do you know of any Army Regulations that can support anything?
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 1688
Is this a legitimate question or are you trying to gather some good material to use when you chew someone’s ass later in your career?
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You have to make PT formation daily. Choose one of the two times and change your schedule to fit the times. I ran a HHB and had similar issues I just crushed the PSG when his soldiers failed then they all did PT with me.
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Seriously? You have the opportunity for, up to a 4 or 5 hour nap before PT and a full nights sleep after PT! Here is your answer's, change into your PT uniform at 0001, take a nap, GO TO PT FORMATION at 0530, shower after PT, have fun off duty, sleep, back to the hospital for 1600. Lather, rinse, repeat. Oh, and pray you never get the chance to go to a leadership coarse like RANGER school where you may only get the opportunity for 2 - 3 hours rest in a 24 hour period and still need to be able to make viable decisions and lead troops. My advice is, finish your enlistment and ETS. Apparently you are not cut out for the military.
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Hit the rack at the end of your shift, get up, go PT, go back to bed. Duh.
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it's part of being a soldier go ahead and do it !!!!! afterall what helps will keep you in shape it's part of training no matter what
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WTF? Stay out of the damn club when you know you have PT the next day. Grow up buttercup.
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You're incorrectly assuming that time to sleep is required to be provided during nighttime hours. You have all day to sleep. Tens of thousands of people (not just in the military) work mid-shifts and are able to figure it out. Why you think you're special? You're in the E4 Mafia....figure it out.
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You don’t solve the problem, you man up and deal with the PT, it’s part of the job, no pitiful excuses.
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The military is definitely not for you. You can't stop in the middle of combat to get your 8 hours sleep on your timeline. Never heard of such pettiness.
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how about this... walk into 1SG office and tell him that you think it's fucked up that you have to do PT after your midnight rest of 5 hours has been interrupted... You also believe his reasonings to be offensive to the entire medical community as everyone who gets's off at midnight is now being inconvenienced... All while, tell 1SG straight up that you're no longer doing HIS PT program because you work in the medical field and know how stressful it is on the human body to force it to stresses beyond normal sleep patterns.
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Ahhhh welcome to to the wonderful medical side of shift work. I worked 19:00-07:00 for over 10 years, but I loved night shift so would volunteer for it. Funny thing how me craving night shift looked to the command as an eager young officer "stepping up". It also helped that I was prior enlisted so I knew when they asked why. I replied with, "Ma'am I feel at my rank and experience level I would be better suited on the night shift where I can better develop my skillset while the higher officers can work during the day due to more facetime with command level and patient/family perception of a higher level officer corps when they are admitted to the hospital or come back from surgery."
To address your situation. It sucks and you embrace the suck. You must obey all lawful orders, however, it does not mean you cannot question orders after the fact. Any time you question an order it should follow a few simple guidelines. You should never offer a complaint without offering a solution. Your complaint and solution must have the mission first. Do not make it about personal preference or what is "fair" I am assuming a few things that you may have left out, but when you said only 5 people showed up for the 05:30 formation, The rest of the company was at the 16:00 formation? That would make sense. Anyone would rather do PT during work ours than at 05:30. The commander set up 2 times for formations due to shift work in the hospital. You are a shift worker and have a valid point of why the 05:30 formation is not optimal for you. Your chain of command does not stop at the first link. You present your case to your immediate supervisor and if you feel you are getting the "because I told you to" vibe with no other reason, then go to the 1SG and up until the commander is involved. Never jump the chain unless you notify the last link you left off at and also make damn sure you are attending those 05:30 formations while making your grievance noted. For official guidance. Look up: *ATP 6-22.5 A LEADER’S GUIDE TO SOLDIER HEALTH AND FITNESS
FEBRUARY 2016.
To address your situation. It sucks and you embrace the suck. You must obey all lawful orders, however, it does not mean you cannot question orders after the fact. Any time you question an order it should follow a few simple guidelines. You should never offer a complaint without offering a solution. Your complaint and solution must have the mission first. Do not make it about personal preference or what is "fair" I am assuming a few things that you may have left out, but when you said only 5 people showed up for the 05:30 formation, The rest of the company was at the 16:00 formation? That would make sense. Anyone would rather do PT during work ours than at 05:30. The commander set up 2 times for formations due to shift work in the hospital. You are a shift worker and have a valid point of why the 05:30 formation is not optimal for you. Your chain of command does not stop at the first link. You present your case to your immediate supervisor and if you feel you are getting the "because I told you to" vibe with no other reason, then go to the 1SG and up until the commander is involved. Never jump the chain unless you notify the last link you left off at and also make damn sure you are attending those 05:30 formations while making your grievance noted. For official guidance. Look up: *ATP 6-22.5 A LEADER’S GUIDE TO SOLDIER HEALTH AND FITNESS
FEBRUARY 2016.
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I can remember getting 11 hrs sleep in 7 days we were depoloyed of course but having been in units where an overnight shift was required the people know you must be at a morning formation but you should be released to do PT on your own, I agree if you dont like the need to show up you might want to get into a new job where you presence is not mandated. Good luck
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SPC Davis,"I don’t want to sound like I’m whining but at the same time it’s unfortunate that I have to explain to myself as to why this isn’t right." I will admit up front, that I have not worked in the medical field, most of my experience with the medical field has been with combat medics that try their damnedest to keep my wounded buddies and subordinates alive, and the trauma teams a the CASH. So with that in mind, it sounds to me like you are whining. As others have said, modify YOUR schedule and go to PT.
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Talk to your ward master first no gripping just facts. And you can go back to bed afterwards. I worked 12 hour shifts and did PT on my days off with my CO’s full support.
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