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?

Easy answer.. follow your orders. There will come a time that you may be required to do a lot more than PT on a lot less sleep. Suck it up buttercup!

You're in the army, pal, not the boy scouts. Deal with it. You can always go back to the rack after PT. No one ever said it was an easy job. That's what makes is so great. If you don't like it, you can always quit after your tour is up and go back to being a civvy.

There is no ideal standard. PT is generally considered as part of, an essential part of, a soldiers work day. If you feel that the slated PT formation times would preclude you from carrying out your hospital duties in a way that may create a hazard for those you are treating, approach your chain of command, but do so with facts and a supportable list of impacts. You may not get the answer you're seeking, but this is the only way to approach it.

Although I have been out for 38 years and can no longer quote Army regs, it sounds to me like you have a CO and First Sergeant that care about their troops being physically fit. I was infantry, certainly much more strict and motivated towards PT. The only time we were guaranteed a minimum of 4 hours sleep was a mandated 4 hours rest before and airborne operation. I agree with the SFC that it sounds as though you may need to manage your own clock better. I remember all too well stumbling out after partying, running 12 miles with the smell of alcohol and puke hovering over the formation. Suck it up, make your 1st sergeant and CO proud and maybe along the way you will come to appreciate what you can do.

SPC Join to see, the reality is clear you have do PT. A-3. In accordance with AR 350-1, all Soldiers must attain a score of at least 60 points on each event and an overall score of at least 180 points. Therefore you are part of the unit & must conduct your PT.
We had our own Maddox in the 82nd airborne and they still conducting PT every morning with us.

Do your job and obey lawful orders. That is simple. You are a soldier. That is not part time. If you get forward deployed, you may be on 24 hours for days or weeks. Catching sleep for an hour or two.

My wife has worked in a civilian hospitals for almost three decades. She has a regular 8 hour day, but may have call after that. She has been over 24 hours between time at home to care for patients. I in the civilian world have had 25-28 hour duty days operating cargo aircraft internationally. Welcome to being an adult!

If memory serves (I've been retired since 2009) regulations allow for 4 hrs uninterrupted sleep in a 24 hr period. Given that, you adjust your schedule to follow the training/work schedule set for you by command.

You definitely picked the wrong career path. I am a former Marine of seven years and now retired veteran U.S. Army Aviation Maintenance Officer/Test Pilot, so I have no sympathy for you. Sorry, but that's the way it goes!

Quick story for you about when I was at Ft. Polk Army base in Louisiana during our activation to Operation Desert Storm. I was test flying all 12 of our UH-1V model Huey's and when I was on the last aircraft (74-22421) I had an accident.

My commander saw that I was limping, but I would not go to see the Flight Surgeon. He came to the flight line the next morning and told me that I was finished and I WILL go see the Flight Surgeon immediately. Come to find out, I had a heel spur and hair line fracture (L/foot) and I was put in a fiberglass cast up to my knee.

That's what the outcome was, but the kicker is a bit different. We had a three mile run the previous morning and I have NEVER fallen out of a run during my entire career. This was no exception! I ran on the side of my foot throughout the whole run. Stupidity or a true sense of honor? I think it was both! Hehehe

That's my take on your question, so I believe you have some questions to ask yourself. Personally, I would NEVER even think about doing something like you asked.

When I was a Marine and throughout my U.S. Army aviation career we used to get drunk all of the time, but not once did we suggest that we should be allowed to sleep in. If you drink like a man, you need to pay the consequences. End of story!

CWO Michael R. Metzler Sr. (Cpt.)
U.S. Army Aviation Maintenance Officer/Test Pilot (retired/veteran)

Stop being a whiny bitch and go do PT.

There were several instances in my hospital days worse then that. For example, getting off at 0000 only to have to return at 0330 to go to the range. Still qualified expert. That is besides the point however. The point is once you pin on some stripes you can expect to be in this type of situation more often; and you will be expected not to complain. They are not violating any regs by expecting you to report on only 4-5 hours of sleep, so complaining will only draw negative attention to yourself. Do you not think your command is aware that they have soldiers working that shift? If you go out there and show motivation and leadership, however, you will put yourself in a positive light and may earn some recognition.
BLUF: This is one of those “suck it up and drive on” situations.