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
if you aren't working at PT time, get your rear out of bed. if you weren't working at midnight, would you be at the club until 2?
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You are in the military and must follow orders, suck it up and due as you are told. Semper Fi
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I feel the point is being missed here. SPC Davis has a high-demand job that isn't in a war zone. I believe she would step up her workload and go a lot longer without sleep if required.
But working every day with this schedule can wear you down. I worked for years on the 0000 to 0530 shift and that is a bear. Hard to go straight to bed without a little downtime. And why should she be expected to give up all of her time to PT and sleep?
I would take this matter up with my platoon leader first, then go higher if needed. Just be honest about how it is affecting you. If all else fails there is sick-call.
But working every day with this schedule can wear you down. I worked for years on the 0000 to 0530 shift and that is a bear. Hard to go straight to bed without a little downtime. And why should she be expected to give up all of her time to PT and sleep?
I would take this matter up with my platoon leader first, then go higher if needed. Just be honest about how it is affecting you. If all else fails there is sick-call.
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You are complaining about your problem. If you read the regulations. It does not say what time you have to do pt. If your 1st Sgt. Says you will be at formation after your work your night shift. Then you will be at pt formation granted that is the end of your day. If you look at the time schedule of a typical military day 0500 wake up 0530 0630 pt breakfast in a hurry with personal hygiene 0730 to 0800 morning formation then an end formation around 1700.
Now flip it to an 8 hour night shift... you get off work at midnight then get 4 to5 hours sleep go to morning formation and pt then you are on down time until your night shift...
Where's the complaint?
Now flip it to an 8 hour night shift... you get off work at midnight then get 4 to5 hours sleep go to morning formation and pt then you are on down time until your night shift...
Where's the complaint?
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For now, you go to PT. If you don’t, you will be guilty of failure to comply with a lawful order. And that can result in non-judicial punishment and a blot on your record. And if it continues, you will be subjecting yourself to more serious consequences. Go to your leadership at the hospital. You will fare better if the leadership addresses the concerns to your 1SG. As a junior enlisted, I hate to tell you this, but if you complain, you will just come across as “sniveling”. A person in your chain of command at the hospital will have a better chance of making your case.
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I can remember days in AIT that I had to do midnight KP and fire guard on the same night, then be in formation at 06:00 for PT. Had to take a catnap during lunch, but I made it through.
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Having 2 times to get to PT? What a luxury! I got around 3 hours of sleep before our PT. Only one a day at 0500.
How do I bring this issue up and solve this effectively and professionally? You don't. You do not miss formation or PT unless you are either on duty or out for medical reasons. Same thing for being late for, or missing, work.
Do you know of any Army Regulations that can support anything? Failing to show up for PT is a violation of Article 86, Failure to Report.
How do I bring this issue up and solve this effectively and professionally? You don't. You do not miss formation or PT unless you are either on duty or out for medical reasons. Same thing for being late for, or missing, work.
Do you know of any Army Regulations that can support anything? Failing to show up for PT is a violation of Article 86, Failure to Report.
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Can appreciate it. Military has always had a problem matching career patterns with what a soldier should be doing and when. There is a difference between what the soldier should be doing and what he should be doing to get ready for combat. Both need to be rote when you get into combat. However that is a different stress scenario. It is a way of weeding out those you can adapt to a combat 24 hour and a 24 hour support situation. It is something which requires CO's at different levels need to stay on top of. time management is needed to the max. However administering & managing is required too. I dealt with supporting combat troops in RVN and it often took 18-23 hours of sleep a night. Keep in mind that combat is a 24 hour stress situation if you want to stay alive. Being support means the same thing, except if you want to not be combat while doing your job it may wind being over run. So you have to avoid becoming the front line and the support. Survival means a lot and takes a lot. It also means not having Officers & NCO's who keep a unit function to maintain that end.
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Suspended Profile
This reminds me of my cousin who told me a story of which he heard about this other man was going through the same issues with his Junior CO. This guy hated him and gave him a great deal of grief with very little sleep. He had just completed one assignment which took awhile. He had just hit the rack when he was called to do Guard Duty. My cousin said that guy did his best to stay awake...tons of coffee did very little. While standing very still up against a wall, around 3 am he fell asleep and woke up as he could feel the breath of someone very close to his face. His eyes were shut and he was about to panic and then impromptu he said, " Amen!" then opened his eyes being almost nose to nose with his perceived enemy. That Junior CO gruffed then walked away! My cousin said this guy almost dropped because of the fear his knees started to shake.
Suck it up buttercup... I've gone to PT with no sleep at all and survived.
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Lost count how many times I went 50+ hours without sleep in active-duty time. A couple in my reserve time.
Invading Iraq was two and a half days of driving with no sleep, with the intention of driving for five days into Baghdad. And when we stopped, we had to set up shop, and immediately worked on vehicles for an unknown number of hours. Just part of the job.
Unless you are a pilot, you have no valid way of making your case. The Army (and I am assuming the other branches of the military) drills muscle memory into us. Operating with lack of sleep is one of the reasons.
Invading Iraq was two and a half days of driving with no sleep, with the intention of driving for five days into Baghdad. And when we stopped, we had to set up shop, and immediately worked on vehicles for an unknown number of hours. Just part of the job.
Unless you are a pilot, you have no valid way of making your case. The Army (and I am assuming the other branches of the military) drills muscle memory into us. Operating with lack of sleep is one of the reasons.
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Suck it up buttercup!! Embrace the suck, it builds character. Future battle tested warrior!!!!Hoooaaaah
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