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?
Company Commander
Physical Training
Army Regulations
Policy
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 1688
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I was not in the Army 39 years ago, I was in the Air Force and the idea someone could complain about orders to assemble is insane. Wake up snowflakes, you gave your body to the Military for whatever length you signed up for. If you are in the field, playing in the sandbox or some place of conflict, the enemy does not care your sick or hungover. Suck it up and endure.
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Respectfully ,
Should You ever find yourself in a "combat Theater" and I don't know if you haven't already, or even worse as it has happened in the past, some radical makes it on to a base , your base, You will not be able to tell the aggressor you only had a few hours sleep, They will have at you regardless of your fatigue, So with all due respect to your service, Thank you, But please Report to your PT...
Should You ever find yourself in a "combat Theater" and I don't know if you haven't already, or even worse as it has happened in the past, some radical makes it on to a base , your base, You will not be able to tell the aggressor you only had a few hours sleep, They will have at you regardless of your fatigue, So with all due respect to your service, Thank you, But please Report to your PT...
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LCDR (Join to see)
Why does everyone seem to have this mindset that we should treat every day of someone's service as if it was combat? That's not "preparing for combat," that's "destroying retention."
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Best response: suck it up and do the PT. Get a good couple of nights rest before you have to go short on sleep and you should be fine.
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LCDR (Join to see)
That's not a "get a couple of nights rest." That's her weekly routine. Every week. Every month.
I can't imagine what names my Skipper would be calling me if I had my Sailors work 0700-1500... and then come in at 2000 M-F as their normal working hours. I'm pretty sure "get him the hell out of my squadron" is what he would have told PERS.
I can't imagine what names my Skipper would be calling me if I had my Sailors work 0700-1500... and then come in at 2000 M-F as their normal working hours. I'm pretty sure "get him the hell out of my squadron" is what he would have told PERS.
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Suck it up buttercup. Follow the orders then and only then, after complete compliance do you use your chain of command. Keep your military bearing. 4-5 hours of sleep is enough.
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A friend of mine who happens to be a 1SG in a Recruiting Unit told me I wouldn't like the Army anymore because it's not the Army I remember. In my day you went to PT not a question (unless you were a 300 scorer), you showed up Profile and all, after report those not participating in PT fell out to the back of formation to explain why they weren't participating (you better have a real reason). The PT formation also served as our way to account for our Soliders. I'm rambling but you are whining, stop go to PT get back take a shower lay down and I'll bet you'll sleep well.
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Go to PT until you are told otherwise. My question to you Ashley is what have you done to bring a solution to your chain of command? Leadership hears all kinds of problems from their junior enlisted, but rarely do they get possible solutions. Old retired guys like me have endured many nights of little to no sleep due to operational commitment. That is probably why you don’t see much support, but I am willing to bet that if you show up for PT and give it your best along with alternative idea like PT at 1400 for you and your shift that you might see a change.
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SPC (Join to see)
I didn't go back and re read the orginal post but it seemed like there were two times to do PT. And they are using the earlier one in their excuse. Which as I recall is about when morning chow opens or just after u would get back from PT. I know of no one that would get off of a shift and go directly to sleep.
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LCDR (Join to see)
I think the point is that she's brining it up here to get advice before taking action. In theory, that's part of what RP is for.
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You can teach your body to sleep from 0100 to 0500 do your PT and then have a nice day. Later in the afternoon catch a few ZZZZ and go to work. Lifes a bitch and then you die.
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What happens anywhere else is not relevant to this issue. The first sgt is not thinking or interested in this soldiers issue that the 1sgt created. Sm shift starts when afternoon pt starts and his shift ends 5.5 hours before morning pt subtract 1.5 hours for travel prep and eating after work leaves 4 hours for sleep which is not enough for day after day. one solution would be for top to pick him up join him for pt and take him back to sm quarters after pt. ill bet top will figure something out that is reasonable pretty quick
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SGT Jon Mullins
What about the rest of the day from after PT until duty starts again at 1600? I’m sure there’s enough time in there somewhere.
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SPC (Join to see)
I use to get up at 430-5am and go until 10-12 and do that six days a week. And unless I had something special to do I slept until 10am. I Coached 4 sports in addition to my military duties and was an athlete myself and trained for both Marathons and Wrestling and ran up to 25 miles for training runs and lifted weights right after I finished my runs or my wrestling workouts. hell I did my last two PT tests doing the run running backwards all of the way. The worst I did was 3rd the other time I finished 1st. Why did I do it? Cause maxing the run was really easy for me and I wanted to find out how I could do going backwards. And when my Co. had morning PT I did that also. In civilian life I would work 12-14 hour days and do a run and other PT that would take up half an hour up to an hour of my time at the end of my day.
In basic pulled guard duty like everyone else and CQ/CQ runner when I was in Perm party and went and did what I was supposed to do.
If I was ever to be called into war I want to know that the people I am with followed orders period and didn't whine or cry about it. I do not trust people with my life that do that crap. I go to war my 1st two jobs are to follow my orders and to come back Alive. Best way to come back alive is to know that those around u didn't try to skate out on their jobs ever.
In basic pulled guard duty like everyone else and CQ/CQ runner when I was in Perm party and went and did what I was supposed to do.
If I was ever to be called into war I want to know that the people I am with followed orders period and didn't whine or cry about it. I do not trust people with my life that do that crap. I go to war my 1st two jobs are to follow my orders and to come back Alive. Best way to come back alive is to know that those around u didn't try to skate out on their jobs ever.
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Honestly, I went in as a WAC and never would have dared presume to question the rigorous physical training ; that was preparing us to function in a tactical situation~! War is the profession of a soldier. My proudest moment was selection for an Airborne Deployment unit~! An Airborne-D & everyone needed us & we had to be ready , 24/7...immediate, direct infantry support. Honor your service, do as required & be grateful for it..."soldier up".
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LCDR (Join to see)
She's not questioning PT; she's questioning whether it's reasonable to be asked to told to come back to work 5 hours after her shift ends, every workday.
My view is, while it may be allowable, it's certainly not good leadership. Unfortunately, in the military, supposed leaders focus on what they CAN do, not what they should do.
My view is, while it may be allowable, it's certainly not good leadership. Unfortunately, in the military, supposed leaders focus on what they CAN do, not what they should do.
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Having gone to Ft. Bragg, N.C. & been trained as an airborne, infantry, tactical, signal soldier, I smile.
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