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?

You need to suck it up and follow orders. PT is for your benefit, i wish that my current employer paid for me to stay physically fit. If you don't like this answer, you are in the wrong profession.

I'm guessing that I don't have to ask that you've never been in combat. You do your job no matter how many hours that takes, rest when you can, and start again. No time outs, no "do-overs" and absolutely no excuses. My suggestion to you is doing your shift, go to PT, hit the rack & quit whining.
MAJ. L. Koppes U.S. Army (Ret)

When you're in combat you sleep when you can, no matter how many hours you've been up. You do your job. So, my suggestion is to do your shift, go to PT, then hit the rack & quit whining. - Maj L. Koppes U.S. Army ((Ret)

what stops you from going to sleep off PT?

You need to use the chain of command, that's why it's there. Whoever is in charge of your section should be handling this, not you. Now if by chance you are the one in charge of your section, then it's up to you to address this issue (on behalf of the section) with the first sergeant. Don't go to him with a problem unless you also have a solution. On the odd chance that he turns a deaf ear, be prepared to respectfully request to speak to the company commander on behalf of your section. Don't make this about you.

I disagree with most of the comments in here. If you are working 1600-0000, and the first pt session available is 0530, naturally that's only 4.5hrs of sleep. Regulations say that service members require at least 7hrs of sleep. Sleep is a required commodity as is food and water. If 1sg wants pt at only 0530 or 1600, then they should reconsider the shift schedules to align with PT. It is unreasonable to expect a person to have their personal time between 0000 and 0430 when everything is closed dont be stupid. Regulation wise 600-20, tradoc 350-6(pg 52) I know its tradoc, but i think there's a compatible forscom reg.

Not sure how you're not able to make PT. You can do the 0530 PT; take a nap after work and before PT. Then sleep during the day. Like everyone else is saying, work on your time management.
I was in the Navy and I was my divisions PT coordinator. I made PT mandatory. I couldn't risk anyone out of shape or getting heavy. I worked in the engine room on the ships and we had to be able to escape through hatches.
When we were underway I stood the 1800-2400 watch, mustered at 0700 for work, done with workday at 1600, and back on watch at 1800-2400; this could be anywhere from a week underway to months.
Guess what? I still found time to sleep and PT; plus, working out made it where I could function properly on 4-5 hours of sleep daily. I told my boys it didn't matter if we were underway or not, PT was mandatory; most of them had a lot nicer underway schedule than I did. I told them if I could PT on the little time off I had, they sure AF could too.
Not to be a jerk but quit complaining, go to PT, and learn better time management. Like others have said, if you deploy, 4-5 hours of sleep is a luxury.
Welcome to the military kid!

Go to PT?

I'm an old soldier and can't believe I'm actually reading a post like this. Don't want to sound like you're whining? You are!

Fallow instructions, do as you told, report to your first line supervisor and let him or her know of your situation.

You said the unit has a new 1SG and Cdr. Since the 1SG knew that folks weren't going to PT, I'm going to figure he was with the unit for at least a week before the PT schedule was mandated. That Commander and 1SG had to set the tone for their new unit, and the expectation that the unit will comply with and meet Army Standards. As new to the unit leaders, it's difficult to go from being the easy nice guy to realizing you have to be a hard a$$. It's much easier to go from two mandated PT formations and every soldier is going to be there, to allowing soldiers to adjust their PT time once a pattern of attendance is demonstrated. BTW, I don't see this as a case of "toxic Leadership" of a 1SG and Cdr. I would consider this a failure on the part of the Platoon and Section Sergeants who should've been doing their friggin job by taking care of their soldiers and getting them involved in PT, even if it meant they had to do it themselves at an appropriate time, or better, set up a roster and use it to train future leaders by example and doing. Excuse me if as a retired MSG I would expect my junior leaders to do their job.

I too expect that when PT attendance returns to where it should be, and the responsible NCOs return to what they should be doing, the 1SG will be more amenable to other PT times, or a shift doing PT together at an appropriate time for their schedule with a responsible NCOIC that keeps soldiers accountable.

In the meantime, as one who is a morning person, up at 0600 even as a teenager, and doesn't do well after 2100H, I can relate to your sleep schedule trouble. We've all had times and will have times we've had to work around this, or push on with little sleep. You have to find a way to work around it, and sometimes you have to learn to "soldier on". In the meantime, try getting some sleep immediately after your shift, and take an hour or two nap in the afternoon. You might find you like it better.

The best to you in your career.

Do the best you can take it one day at a time and be glad you have health care and remember why you are where you're at
you are in the army you are not in a civilian job;)

What are the others doing on your work rotation? Are they unable to do PT for the same reason? Is your squad leader or FLL available?

Go to the medic if you hava medical problem related to this otherwise, yeah shit sucks sometimes.

Not trying to sound insensitive but I worked with my CO a full bird who came in at 0500 and did PT with us at 0600 go to work then left at 1800 and he would then go home with his family and be Boy scout master then get up and do all over. Just remember in combat you won't get set sleeping schedules. Why you think we drink so much coffee. Keep chin up this will soon pass and it won't bother you anymore.

