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?

As a commander's driver during my first tour in Germany, I often got short sleep while still being required to deal with ALL company functions, including the dreaded PT formation (while carrying the company colors, no less). Make the formation, and get your sleep AFTER the formation. You have plenty of time before and after the scheduled time to take care of personal business, so bone up on your time management skills. Hooah!

Good evening SPC Ashley D, there is nothing to solve. I understand what you are saying 100% but you have to look at the big picture. The big picture is, they don't want to chapter you guys out for failing 2 consecutive APFT..... I truly believe the new chain put a lot of thought and consideration to the directive they gave and have you guys best interest at heart. Remember back in basic training you never received 8 solid/ continuous hours of sleep. I understand you work the 1600-0000 shift, but if you manage your time, you still can get up to 11 or 12 hours of total sleep despite doing PT at 0530..... the only other option is to score 300 on the APFT, then you don't have to be out there at 0530.........

If you can’t make an 0530 muster for PT, how in the world did you make it through Basic and AIT? I can remember having to prep for inspection, square my belongings away, launder my BDU’s, prepare for next rotation, fill out request for TDY’s and still maintain an 0500 muster for PT, ON ZERO sleep! Sometimes that is the life of E-1 through E-4 soldiers! Just deal!

If you think your situation is too hard and you want relief...jeez, I’m having a hard time remaining civil here... sure glad you didn’t join the Navy. One reason is your Chief Petty Office would have you for breakfast...and maybe a couple of other meals. Secondly, your fellow sailors with a little time in would ride you and probably give you a nickname until you proved your worth again. Third? Good luck on further advancement.

What any enlisted or officer quickly learns is that their first few yrs (with a few exceptions) determine promotions and assignments.

In other words, suck it up, your in the big leagues now. Your in a very dangerous occupation and can be sent to places most would never send their worst enemy...well maybe second worst. There is no choice once you signed that contract.

Think of the ones on Normandy, Iwo, Hue.

The answer to this is Mission Command. The 1SG needs to build a cohesive team through mutual trust. This is where the supervisor/PSG has a talk with his Top about this shifts PT plan and gives him the PT plan that he will personally be involved in that takes place before the Individuals on that shift go to work call. There is no reason to micromanage everyone’s PT schedule when there is leadership between the command team and this SPC. That is the entire reason for mission command.

Seriously you are apart of the Military. You are whining. You are fortunate enough to have an option.

SPC
I've been in the Army for 13 years with 6 of them being active. I understand what it is like to consistently work odd hours. It makes sense for you to be sleeping when you get off work in order to take care of personal matters when businesses are actually open. You're not going to pick up dry cleaning or go to the bank at 0200. There would be times I would be playing piano at the CG's house until 2300. By the time I packed up and drove home, I wasn't expected to be at an arbitrary PT formation. The Army schedules PT at that time for people who work daytime hours, not someone working 2nd shift.

The new command team is acting in traditional Army fashion, mass punishment. Your squad leader and platoon sergeant would hopefully advocate for you.

Come up with an alternate plan for those working 2nd shift. The Army has a log form you can fill out. The Army is moving to the ACFT so being in the gym is better than doing the bend and reach outside. State you will take a diagnostic in 60 to 90 days doing PT on your plan. If you fail...you're doing unit PT...if you are meeting the standard then continue. This could all be put in a formal counseling statement about what would be expected of you if the 1SG approves.

Soldier. You are whining. That is about the most trivial complaint I have ever heard. You are in the Army. Please tell me you are posting this as a joke.

I'm with SFC Davila perhaps you should change careers!

There really is no issue and this is not something you have to "solve." You fall in and do your PT when you're told. The more difficult the circumstances, the harder you should go at it. In a line of work when you have to constantly be prepared, 5 hours of sleep can be a luxury.