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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For starters, that is what your chain of command is for and I strongly advise you to use it.
Secondly, just think how great you will sleep when you return to your residence to clean up and go back to bed.
Third, there is no reason you cannot do PT after 3 or 4 hours of sleep. The infantry has a history of fighting in major, high intensity battles for days with little to no sleep and guess who is up the same amount of time tending to the wounded and dying? Guys like you.
Surely you can do it on what your First Shirt and commander have allowed - in fact I know you can.
Finally, I work very physical 12 - 14 hour days in a hot, humid job shop that I own on just 5 hours sleep per night and happy if I get 5.5 - 6 hours on a good night. By the way - I'm 68 years old and if I can do it, surely you can; just stretch a little and experience the life of a soldier.
Secondly, just think how great you will sleep when you return to your residence to clean up and go back to bed.
Third, there is no reason you cannot do PT after 3 or 4 hours of sleep. The infantry has a history of fighting in major, high intensity battles for days with little to no sleep and guess who is up the same amount of time tending to the wounded and dying? Guys like you.
Surely you can do it on what your First Shirt and commander have allowed - in fact I know you can.
Finally, I work very physical 12 - 14 hour days in a hot, humid job shop that I own on just 5 hours sleep per night and happy if I get 5.5 - 6 hours on a good night. By the way - I'm 68 years old and if I can do it, surely you can; just stretch a little and experience the life of a soldier.
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If your perimeter was being stormed by the enemy and you only had 4-5 hours of sleep would you complain to the enemy commander?
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SPC Rich Jackson
Reductio ad absurdum..
Fighting for ones life in combat does not equate garrison shift duty. But I'll bet you waved that "crew rest" flag around at the drop of a hat tho..
Fighting for ones life in combat does not equate garrison shift duty. But I'll bet you waved that "crew rest" flag around at the drop of a hat tho..
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SSG Gerard Gailes
Yeah, I bet the enemy will allow you to go back, get your sleepy time while he annihilate the rest of your unit!
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this is too damn funny...remember being in korea coming home at curfew and drinking for a couple hours and then going to PT at 05....prob 3 hours of sleep...running from casey to hovey and back....come on man...maybe this army life isnt for you
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Poor baby, you want the mess sgt to bring you lunch? You need to go to PT.
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Put a smile on your face and show up to PT. Soldier your in the Military
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Ok, so you have to do PT, having the option of either going at 0530 or 1600 and doing it. You work from 1600 to 2400. Now your shift ends at 2400, so you leave, drive home, conduct hygiene and hop in bed to fall asleep. Then go to PT at 0530, get released at 0630 ish and drive home again, another round of hygiene and hop in bed to fall asleep. That still leaves you, assuming you fall asleep by 0900, 6 solid hours of sleep, allowing you to rise at 1500, get read and drive in.
Your options are few and nothing in the regulations that will help you. My suggestion is to do the above, make it work, show up for 0530 PT and after a bit of time, plead your case to your first Sergeant and as necessary your commanding officer.
My suggestion would be to re-orient and use the time between 2400 and 0530 for tasks that you were otherwise doing during normal waking hours. IE laundry, pressing of uniforms, paying bills, correspondence, PMI of dwelling etc.
Your options are few and nothing in the regulations that will help you. My suggestion is to do the above, make it work, show up for 0530 PT and after a bit of time, plead your case to your first Sergeant and as necessary your commanding officer.
My suggestion would be to re-orient and use the time between 2400 and 0530 for tasks that you were otherwise doing during normal waking hours. IE laundry, pressing of uniforms, paying bills, correspondence, PMI of dwelling etc.
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SSG Robert Webster
SSG Brian G. - And how many 'official' appointments are there from 1600-0000? I would bet that most appointments for this soldier could be and are scheduled earlier in the afternoon to accommodate the schedule that she is on.
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SSG Brian G.
SSG Robert Webster - "official appointments ie scheduled doctors visits, follow ups, etc are locked in and command has zero latitude or choice in the matter. The SM simply needs to schedule said appointment and provide with command structure with the scheduled date and time. The sole exception to this is when at war or deployed into a conflict zone.
Sorry but to be blunt there are ways to get things done as long as the SM stops, thinks and plans accordingly. I have worked near about every shift imaginable in the military and still managed to get in those things that needed/had to be done. Sometimes my sleep suffered, sometimes my diet, more often than not though command ate it and had to deal with my absence as I took care of what needed to be taken care of.
The problem today is NCOes not doing their jobs and taking care of the SMs under their charge. Too many now are just plain shitty, to be blunt. An SM came to me back in the day and expressed a concern, if it was legit I moved heaven and earth to make things right and get that SM taken care of. If it was tripe, the SM got told to tighten it up.
Sorry but to be blunt there are ways to get things done as long as the SM stops, thinks and plans accordingly. I have worked near about every shift imaginable in the military and still managed to get in those things that needed/had to be done. Sometimes my sleep suffered, sometimes my diet, more often than not though command ate it and had to deal with my absence as I took care of what needed to be taken care of.
The problem today is NCOes not doing their jobs and taking care of the SMs under their charge. Too many now are just plain shitty, to be blunt. An SM came to me back in the day and expressed a concern, if it was legit I moved heaven and earth to make things right and get that SM taken care of. If it was tripe, the SM got told to tighten it up.
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I agree with your time management needing work. If you can't live with it, never approach a senior with a problem that you don't have at least a couple of solutions to. They have too much on their plate to worry about everyone's feelings, their job is the mission. Help them with the mission, they will in turn help you.
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PT is normally an hour to hour an a half. that gives you 9 hours to get additional sleep before your shift. Plan your time wisely.
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I am out now and work for the Railroad on call 24/7. I usually work 12 hour days up to 15 and we can be called back to work in 10 and a half hours. Sometimes I can get a couple hours of sleep because I still have to get things done around the house or make it to an event for the kids. It all comes down to time management. Some days you will be tired like a dog, but you will appreciate the time off you do have. If you still choose to do medical after you separate a lot of those positions still work 12 hr shifts. Best of luck to you.
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SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint
12 hours and you have to drive home...and sometimes that is not close by for all people. Which is why I always tried to live close to work.
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I am now 62 years of age. I went to Iraq at the age of 50. Average sleep time for me was 4 to 5 hours of sleep for the entire deployment. You should thank your lucky stars that all you have to worry about is PT on 4 to 5 hours of sleep. You need to simply "man-up" and deal with it. If you just can't you might consider a different line of work and just get out.
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