Posted on Jun 12, 2019
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?
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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?
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
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 1688
Forever, Medical and other shift type MOS's have had issues with maintaining high APFT scores. It's been a challenge for Command teams to ensure companies get the opportunity to do organized athletics. clearly you have at least one senior NCO that can advocate for you to the command team. He or she is in the same boat. With the New challenging Physical fitness test in place, and unit stats being everything, I'm sure the NEW command teams intentions are pure. Soldiers inclinations, unfortunately, are to avoid PT rather that do it in their off time. CDR/1SG's have to answer to higher when scores are low, or soldiers fail. if an Organized program isn't implemented and enforced, they fail. By regulation, a program must exist. It can't be: Soldiers will do PT on their own. You work an 8 hour shift, an hour at each end for personal hygiene, transportation, etc. That gives you 14 hours to do what else you please. I spent 32 in and in charge of Infantry Units. I'd have loved that luxury.
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The military is not for everyone. If you can't hang with 4 to 5 hours, wait until you go three dats with none while deployed. Dont make your life miserable as well as those around you. Sounds like the candle burnt out and the time to focus on burning a different one has arrived.
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You sound exactly like you are whining. You should have no problem functioning for PT for an hour or two and then if you want to go back to sleep you can. Four to five hours of sleep is a luxury to a lot of people and most function on that amount on a regular bases. PT is part of military life if you don't like it, when your time is up get out and you won't have to worry about mandatory PT sessions.
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Regulations support your First Sergeant. Pt is only one of 24 hours in a day. Put on your big boy pants and suck it up, buttercup.
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As you stated you have two options to report to formation. One at 0530 or the other at 1600. So why couldn't you report to the 1600 formation then go to work? Even if you had to get up at 0515, put on a PT uniform and stand in a 0530 formation. You still have logged roughly four hours of sleep. Stand in the formation for 15 minutes, then go back to bed.
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What a crock, it seems like a blizzard with a lot of snowflakes. Get a life,but of course you will never see combat RIGHT, try days w/o much sleep,humping 60-80 # up and down whatever, MRE's and little water - also seems like a breakdown in the chain. The policy was stated but not really enforced. Get out of the Army and join the boy scouts - When you got incoming you see how fast your sorry butt will run.
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You are in the Army, you will be called upon to perform multiple missions with a lack of sleep. So suck it up and go get after it.
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My question would be, how is the rest of your section handling it or are you the only one struggling? If it's the section, you might be able to work out an exception to policy but that sounds like a good amount of sleep to me.
I do agree with others here, easiest solution is just show up and sound off then sleep around pt.
I do agree with others here, easiest solution is just show up and sound off then sleep around pt.
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As a Marine Corps Veteran. Just go to PT and go back to sleep after. It's not that big of a deal.
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Whatever hardship anyone has endured is irrelevant to meeting the standard of care... And no I'm not medical... Just don't want a tired technician same as in aviation
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I love the stupidity of many posts here. The only thing that matters... Including for the commander is mission accomplishment. What is a medical units standards according to objective-T or whatever readiness standard is appropriate.
If you require odd hours pt... Have those on odd hours lead it... Any e5 can do this...
We have ridiculous cultural standards for following uniform or or regs but we break a shit load of other regs... And don't know it.
If you require odd hours pt... Have those on odd hours lead it... Any e5 can do this...
We have ridiculous cultural standards for following uniform or or regs but we break a shit load of other regs... And don't know it.
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Are you the only one that has to go to the formation? I would say talk to other soldiers and NCOs and see if they have the same issue. Then use the open door policy with the 1SG or commander and address the issue. It’s always beneficial because you get a chance to see the other side of the mountain. As a junior enlisted, you don’t usually see how the command team made the decision and what their opinions are. Sometimes the command group means good but it goes bad when plans got put into practice. Last resort may be IG or EO. You are a warrior, if you can’t defend yourself how can you defend your country?
When I was junior enlisted, once I was put to a 18 hour shift every day in the field for 5 days. Everyone else was 12 hours on and 12 hours off. My NCO at the time just relayed the message to me- it was from a MSG. I felt it was really unfair but I still did it the first day. Next day I went to talk to the MSG. As a result both him and my NCO were mad at me. But nothing changed. I figured out I would have to endure this for a few more days. Can this be an IG complaint? Probably yes. Does it worth it? Everyone has a different answer. Remember, there are good times and bad times, but nothing lasts forever.
When I was junior enlisted, once I was put to a 18 hour shift every day in the field for 5 days. Everyone else was 12 hours on and 12 hours off. My NCO at the time just relayed the message to me- it was from a MSG. I felt it was really unfair but I still did it the first day. Next day I went to talk to the MSG. As a result both him and my NCO were mad at me. But nothing changed. I figured out I would have to endure this for a few more days. Can this be an IG complaint? Probably yes. Does it worth it? Everyone has a different answer. Remember, there are good times and bad times, but nothing lasts forever.
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What you kneed to do is speak to you supervisor in the hospital and have them speak to the 1srg to adjust your schedule so you can PT at 1600 I am sure the hospital wont object if you have to PT than start your shift its a win win for all
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Hey I was with the 11th Cav in Germany as a 22 year old LT, I had to lead the 5 am PT daily, after many times closing the OClub at 1:00 AM, YOU CAN EITHER GO TO BED EARLIER OR GET UP AND QUIT WHINING! In the enlisted barracks lights out was at ten, sleep in your PT clothes and get up 6 1/2 hours later. If at you age 6 1/2 sleep doesn't do it, you might have chosen the wrong profession or branch of service!
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Shift work is always tricky for a commander. You ARE stuck, as was I once, until I became an officer. Perhaps there can be an off shift PT period. Perhaps not. Perhaps you can sleep twice in a 16 hour period between shifts. The commander is on the hook to ensure PT is conducted by his/her unit. 1SG runs the company to fit the command guidance. IF the 1SG trusts you and your FLS - set up a 5 day per week PT plan and see how it goes, knowing that if ANYONE on your special PT shift fails the APFT or gets fat that you are all hosed and will have to suck up the initial policy that you are now trying to avoid.
Sleep/Rest plan is covered FM 6-22.5, however, that's for combat operations. ... Provide soldiers with a minimum of 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep in a 24 hour period (6-8 hours optimum).
Sleep/Rest plan is covered FM 6-22.5, however, that's for combat operations. ... Provide soldiers with a minimum of 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep in a 24 hour period (6-8 hours optimum).
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welcome to the real world cupcake! I a seeing time management is not your thing! You need to adjust to the demands of the Officers and enlisted appointed over you. I is in the Oath you took. So, make it to formation, then take a nap. You will figure it out. Understand, if the Commanding Officer and his First Sargent give an order, it is your JOB to obey, not to question. There is nothing ILLEGAL about the order.
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Suck it up and go to PT. Look, what if you are in a combat zone, you are in a fire fight and you catch cat naps for a few minutes at a time for up to several days. You train as you fight Soldier, so quit whining and do your job. Sorry if that sounded harsh. No actually I am not.
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