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
LOL this is really good stuff and not even April fools day.
I guess I’m officially one old grunt now. Because I’ve heard everything.
What the hell is going on? I can’t even imagine a fat S4 clerk asking this question.
I guess I’m officially one old grunt now. Because I’ve heard everything.
What the hell is going on? I can’t even imagine a fat S4 clerk asking this question.
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I am sure this is not a daily event. Suck it up and go PT. Sleep is over rated any way
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Be thankful you aren't in a line unit. We'd come back from the field early morning, get cleaned up and be told PT was at normal time. Married guys wouldn't even bother going home, stuff like that normal tho we didn't like it anymore than you apparently.
4-5 hours of sleep is more than many troops get during the normal scheme of things, this may suck but if shit ever hits the fan you'll likely get by w/far less rest and a lot more stress
4-5 hours of sleep is more than many troops get during the normal scheme of things, this may suck but if shit ever hits the fan you'll likely get by w/far less rest and a lot more stress
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Go to PT. Take a nap during your break before you have to report to work or during lunch.
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I see this is old, but I’ll go on record anyway in case someone else is dealing with this problem.
I was an Army chaplain, so you can imagine I would want to display a measure of sensitivity to your situation. My bottom-line answer is that you need to go to PT.
There are some valid reasons that a Soldier should be excused from PT, but lack of sleep isn’t one of them. I know it must be very hard pushing through when you feel so exhausted but nevertheless, you need to be at PT.
Think of it this way. When you go to the field, you may not be able to get an ideal amount of sleep, but you still must focus on the mission. This is especially the case, when it’s a combat deployment
Each time I was deployed, it was common for me and my Soldiers to get little sleep. It was rough and unfortunate, but other than very rare instances, the mission must come first. Getting little sleep now might very well prepare you to be better equipped to handle a combat deployment when lives would be at risk if you failed to do your jobs to the best of your ability.
Remember this. Regardless of our MOS, our job is to be combat multipliers. Plain and simple. Our job is to win wars in the most humane way possible so that ultimately, we can save lives in the long run.
There are a few other things I would say. Perhaps you could talk to your platoon SGT (after letting your squad leader know) and see if there’s something he/she can do to make your schedule easier or allow you to do individual PT. Perhaps you could negotiate and offer to do some other kind of duty that would make up for their granting you some accommodations. If they won’t, then I’m afraid you just need to push through.
And I would not recommend going to your 1SGT. That may not go well for you. And certainly, don’t do it without your platoon SGT’s knowledge. That would go very, very badly for you. Trust me on this.
Another consideration (though it doesn’t seem to apply to your situation) is that I’m pretty sure that regulations state that a soldier is required to be allowed four hours sleep a night except in extreme circumstances, such a combat operations. Even then, four hours may not be always possible.
If your 1SGT or CDR was regularly putting you in situations where you couldn’t get at least four hours sleep for extended periods of time and there were not extreme mission demands (such as combat operations) and he/she is consistently unwilling to hear you out, then it might be time to seek out your chaplain. That would be an ethics violation that requires chaplain intervention. I’ve been in situations where CDR’s NCO’s were abusing their Soldiers and I had to intervene. Those situations are rare, but unfortunately, they do happen. I don’t think this applies to your situation though.
The only other thing I would say is that if you genuinely think it’s a health issue, you could go to sick call to see if there’s something you can do to make your sleep more restful. However, I wouldn’t make a habit of going to sick call unless your pretty sure it could be a health-related issue. That would go badly for your as well. The bottom line is that our job is to be combat multipliers and that means being in good physical shape. That means a Soldier needs to be at PT.
I know it’s hard, but that’s part of what it means to be a Soldier. I hope this helps.
I was an Army chaplain, so you can imagine I would want to display a measure of sensitivity to your situation. My bottom-line answer is that you need to go to PT.
There are some valid reasons that a Soldier should be excused from PT, but lack of sleep isn’t one of them. I know it must be very hard pushing through when you feel so exhausted but nevertheless, you need to be at PT.
