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?

In Vietnam we were lucky to get 3 to 4 hours sleep a night before we had to be up and humping again. 0311 Semper Fi

Suck it up buttercup!

Boo. Hoo.
I worked overnights on the ship, had atleast fire party or a 4 hour watch every night. Last duty muster was 2100, before lights out. Watch from 1200-0400. By the time you got off watch you showered, changed, and planned to be up NLT 0700, to grab breakfast and a cup of coffee for muster…and WORKED THE WHOLE DAY to 1600 liberty call. So, that means 2 hours of sleep in 32-36 hours.
YOU CAN DO IT! You’re young, and coffee is the lifeblood of the military. Once, I worked 3 days straight. Never saw my rack. It was hard, but I survived it, and you will too.

You Follow ORDERS

When I was in initial training, I was rarely on a days shift. My official reville and taps hours were adjusted accordingly and it was rare that I had obligations outside the window. If mandatory PT is part of everyone's schedule, then shift workers should have a different time slot.

When power-hungry senior enlisted "impress" their superiors with great results, but a later incident gets traced back to this, it can ruin a career. Good leaders will stand up for doing the right thing.

Since you work the 1600 hrs shift, there is no other alternative than 0530 hrs. PT tends to be team-oriented and therefore the 1SG or other Sr. NCO in charge of the formations has to probably oversee both PT formations. That's got to be an inconvenience to them as well with their busy daily schedules, and it's all due to only five people showing up for PT. That is what is driving this. Poor attendance demonstrates a lack of mission priorities and discipline by the Soldiers not attending what is a mandatory PT formation for every Soldier or Servicemember in all branches of Service. To have organized PT let's say for example, during the noon hour can affect the flow of the daily mission. So either early AM or late afternoon, and since you work the 1660 shift, I don't know how they can provide you "organized" PT vs solo PT, which misses the point of teamwork in every aspect of your job. You work together as a team, exercise together as a team, and yes, play together (organized sports) or as some go out on the town together in a fashion as a team. The key is together, team, and mission.
Note: would noon work for every Soldier in the command without adversely affecting the mission? If so, then perhaps you could approach them with that option if it works for the majority of the team. Then, you'd have to figure out the dining facility and eating alternatives perhaps.
Question: what "exception" would you be looking for that doesn't exclude PT? Perhaps private PT (Private PT typically is a "given" for every Soldier to do to keep in shape for the organized PT), or perhaps another time slot that doesn't impact the whole team? Have you researched that with the whole Command of enlisted personnel? You are fortunate you have two-time slots, AM and PM. I have never heard of PT other than very early AM so you can get back, shower, and dress for the day's work. I understand your work timeframe is opposite the others at 1600 hrs. How many are on your 1600 hour shift from your command? Can you find a time all these shift workers could perform PT? I would suppose also it would depend on what else is scheduled by regular command daily requirements. Your 1SG and Company Commander have responsibilities that can go far beyond what you imagine and thus impacts their command structure and thus you. The command structure is accountable to the mission. The mission drives all.

Boo hoo do you want some cheese with that wine please show me where you're guaranteed any number of hours of sleep
You're in the United States military for crying out loud

Are your leaders there with you? Remember, you may not be able to be worked hard but you sure can be worked long. I agree, perhaps find a job more suited to your constitution.

Like everyone else, I agree, you are in the Army now. Look up the song. It seemed we were always getting up for PT at all hours. I never had a time when we weren't surprised out of sleep to get up and go from a 5-mile run to an hour of PT. They were preparing us to be able to function at a higher level with little sleep. In case we ended up in Viet Nam.

You suck it up and go to PT. You are a warrior and need to prepare for hard times. The enemy will not wait until you get enough rest.

What exactly do you have to explain? Trying to understand just what the problem is. What is your day like after morning PT? Is your section forever relegated to the four to balls? So you work the night shift.

Reading your information you’re getting an eight hour break which you’re not obligated to get, BTW. This is not unfair situation or against regs in any service I’ve worked with. Hell, sounds a lot more stable and restful than most rotations I’ve experienced.

As for regs that support anything, I have to believe the Army subscribes to the whole lawful order business, so there’s that.

Did a tour in Vietnam, 4 - 5 hrs. was a luxury. With the coast guard and you are at a lifeboat Station Tou may be out on a call get 4-5 hours in before reveille, you get up and start your day. You are NOT guaranteed 8 hrs. sleep at night. I can remember one time when it was 96+ hrs. before I saw my rack again and more than a few of 24 hrs.+. We didn't have organized PT, but we did work out. Anybody who did a tour in Vietnam or any CZ knew that sleep was a premium and you got it where and when you could.

The A-Hole in me wants to say "SUCK IT UP kILO!"
The only section in the Hospital? Really?

Believe me, I've been there. Had the same argument. Debated all those same issues.
"Losing battle" is only the begining of it.

What can you do?
Talk to the First Sargent. Might work. Most likely wont.
Max your PT test, then ask. Again, good luck.

I always found these things come in waves.
In fact I would bet this rotated around several times already, since you made this post.
Big group, nobody show, big group, nobody shows. I bet there was a PT test coming up.

That’s an easy fix solve the problem by understanding you’re in the service you do what you’re told it’s not unlawful so do it period

Sorry, I'm not sympathetic and don't buy your excuse. The only viable reason to miss PT is medical, especially if the exercise could do more damage. You are supposed to be ready for duty 24/7 and PT is part of that duty regiment.

I'm retired Air Force, but seven of the first eight months I spent in the Air Force involved being shifted from one Army base or camp to another. At that last base, Ft. Harrison, I was in a joint service company and falling out for PT was voluntary. I did it anyway.

Four decades later, I'm now a disabled veteran suffering from severe arthritis among other things, finding running hard, but that doesn't stop me from getting up at 4:30 every morning and walking five to six miles.

My wife and I now walk marathons. I'm always humbled when I do those events. You are competing with individuals on prosthetic legs, adaptive wheelchairs, are wounded warriors, and in one instance was a blinded wounded warrior....and you say to yourself, so what's my problem.

Guess you could say my exposure to PT in both the Air Force and the Army became a major lifestyle change.

What kind of pussy outfit do you belong to? 5 show up for PT ?At Bragg you'd probably get an article15.Even with 2hours of sleep we ran 4 miles .Suck it up buttercup !

Well here's what you do. On your way to PT, you go by supply and pick up a spine and a pair of testicles.
Problem solved.

I don't think your !SG is asking for you to do PT on 5 hour of sleep but on deployment I have worked with much less, both as a medic when I stared, and when I got out as a nurse. But when I was working at a hospital I was on either the 1600-0000 or 0000--0800 so I know about having a messed up sleep schedule. What it might help to do it just live like a vampire, be a wake during the night time hours, use when you get off as cool down then, sleep, before work.

Suck it up buttercup! There is no issue to discuss. Your are in the military, do your job to include scheduled PT.

You cannot maintain a day shift lifestyle when you work a swing or night shift. You need to adjust your sleep schedule around your duty schedule. Your duty schedule seems to be 1600 - 0000 hrs and 0530 - 0630/0730. That gives you from 0630/0730 - 1600 hrs to sleep and 0000 - 0530 hrs as free time. Seems that you have about 14/15 hrs a day for sleep and other activities. You can figure this out. There are few exceptions in the military for disgruntled service members. You volunteered and signed a contract to do your duty. You need to hold up your end of the contract.