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?

You are to be physically qualified at all times. You can get out of shape in less than a week. It can take up to 3 weeks of regular exercise to get back into shape.
Therefore you are subject to a regiment of PT to maintain your physical condition to be proficient in our jobs.
In the Airborne we were subject to taking a PT test at anytime and if we couldn't pass we would be pulled off jump status.
As SFC Davila has indicated, if you can't deal with it with only 4-hours sleep, then you need to look for another profession. This is truly a profound comment. The Military has no room for 'snibblers'.
Remember the Army promises only up to 4-hours rest per day, and I was told that they could give it to me in 15 minute blocks which happened more often than I want to think about.

This sounds like a safety issue. If you’re coming off duty at a late hour then it looks like the leadership might need to look at the schedule. There is a requirement to be fit but the safety has to be ensured as well. Getting off duty after midnight and being in formation less than six hours later doesn’t pass the safety requirements. You should express your concerns with your chain of command. Use the open door policy as you work your way up the chain starting with your first line supervisor.

I got to ask how or why your even in the mitary. Do you get rest breaks in war by the enemy because you didn't get your beauty sleep. This is what's wrong with our military today. My suggestion to you is you either Soldier up or get out and work at Arby's.

Sorry to sound un-sympathetic, but suck it up buttercup!

The fact that you are whining about this tells me that you have led too soft a life while in the service,

It was routine for me and those I served with to run Pt with little or no sleep. Try going 5 days with only about 1 hour of sleep per night and then running 6 miles. No, we weren't infantry, so I can't speak to what my grunt counter parts went through, but I'm assuming they had it a bit tougher than I did. We were computer programmers and operators, so we had shift workers as well.

Perform your responsibilities as the duty driver, duty NCO or assistant duty for 24 hours, then go run your 3-6 miles and enjoy the half day off starting at noon.

Life is hard, but should you ever have to go into a combat zone, it will be much harder. If you can't handle it now, get out. Remember, you volunteered for this life. Nobody forced you to join the army. Complete your tour of duty with honor and quit yer bitchin'!

Near the end of my tour in Vietnam, if you were in camp it was 12hours work, 12 guard duty on the wire, 12 work and then you could sleep or try to sleep. Repeat!

First, absent excusal or exemption,you have to go to PT as directed, even if you're only going to get 4-5 hours of sleep.

That said, it is an unwise way to have a unit accomplish effective physical training and maximize performance from your troops, to not take into account swing shift duty troops. It also doesn't consider troop welfare, especially given that you can obviously do PT on an adjusted schedule that allows for adequate rest. You need to communicate your obvious and reasonable concern to your FLL and let him or her know that it needs to be addressed. If it isn't, you should 100% use your open door policy, and speak with the Company Commander, but ensure you communicate to your FLL that you are going to exercise that option if he is unable to help you get a solution.

If you were going to be limited to 5 hours of sleep because of your off-duty activities, like a second job or because you were out drinking, that would be on you. If the army is requiring you to regularly be on duty until 0000, your leadership needs to find a way to get you adequate rest periods between duty. The human body needs more sleep for quality decision making and optimal performance, as well as physical and mental health.

Is this a joke? Suck it up and do as you are ordered to do. With that attitude you will never become more than a Jr. enlisted.

As both a junior enlisted and a NCO I had plenty of days I only slept only 3-4 hours as others have said they do/did (once my commander & I only had one hour of sleep in three days and still did everything everyone else did). There is no reason for you to not do PT unless you have something medically preventing you from doing any/all of the required exercises. You could sleep 8-3, get up, have a quick breakfast, get dressed for & go to work, eat lunch at work, get off, change into civics/sweats and have a light dinner, watch some tv, pay bills online, etc. then change into pt’s, go to training, take a shower when done, go to sleep and start again the next day.

4-5 hours! That was about the MAXIMUM sleep I ever got. I'd have to say you need to buck up and do as instructed by the Top.

Well it's been two months since this was posted; how did you resolve it? My thoughts would be personal time 00:00-05:30, PT till 06:30 then sleep away till 14:30. And if only 5 people in a company came for PT I'd expect there to be some other changes also going to be happening.

The military by law are allowed to let you get ay least 4 hrs sleep and one hot meal. Suck it up! This new army is weak. Sorry I'm retired and all I hear is a bunch of whining.

You can work in a hospital on the civilian side of things making much more, with better benefits and the ability to utilize your time off as you see fit. Take the advice of the E-7s telling you to get out if it isn't your thing. Only a few more years until your contract is up. You aren't ate up. You want decent working conditions. Retention starts within the army.

You aren't choosing the late shift, you chose your profession in the army medical field, and to volunteer years of your life in hopes of making the world better. I had a 94 ASVAB score, didn't have any slots open for geospatial intel for two years, though the army showed a need for it, got out, learned to fly helicopters, and got a couple of Associates degrees and a GIS certificate. I now work 4 tens making maps for a small water company, with great benefits for myself and family. I get PT in by improving my acreage, and love three day weekends.

Just hooah when the army says hooah, and move on when your contract is up. You seem like a bright kid, even asking for advice here as a junior enlisted. Thank you for your service.

As former junior enlisted in a hospital unit myself, I can honestly sympathize with your feeling of being "stuck." This is usually the case. In my view, the most effective and professional thing you can do is make the necessary adjustments with yourself to optimize your time. That way, you can make your handling of a tough situation a point of pride. This will also help you prepare for the conditions if your unit is deployed, which will have even less respect for your personal sleep habits.

SPC Davis, I am having trouble seeing why you can't get enough sleep. There is plenty of time after PT formation and before the start of your next duty shift to get at least 7 hours of sleep, and time between the end of your shift and PT to get other things done. Perhaps if we knew more about what your total day looks like?

There is a chain of command for a reason. Stop thinking and do what they say.

Man up!!

Suck it up there princess and do it. New soldiers these days cry about everything.

Kilos, I did my time on mids at a hospital so I know what you are going through, but check this you are on a fixed schedule with no field, no motor pool, and little to no details. Trust me things can be worse but wait your turn for 1st ot 3rd. I lived your life for 14 months and got through it just fine.

And also I’m sure since you are wearing the MEDCOM patch your 1SG is dealing with a ton of ABCP and APFT failures, that’s why he is making it mandatory

As a young enlisted man I would regularly close down the club at 0200 and be up and out on the PT field in time for 0600 start....and perform with the best. As a 40+ I would work 14 hour shifts on security duty and were expected to follow that up with PT before going home for a nap before having to be back a few hours later for security forces training. Granted I got used to performing well on 4 hours or less in basic training though:))

I used to work assistant duty in the barracks and the NCO working duty would then let me off early enough to be at PT, sometimes without sleep. That is the job, there isn't a solution, you joined the military so do your job. Putting that aside, as an NCO, I would stand duty for 24 hours sometimes with no sleep, and have to report for an entire days worth of work. Again, that is the job, do your job. There is a purpose to this requirement. The war in 2003 saw many of the Marines invading Iraq awak for 3 or 4 or more days on only a few hours of sleep. They had to function that way. You train like you fight.