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?

There is no problem to solve! In combat, are you going to be able to say that you will stand watch, go on a patrol, man a post, defend the perimeter, etc., only when you have had enough sleep? Put on your big girl panties and do your job (part of which involves PT).

This is where your First Line has to fulfill his responsibilities as your superior and address the situation on your behalf and on behalf of your section. Does s/he have the political skills to negotiate with the 1SGT? Does s/he have the moral courage to take the issue to the Commander, if unsuccessful with the 1SGT? Just as important, does s/he have a plan for how your section will fulfill the requirement to engage in PT?

I suggest that your section assemble for PT formation, led by your First Line, at a specified time that allows sufficient sleep and still allows all to meet their shift times. Now, can your First Line sell that to your 1SGT and Commander?

WOW as a Jr. Enlisted(Whatever that is) i can't believe you are even asking that question. If you are ordered to PT,YOU GO TO PT. Attempt to speak with the Platoon Sgt and explain the situation calmly and professionally. If he cant be reasoned with you have a chain of Command. But in the meantime DO the PT. DUDE 5 hours of sleep!!! That's a vacation!!

You are a scrub!

I think most of the answers are missing the issue that the 1SG has established two periods for PT. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. This is far from a toxic leadership issue. It is one of basic military readiness. If the SPC chooses to go to the 1600 then he is coming off of a full 8 hours of sleep. Sorry folks, I think the 1SG is in the right.

I get it, your work schedule is different than most and should be considered when adopting/developing a PT program. Maybe the 1SG could detail one of the NCOs in your section to lead PT another time of day.

Perhaps you should explain to your supervisor the necessity to be at the 1600 formation.

Suck it up. Do what you're told. The only way they can break you is if you allow it. Consider it a test of your fortitude. Don't give anyone the satisfaction of turning you into a whiner. Keep the faith. Follow the chain of command procedures if you feel things aren't correct.

How bout you fuckin sleep from 0700 to 1500. There I just gave you 8hrs of sleep. Your sleep pattern is not the priority. Manning your position and conducting you duties from 1600-0000 is. ADJUST YOUR PRIORITIES, get it done and be the best at it.

Going on 4-5 hours of sleep is typical in the military. In the Navy we were often told “you’ll have time to sleep when you are dead.” Apparently for some sailors stationed on 2 different DDG’s out of Japan, that actually became the case. During my 20 years of service, the typical attitude was that sleep was a luxury. In the case of the Navy, they’ve cut the size gor far too long, so now they’re trying to do the same amount of work with less than a third of the resources. SLEEP IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, as you need to sleep for the body to repair itself. I think you may need to over the 1SG’s head on this. It’s one thing to run on little sleep when you’re deployed, but when you’re not, going without sleep shouldn’t become a normal daily routine. Sounds to me like your 1SG is more interested in butt kissing the new commander than he is in taking proper care of his people. THAT SHOULD NEVER BE THE CASE. Throughout history, one of the prime causes of accidents in the military is a lack of sleep.

SPC Davis: reading your post and some of the replies there are a few possible ways to address the situation however, if the 1SG and the CDR feels like PT is not been taken serious or there is an issue with failed APFTs or body fat issues in the ranks, then I can see the issue. I have never seen a shift that crazy on a clinic or hospital before. Now better time management is a way but also may not be sustainable in the long run for that unit. My recommendation is to talk to your supervisor and find a way to do the PT session. In my opinion if I have Soldiers who does PT daily and is crushing the PT test then as long as thats covered and you performance is to standard we are good. In the other hand if you can't manage your time, performance suffers and you can't pass the APFT soon ACFT or can't pass the tape test then I will have to involve your first line supervisors to work and manage PT sessions and are involved with the progress of their Soldiers. It is a workable situation but with the new ACFT around the corner there is a lot of training to do to be able to pass that physical fitness test. Prepare for it and crush it then they will see how you can take care of your own physical readiness and most likely will be able to work with you.

Sleep deprivation was the norm. Have you talk to the shift supervisor about modifying your shift?

Do it. THEN explain to your NCOIC why you should be able to PT @ a different time.
Don't do the typical whiner thing. Lose a couple hours, I'm assuming you're young, your'e strong & you'll live. Man up & hooha.
Msgt ret. USMC

Sounds like the snowflake generation complaint.

Have you explained your hours and suggested a way that you would do PT at a different hour with a way for the 1SGT to verify? If he still requires it, suck it up. You are in the military

LOL.... "back in the day" we called it the "Budweiser Banana Run"...
We got in from the Strasse at 0430...changed into our "banana suits"
(PT Uniforms were yellow back then "Safety First")
did our stretches/pushups/ situps ....and ran 5 miles smelling of beer and puke
......Puke because people kept swinging off to the side of the road to get rid of that last six pack

....then a quick shit-shower-shave and off to the motorpool, the rifle range or a 25 mile roadmarch out into the German woodline and back

There's a lot of "suck it up, buttercup" response... and while I get that, I do think the command isn't acting properly. Having one Soldier who is tasked with showing up for a command function on a regular basis, right in the middle of the "off-shift" is questionable. Yes, I know, we're in the military 24/7, but there's some strong differential treatment.

This may be the best option. https://themilitarywallet.com/get-out-of-the-military-early/

So many whining ass kids in the Military today, in 2008 I join the guard at 48 years old because I missed the Military. I was shocked at the level of maturity within my unit, I have never seen such lazy troops as I did within this unit. I did a PT test in 2009 and passed, none of these 20 year olds that I work with passed..............My last PT test was in 1986. And this guy is complaining about 4 to 5 hours sleep, I would be embarrassed to even post this!

So many pussy's in the Military today, grow the fuck up and do your job!