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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SGT Jeff Steele (Ret.)
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The military is not an easy life know matter what MOS/job you have. But it seems one thing is being overlooked. The training, the PT, the work we do in peace time, the hard long hours put in at times are preparing soldiers for combat. Plush living conditions, adequate if not just minimal sleep, MREs, lack of showers for days on end and communications with home are most times very much lacking in combat or deployed areas. I can tell stories after stories of my deployments and combat tours, which seemed to suck at the time, but are fond memories to me and my veteran friends now. I can also tell stories of the same conditions during peacetime on post. It is all part of the experience of being in the military and a soldier. If you look back to those who served before us and the conditions they endured during Valley Forge, the Old West and Indian wars, WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, those soldiers....those soldiers knew some hardship and definitely would call you out and give you grief over having to do PT and lose an hours sleep somewhere in your day. Accidents happen for a multitude of reasons including fatigue, but they are rare. Mental and physical disciple is needed in the military, to complain about something so minimal, while on post, in peacetime...well seems a little unsoldierly to me.
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SSG Jim Allen
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McDonalds is hiring.
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Lt Col Bob Guessferd
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Suck it up buttercup. You’re in the Army.
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Cpl Mike Kunkel
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I guess its different now from when I served. In the Marines we were expected to do what we were told. PT on a few hours rest? Not sure what the problem is.
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PO2 Mike Keyes
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I can only tell you that on submarines we ran on 18 hour days- three six hour shifts, 7 days/week for the entire patrol. And that came immediately after the 30 day refit/crew turnover during which you worked whatever you had to work to get the boat ready to go back to sea- often 18-24hr days or more.
During patrol you did a 6 hr watch every day. When not on watch you had equipment to maintain, constant battlestations/casualty drills (the Navy, at least the sub service, loves their drills!), never ending qualifications to pursue (and until you at least earn "Qualified in Submarines", i.e. Dolphins, getting qualified is an all-consuming activity) regular cleaning and the much beloved 'field day' marathon cleaning once per week.
What you did with your free time was up to you though...

Yeah, it sucks. You're tired. You get worn out. It's not easy. If it was easy there'd be children doing it.
But in the end you just do it, and you end up proud that you did something difficult. You earned something. And someday you'll be laughing at you your civvy friends when they piss and moan that the the boss made them stay 20 minutes late or they had to work a half day on a Saturday.
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PO1 Billy Wilson
PO1 Billy Wilson
>1 y
Served on two Adams Class Destroyers chasing soviet subs glad to read your words for those storms were hard and still feeling those 60 foot waves.
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PO2 Mike Keyes
PO2 Mike Keyes
>1 y
PO1 Billy Wilson - I still remember a particularly nasty wintertime North Atlantic patrol. We were rolling so much even 400 ft down that we had to run south twice to helivac crew members. They had been so seasick for so long that it had become life-threatening. That, and the constant chill from the hull being immersed in that water.
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PO1 Billy Wilson
PO1 Billy Wilson
>1 y
Always thought the sub world was like a plane ride with how sick the sub officers would get trying to get the surface warfare pin. But the young one was wanting sleep maybe they are seeing that they can sleep all they want on shore duty. I am now 60 and still being treated for insomnia.
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PO2 Mike Keyes
PO2 Mike Keyes
>1 y
PO1 Billy Wilson - Yeah, we definitely don't bang around like you tin canners. Even on the surface we roll more than bounce- most of the boat is still under water. But we are round and do roll a lot.
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PO1 Robert Closson
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you show up for PT 5 hours of sleep is enough I could say a lot more but I will leave it at that
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1LT Bill Corcoran
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Advdersity conditions one for adversity. Does this not apply anymore? How many combat vets got 4 hours of sleep or less for months or years on end?

Why not ake advantage of the adversity and see it as a way to harden your body, mind and character?
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SSG Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
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You only work 8 hours a day. I would stop whining
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PO2 Mike Keyes
PO2 Mike Keyes
>1 y
Lol, good point. Must be part time.
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SPC Juanita Anderson
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You are winning.
If you work the grave yard shift you get off go the rack and then get up at 1600 for pt. Otherwise you make the 5:30 pt. You have no choice. You are in the army. During war time you might get 5 hours if your lucky. So suck it up butter cup and get with the program
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SGT Randy Bordner
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Learn to deal with it. Do you think during an attack, the enemy will wait until you have 8 hours sleep? I was infantry in Vietnam, we never slept more than a few hours at a time.
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