Posted on Jun 12, 2019
SPC(P) Medical Laboratory Specialist
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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?
Edited 6 y ago
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PFC Matt Ochmanski
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Well buttercup, I served as an MP. I’ve worked a rotating shift 06:00-14:00, 14:00-22:00, and 22:00-06:00. There are days that we would come off the night shift and have to report for the middle shift. We normally did PT before shift, get dismissed to shower and then report back for weapon draw and Guardmount inspection. Then head to the MP station for the shift briefing. So the normal days were 14+ hours. It’s the Army! We had to stay in shape and not for the APFT but for our lives. If you’re complaining about this? I think you’ve never deployed or done field exercises. Wait till you do! You hit the ground running till the mission is done. Then you’re able to get some rest! The army is not all about Garrison work in a hospital. Sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves suck it up and do what is needed on no sleep.
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SP5 Gerbal Geek
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Four hours rest. That was the number when I was in. Guard duty, two on, four off. Suck it up butter cup. Do the PT and go back to sleep. Quit your bitchen. You probably need the PT. It is good for you.
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1SG Gary Owens
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Read some of the comments they make sense. The military isn’t a democracy, either get with the program or get out! Pretty simple. Especially with the virus thing civilians are looking for hospital workers as I speak
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SFC Richard Foster
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Go to bed Instead of running to the Club,
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LT Pamela Jones
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Edited 5 y ago
“4-5 hours sleep.” Really? I would be on duty for 12 hours, then have CDO duty for 24 hours. And there were times I had to do PT in the middle of all that. It’s the military. If you want bankers hours, then perhaps you should change your career path.
If you know you have PT, go to bed earlier—if possible and I know that difficult with your shifts, but perhaps you don’t get out of bed until 30 minutes prior to your shift. That, way, you can get in a little extra sleep before your duty and add that to your sleep time prior to PT.
Either way, life isn’t fair and PT, regardless of how difficult it can be, is meant to keep you in peek physical condition. As a military man/woman, that should be something that you appreciate.
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MAJ Company Commander
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Go to PT
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LTC Philip Marlowe
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Edited 5 y ago
Ask your First Line to speak with the Hospital Administration to see if they are willing to adjust shifts to 1500-2300 - 2300-0700 - 0700-1500 OR 1700-0100 - 01-0900 - 09-1700 to accomodate the new CDR/1SG. That will increase crash time a bit OR allow you to attend the 1600 formation. On the other hand, the Hospital Administration - of which I'm sure has its own Commander and Chain of Command, which might include the CDR/1SG in it and speak with them because I'm confident you are probably not the only individual impacted by the TOPs formation policy. However, if none of the above occurs, then as the old saying goes - you SUCK IT UP.
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Cpl Jelen De Castro Vargas
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Run it up your chain of command that conducting PT 5 hours after then end of shift is not the best idea, you can accomplish the mission without inconveniencing the troops because believe it or not, troop welfare should absolutely be a priority but to be entirely honest most young members of the military get by without 8hrs regardless so you may have an issue convincing higher
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SSG Darrell Peters
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I worked in an Emergency room we had three shifts at one I worked you want to talk about being tired and going to PT? You would be on one shift for a couple of months and then rotate to another. PT was at 0530 First Shift started at 0800. Which gave you an hour and a half to drive to work get a shower and change. Second shift started at 1630 and ended at 2400. Third shift 2400 to 0800. We only had ONE PT Formation 0530. The night shift never made it to PT. If you had a Consistent Passing score on the PT test they didn't give you any grief. Sooner or later you would be rotated to first or second shift. I guess they figured the night shift was a chance to get some rest and do personal PT something you liked to do for about two months.
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SPC Tarrence Molendyk
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I agree with the other comments being made. When you are deployed you won't have the luxury of telling the wounded hold on I need sleep. Their lives will depend on you just as your squad is depending on you in Garrison. If you can't be depended on then maybe you shouldn't be in the service.
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PO2 Joseph Fast
PO2 Joseph Fast
5 y
You also won't be woken up at 0000 to PT at 0100. So what's your point?
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