Did they actually tell you " You only get 4-5 hours of sleep " Or did you, go out the night before, knowing you had PT in the morning? If you went out, it's all on you, not your commands fault, that you can't manage your time.

Get your lazy ass out of the rack do your PT and then go back to bed. You are a pussy!

You're whining --- suck it up, li'l buddy.

Are you the only in your platoon working these hours? 4 hours of sleep long term on a regular basis isn't a great situation. If there are others working the same hours, I would suggest you as a group go up the chain of command and request an alternate PT time so you can be more alert to work your shift.

Done it many a times during my 20 year tenure. Makes a man out of you and a better soldier. But, it seems you need to make better with your time management. No need to whine, suck it up and think how good you'll feel when work is done and you can go rest.

I’m a retired Navy Command Fitness Leader. The Navy instruction allows PT during working hours, so why not let you do the 1600 PT? Maybe it is different in the Army, they aren’t too smart, especially in the leadership department. I hear all the stories of toxic leadership and favoritism, it’s sad really. If you’re not deployed, there’s no reason for them to act like they are under fire in Afghanistan. Take care of your people and they will take care of you.

I have read a bunch of "you don't have what it takes..." and "wah, stop your crying, you pussy" posts, and I have to call bullshit on that. From what I'm getting you are doing what you are told, but are asking for advice on how better to handle this situation and if there is anything you can do to make it better. Albeit that you know you have to suck it up and do it no matter what, I give you kudos for reaching out to find out if any of us old salts might have a better way or at least give advice on how to handle it. I am sorry to say that most of us "old salts" are simply older versions of your 1SG and can't see past our noses on how you might improve your situation or make it better for your juniors. Used to be that "old salts" could give sage advice without condescension. We are of the Father Knows Best era, too. We "old salts" should look deep into ourselves and see if we are just regurgitating what we heard back in the day or if we really are trying to be valuable to those who have taken up our mantle and want to give good, honest advice like we might have appreciated in our time. Most of us didn't have a forum where we could ask a host of retired and active mentors a question. If we were lucky we might meet a guy in a bar who might answer a few questions. This is really a good forum and something I wish I'd had back in the day. Hope everything turned out for the best.

Your authorized 4 hours of sleep. Go back read ucmj and do your job. You can sleep when you decide to not re up

Go to PT.

You brace up and do it.

is there a reason why you cant get some sleep after PT? That would be a large block of time to sleep in.

One word ...SOLDIER and I also remember getting no sleep and pulling through just fine and maybe just maybe this is not the career for you ijs

That was the norm when I was in. I got more sleep in the Navy on many nights than most of my nights since being on call all the time. I think it made me more ready to work in the hospital field.

Don't go and then file a complaint against him when he yells at you..Isn't that how the pussies in there do it now days in the "New Army"?

Suck it up cupcake. When I was in 'Nam there was one time were in constant contact for 88 days straight, and MAYBE got 2-3 hrs rest. If you can't do PT after 4-5 hrs of sleep, maybe you should be in the air force.

I would be upset about a 13 and a half hour shift. It will blow over best thing to do is go to PT and reach out to your first line NCO 1sgt probably has no idea your on shift for afternoon PT.

Just do your job, Stud. When you question yourself, ask if there is anyone in your section going through the same shift(s) with the new PT (first) formation time.

Thank god I was in the Air Force

You ARE whining. You are a grown man in the Army. Act like it.

Embrace the suck that is the amount of sleep if we were lucky going through boot I am 52 and that is still the normal amount of sleep I get suck it up cupcake

It has to be done. Your unit, to include You, must be Mission-Fit!! No Exceptions!!! So when times are permitting your 1SG will ensure his/her soldier's readiness at all times!! Otherwise he/she fails at their position as well as being an NCO!!

Tuff ..... in warThere’s no substitute for victory. If you train hard you can live in combat.

This is an easy problem to solve. Adjust your work/sleep schedule. Most people do not go to sleep right after work, so you can do the same only at different times of the day. Report to formation at 0530 then go to bed. That gives you plenty of time to sleep before reporting to work at 1600. If you need to do something during the day before work, you can get 7-8 hours sleep and still have a couple hours before work to take care of things. Problem solved.

Just like anywhere else in the world you need to adjust your sleep schedule. If you work 1600-0000, adjust your sleep so that you wake up at 1400-1500. Enough time to shower, eat and be to work on time. And just like if you worked a day shift you'll be awake 4-6 hours after you get off. Do your PT, shower and go to sleep. Don't try to get some sleep and do PT and then sleep again.
This is why, when soldiers are on patrol and stop for some rest. The best watches are either the first one or the last one. That way you get the most uninterrupted sleep.

you would of never made it as a tank wrench in Germany. Gunnery? 72+ hr days. lucky to get 2 straight hours. Reforger? sleep HAHAHA. suck it up buttercup

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.

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.

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

Go to bed Instead of running to the Club,

“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.

Go to PT

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.

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

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.

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.