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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Responses: 1688
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MSgt Michael Cronin
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Wow, 4 hours of sleep! Lucky you...
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CPT Don Kemp
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First, I’d go to PT. Then, after you’ve followed the lawful order, ask to see your Platoon Sergeant and or 1SG. By the way, obey and then raise the issue is always the right sequence unless doing so will result in illegal, immoral, or unethical behavior.
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MSG Ramon Figueroa
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re-up, re-up you’re crazy, re-up, re-up you’re out of your mind, my opinion in a nut shell...
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SGT Tom Moore
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Ready to re-up? Embrace the suck.
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Sgt Raymond Mirabile
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Wah Wah Wah....man it scares me that wussie like this are in the Military. How about 3 days with only a few hours snatched when possible. I know a guy who went through his training as a CIVILIAN PA .. forced to work 24 - 36 hrs straight with only grabbing some sleep in an empty hospital room and had to be back at it within hours. Asleep standing up. A former SEAL dropped out. Why this grueling treatment? So that in real life situations you could function under conditions that may come close to or exceed that training. The excuse given here of being medical is nothing more than elitist crap. I served as a Marine I want my Corpsman to be able to cut it at least as mich as we had to... ITR...18 hrs in the field..back to a wooden hutch..clean weapons, go outside in the cold rain, jump a muddy drainage ditch to get to the head. Clean up. Return in the rain and mud, jump the ditch, hit the rack, get rousted after 2-hrs for a fire drill and rifle inspection. Return to barracks. Get ready for another day in the field. Go to chow. Ooops..chow hall closing. Only toast and coffee. Back to barracks. Fall out. Wait in rain for trucks that were always late. Get on trucks. Arrive at training site in the middle of a highly forested nowhere. Begin the days training. Then do it all again 5 days a week. Sorry cupcakes. Suck it up ot go home. You are NOT wanted in the field.
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SFC Michael McKinney
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Ruck up and soldier, soldier.
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PO1 Yeoman
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You do what ordered to do. You're in the military. Quit your whining.
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CDR Kenneth Pepper
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Is it possible you've forgotten you voluntarily joined the U.S. Army, not the Salvation Army? You are training for, and must remain prepared to, go to war. Once on the line where bullets are flying you might not, and probably won't, get much sleep for days. Ask anyone, from any service branch, who has been there.

Your 1SG isn't there to tuck you into bed. He's there to keep you ready, and hopefully alive. Whether you're getting lack of sleep is due to having recently come off duty, or returning from a late night/early morning in town isn't the priority.

Your readiness is. Your ability to survive and have the back of you buddy is.
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CDR Kenneth Pepper
CDR Kenneth Pepper
>1 y
I was enlisted USN for seven years. If I had the mid-watch, I was permitted to sleep an extra hour. But I was still required to perform all duties and attend all functions. In the military you are not guaranteed 8 hours of sleep. You are required to follow the plan of the Day, unless you have an official function to attend or a medial chit saying you are exempt. I was also in VIetnam. Guess what? The enemy's common tactic was to try to disrupt our sleep, keep us tired. We didn't have the luxury of sleeping in, if sleeping at all. If you want 8 hours of sleep, if you want your world to operate according to your agenda, don't join or stay in the military.
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PO3 Terri Marini
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The military owns you and doesn’t care about your comfort. Pt is a requirement at many commands and it is not something you can pick and choose IF you want to go or not. “Suck it up buttercup”.
I had really bad bronchitis, coughing hard and like crazy. People thought I was dying. This was wintertime and we still has to wear our short shorts and brown Tshirts. I was in the Navy by the way. Our pt instructor was a Seals dropout. So he was rough and by the book. We could not be out of the pt uniform at any time. The senior chief felt bad for me and gave me me his big command issued jacket to use since I was sick. This stupid new low ranking officer told me to take it off. I yelled at him that Senior gave me his jacket and he’s been in longer and has more authority. I told them guy Ive been in longer than him and I wasn’t going to listen to him. So this jerk goes to the commander throwing a fit, al just because I was wearing a jacket to pt. He made me take it off, though Senior in everyones eyes was more seniority since he had been in for so long snd I was coughing my lungs out.
But bottom line, the military doesn't care. They own you and you do as they say.
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SPC Brian Blaney
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Ok, I’m going to be honest here. Suck it up and trooper on. I’ve had to do more with less sleep. I did a shooting range after having CQ and no sleep, I lived and the 1SG gave me the rest of the week off afterwards. Just do it and NOT make any waves.
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MSgt Aircraft Loadmaster
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There is a fuck ton of research that addresses irregular sleep cycles and how dangerous they are, in the now and later in life. It makes you dumb and takes years off your life. Your first line should also have a backbone. Interrupting you in the middle of your sleep cycle is a callous and ignorant thing to do. You could go the scientific route and explain everything to your first line, who hopefully brings this to your 1SG, and then offer to do group PT at a time that better suits your wake/rest cycle. It’s possible he doesn’t even know about the 1600-0000 shift?
If that doesn’t work, come on over to the USAF. We’re not usually that retarded. Rank should not allow someone to become a tyrant.
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SPC John Coleman
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Sounds like you are a millennial army isn’t easy. I was in the the infantry 20 some yrs ago. Suck it up buttercup. Yeah I hear that today’s army isn’t what it used to be but god man grow a pair
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LCpl Kenneth Heath
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"As a junior enlisted, how do I solve this problem?"

Stop being a pussy... that's how you solve this problem.
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1LT Chaplain Candidate
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Talk to the Chaplain. He has the ear of the CO and/XO. Morale is their field.
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CDR Kenneth Pepper
CDR Kenneth Pepper
>1 y
I am former enlisted and a retired chaplain, having served both USN and USMC commands. A chaplain's role is not to coddle, it is to give support where appropriate, to defend the individual against inappropriate circumstances, and always support good order and discipline. The chaplain does not set the plan of the day or the requirements of the command. As a member of this command the chaplain, as are all personnel, is required to follow them.
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SSG Michael Vance
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Lots of old shift workers and people who have seen many a day in the ARMY here not likely to say what you wanna hear. Embrace the suck and figure out a time management schedule, or file a grievance with your local shop steward.
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PO2 Kirby Robertson
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Go to PT. What kind of question is this...
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SGT Kenneth Duncan
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So when you are at war are you going to call time out, because the enemy is not fighting fairly? Suck it up buttercup. War is not fair.
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PO2 Kirby Robertson
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Really? You go to PT...
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LTC Ken Bowers
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Yea you're whining! I see you're a promotable Spec. 4. So quit being a candy ass and act like a sergeant!
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PO2 L R
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This was standard faire when I was in back in the OLD Navy. We didn't complain (at least on the web) to others about having to do PT on 4 hours sleep. I remember one time having to do it directly off the honch. If you don't want to puke, don't party. It helps in other ways too!
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