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?

I would take this to my first line supervisor. Either they allow you to PT at 1600, when you come on shift, or they allow you to PT separately, and as long as you make height and weft and pass the PT test I don't see how they would not allow this.

If your first line supervisor can not get anything done, I would then go to the next guy up, until i got to the 1SG directly, I would quite frankly, directly, and with respect explain my specific situation to my 1SG. I would explain that since you do not get off duty till midnight, and you need to eat, and shower, etc, that you don't have time to get the needed rest to do your PT AND your shift.

I would very directly explain how your lack of sleep, is putting patients at risk on your shift at the hospital. And I would ask why the 1600 formation could not be moved to say 1400 so you can PT and then shower before your shift.

If that did not work, I would talk to one of the doctor's at the hospital and see if they can intervene.

If that doesn't work you can try the IG.

It doesn't make any sense to have a pt formation for second shift the same as the pt formation for everyone else.

The best advice I can give you is this:

Bitching is complaining without an solution. Constructive Criticism is seeing a problem, recognizing the problem, and fixing the problem. It is much easier to get what you want, if you already have a workable solution when you present your problem. That way the morons in charge don't have to try and figure it out on their own. And it sounds like you have some rocks in your chain of command.

Young man or woman, which ever is appropriate, all us vets have been through the same situation and have lived through it. Remember you are in the military, and if you can't hack the loss of sleep to carry out lawful orders, I suggest after your tour find another career in life. You was never promised a rose garden!

Suck it up buttercup.

Go to PT or leave the Army.

An 8 hour shift means you have 14 hours to do what you want, assuming your PT session is 2 hours. It sounds like you need to work on your time management. At my hospital the ER medics work 12 hour shifts and conduct PT before their shifts.

I feel that you do need your rest to function right, but at the same time its about trying to manage your time right...on deployment its usually worse depending your MOS

the key words and tricky phrases goes that you've sworn to uphold the Constitution and obey the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Following Lawful Orders.
First off, You must be able to wake from a sound sleep, evaluate the situation and respond appropriately with very little sleep. It's Not a Management Style Question, but a Needs of the Military Question.
In many cases You won't have the option of being fully rested before you are required to exert yourself. Like All those Movies point out, the bad guys won't be waiting for you to get your beauty sleep, and many of the more successful attacks take place at night, when people are sleeping.

LOL. youngster, that is something you should have worked out before you signed the contract of enlistment. That contract says you do what you told when you're told as long as the telling is lawful.

Yes, you are whining and yes I am being hard; but my hardness is a hardness that was won through many mistakes. You have a responsibility, fulfill it. If it grates on you, do not re-enlist. Until then, honor your contract so you can live with yourself.

I don't care what your rate or MO is in the military, your basic function is to fight when called upon, and fighting is much like being a starter on an NFL team, you have to be in the best shape you can be if you want to be effective, and to be anything less is to let down your teammates.

Get over yourself and go do your PT. If you're only getting 4- 5 hours of sleep, there is a problem. Is that problem scheduling or personal preference in staying up to watch a TV program, play with the baby's mother, or whatever.....when you put that shit in front of honoring your contract and doing your duty, you are going to lose.

I can't believe that this is a problem. Shut up and do as you are told.

Other responses have alluded to a problem with poor scheduling, toxic leadership, etc; while a look at the scheduling might be appropriate you are in the Army Soldier and required to perform your DUTY as required. So quit complaining, get your ass in gear and do the PT then get your sleep. Your whining reminds me of a so called soldier who wishes his mama was around to tuck him in and see that he is treated well. If this is you then get the hell out of my Army.