Think of it this way. When you go to the field, you may not be able to get an ideal amount of sleep, but you still must focus on the mission. This is especially the case, when it’s a combat deployment
Each time I was deployed, it was common for me and my Soldiers to get little sleep. It was rough and unfortunate, but other than very rare instances, the mission must come first. Getting little sleep now might very well prepare you to be better equipped to handle a combat deployment when lives would be at risk if you failed to do your jobs to the best of your ability.
Remember this. Regardless of our MOS, our job is to be combat multipliers. Plain and simple. Our job is to win wars in the most humane way possible so that ultimately, we can save lives in the long run.
There are a few other things I would say. Perhaps you could talk to your platoon SGT (after letting your squad leader know) and see if there’s something he/she can do to make your schedule easier or allow you to do individual PT. Perhaps you could negotiate and offer to do some other kind of duty that would make up for their granting you some accommodations. If they won’t, then I’m afraid you just need to push through.
And I would not recommend going to your 1SGT. That may not go well for you. And certainly, don’t do it without your platoon SGT’s knowledge. That would go very, very badly for you. Trust me on this.
Another consideration (though it doesn’t seem to apply to your situation) is that I’m pretty sure that regulations state that a soldier is required to be allowed four hours sleep a night except in extreme circumstances, such a combat operations. Even then, four hours may not be always possible.
If your 1SGT or CDR was regularly putting you in situations where you couldn’t get at least four hours sleep for extended periods of time and there were not extreme mission demands (such as combat operations) and he/she is consistently unwilling to hear you out, then it might be time to seek out your chaplain. That would be an ethics violation that requires chaplain intervention. I’ve been in situations where CDR’s NCO’s were abusing their Soldiers and I had to intervene. Those situations are rare, but unfortunately, they do happen. I don’t think this applies to your situation though.
The only other thing I would say is that if you genuinely think it’s a health issue, you could go to sick call to see if there’s something you can do to make your sleep more restful. However, I wouldn’t make a habit of going to sick call unless your pretty sure it could be a health-related issue. That would go badly for your as well. The bottom line is that our job is to be combat multipliers and that means being in good physical shape. That means a Soldier needs to be at PT.
I know it’s hard, but that’s part of what it means to be a Soldier. I hope this helps.
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AR 30-22
FM 22-51
FM 6-22.5 CH 4
Basically you are required a minimum of 4 hours of continuous sleep with 6-8 hours preferred to maximize the effectiveness of the Soldier.
Now, if the 1SG says go to PT he is the NCOIC and it his world that you just operate within. Drink a cup of suck it up and make yourself a stronger Soldier. You are in the Army not a civilian job. There are no days off, just down time.
So, if you feel compelled to challenge your top NCO in the company spouting off regulations...let me know how that goes for you. He is either going to admire that you took the time to research regs OR more than likely smoke you until he gets tired (staying within regulations in the most creative way possible without getting in trouble).
The catch all answer, ask your first line supervisor and quit being weak. What are you going to do in actual war when PT, stamina, and discipline will keep you alive? Nah, 1SG I'm not getting up yet for the mission. I've only had 3 1/2 hours sleep. POG.
FM 22-51
FM 6-22.5 CH 4
Basically you are required a minimum of 4 hours of continuous sleep with 6-8 hours preferred to maximize the effectiveness of the Soldier.
Now, if the 1SG says go to PT he is the NCOIC and it his world that you just operate within. Drink a cup of suck it up and make yourself a stronger Soldier. You are in the Army not a civilian job. There are no days off, just down time.
So, if you feel compelled to challenge your top NCO in the company spouting off regulations...let me know how that goes for you. He is either going to admire that you took the time to research regs OR more than likely smoke you until he gets tired (staying within regulations in the most creative way possible without getting in trouble).
The catch all answer, ask your first line supervisor and quit being weak. What are you going to do in actual war when PT, stamina, and discipline will keep you alive? Nah, 1SG I'm not getting up yet for the mission. I've only had 3 1/2 hours sleep. POG.
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