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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1LT Rich Voss
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Well, Specialist, I've seen this thread in my feed off and on over the past 2 years and am curious what happened. Obviously neither the Commander nor 1SG are no longer "new". I'm certainly not offering any "advice" as I never had command over anyone working in a hospital, my troops were all line company tankers or artillery and this circumstance never happened to them. Heck, over the past 2 years maybe you're not even in the same job or unit.
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COL Jeff Williams
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The 1SG noticed only 5 people showed up? How big or small is this company?
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MAJ Rn
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Get sleep when you can. Having been an army nurse myself (though never a medic or LPN 91Charlie) I know the meddac enlisted folks get tasked with all kinds of additional duties. Sleep discipline is vital. Force yourself to carve out time and dial way back on coffee and other caffeinated beverages. I would still show up for PT and then either go to sick call or just inform your NCOIC of your fatigue from your 4 to midnight shift. They should have you doing afternoon PT so that you are done and showering up at 1530 in time for your shift. Ordinarily hospitals work folks from 7am to 1500, then 1500 to 2300. But in my case 0700 to 1900 or 1900 to 0700 was the norm. The hospital CSM said PT was an individual responsibility. In general you could ordinarily pair up with a buddy for a run at end of shift. I went to indoor pool at the Brought Gym mainpost Ft Sam.
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SP5 Thomas Jameson
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What a whiny, sniveling snowflake. Having worked both rotating 8-hr days/swings/mids and rotating 12hr shifts while in the service, I know it can be done - but rarely in conjunction with pub-crawling.

It's the Army, Mr. Brown. And you have neither a counselor for hurt feelings nor rights.
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1SG Rene Davis
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Maybe you should consider another career.
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PO1 Todd B.
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Seriously? LOL Sorry but I can't help but laugh. You get 4-5 hours of sleep?? Really?? LOL Good thing you did not join the US Navy and serve on a destroyer at sea or try to move to another field where you actually saw combat in the field, because you would not make it.

You chose to serve. And the clock and the schedule do not revolve around your beauty sleep. They revolve around the US Military and the command that runs it. And PT is a very well known standard in the military to insure all personnel are in shape enough to fight at a moments notice if called.

Sleep is something you can do all you want as a civilian or when you die. There is no such thing as sleep in the US Military. There are only moments of resting your eyes before the next duty calls.
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SPC Rick HUnt
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Go to PT?
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SP5 John Burleson
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Boo-dee-hoo. In an actual deployment the bad guys don't punch a time clock and don't think you should, either. Look at the situation as a training opportunity. Then make it a second training opportunity by calmly explaining to the CO the situation and offer an alternative such as a PT appointment for noon. The CO just wants the numbers to get him a promotion and isn't that worried about what time the numbers get added up.
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SPC Rick HUnt
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The answer is simple Spc. You follow the order. You aren't special, your work shift is just that, so my suggestion be in formation 10min prior. As a 1Sgt he can do that an you have to follow the order. In short nothing you can do will change that except be in formation.
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SGT S1 Personnel Nco
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The problem here isn't that a Soldier is being asked to do PT one day with minimal sleep. The problem is that the Soldier is being consistently asked to do PT with minimal sleep. Splitting up sleep shifts negates many of the values of a night of rest, and could cause the Soldier to make medical mistakes.
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