First let me get something out there. I am old school military, 1973-2005, So I may sound harsh but not trying to. You joined the Army and now are complaining about having to to do Army stuff, right? Well guess what, you do have to do it. The fact that you choose to act like a civilian and party all night because your shift doesn't start until 1600 is a piss poor excuse. You are not a civilian anymore and really shouldn't think like one. There is a reason to maintain your fitness levels and that is what the Army wishes you to do, so don't get bent out of shape when you are told to do it. I don't know what your mind set is on fitness, but if you are in the medical field, you will sometimes work hard and long hours given the circumstances, if you are mildly or grossly out of shape it will take a toll on you much faster and thereby making you less effective over long periods of duty requirements, this in turn will lead to your fellow personnel to pick up the slack, your slack, and this will not set well with them especially if they are of the same mind set as you and stay out all night. What you are going to end up with is a very inefficient workplace and that is when mistakes are made, and trust me as a former Medic, MP, and Range master, no one can afford mistakes, not when peoples lives are in your hands. So I might suggest that you sit down and seriously re-evaluate your life and what you want out if it because this is not going to work for you in the long run unless you make changes. This is not some summer camp where you have to just push it out for a few weeks and then go back to your regular life. This is your life now and it would be in your best interests to realize this and embrace it fully, or get out and go back to what you were doing before. Either step up, man up, quit whining, and do what you took and oath to do or move on. The choice is yours, the fact that you came here complaining about how hard your life is and asking for ways to get around it, shows me you were not ready for this in the beginning and probably should not have taken the challenge because I don't see that you are ready to accept the requirements to meet that challenge. So, take these answers with a grain of salt and make your own decisions instead of trying to cut corners.

You suck it up. The army is not about eight hours sleep it is about service to your country, sacrifice, and discipline. If those three things or any one of them is less important than sleep than handle it professionally by requesting to be chaptered out of the army for failure to adapt

Suck it up and be a man you’re not a kid anymore
I hope you never have to find out what it’s like being in a real combat
I was stuck in the jungle for nine months, how much sleep do you think we got on a day-to-day basis
Vietnam 1970 to 1971 101st airborne infantry

UNDERWAY I’m expected to stand a 12 hour watch (my division is port and starboard), attend flight quarters when it’s called away, take care of assigned maintenance, and fulfill my duties as a master helmsman. I would be lucky to get 4-5 hours of sleep over the course of 48 hours. There’s no nice way to say it but suck it up buttercup, trust me give it time and you will adjust.

Back when I was in, 85-88 we had to be ready for PT at 05:30 unless you where pulling CQ or going to sick call NO exception. Drunk, hungover, going to bed late didn't matter. My commander like to run so we where always the first out and last to come back in. My suggestion would to be a soldier and do your job. Today's military is like a boy scout or girl scout camp. Grow up and deal with it.

So worst care scenario you're off at 0000, in bed by 0100, up at 0500, and back in the sack at 0730 until 1500? I recall my plt sgt telling me the Army only guarantees 2 hrs of sleep and that's only in peacetime. Grow a set, bucko, this ain't middle school.

Go to PT that will solve your problem

Good question and there are some GREAT responses. As a Company commander with a extremely intelligent, squared away 1SG, our response would be simple. Treat everyone the the same across the board when it comes to formation times, discipline, EEO, EVERYTHING.

BLUF...

Continue to adhere to the policies put in place by your Command team and then, only after you have proven your respect to their guidance as far as PT goes, then come up with a solution for them.

State your solution respectfully and above all ARTICULATE the problem you have at hand. Remember, no one wants to hear excuses, they want to listen to reasons as to why policies need to be changes and especially if they have to treat a certain person, or group of people, differently than the rest...this way they can justify their actions if other Soldiers complain about it to an even higher chain of Command. Make sure to suggest an alternate route that encompasses a fair solution to your problem, in other words.....do not suggest to your 1SG cutting your PT time in half of what the other Soldiers have to do or suggest cutting out PT altogether....that is unfair to the rest and your Command team will never take you seriously again...

Embrace your situation and be grateful for each and every day you are in uniform....that is my diplomatic approach to all issues i have with my higher chains of command...

Your leadership should be allowing for different schedules and letting the senior NCO of your shift run a different PT session. It's not rocket science.