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 David Mcnamee
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You suck it up and show up for PT. When the Command asks for your opinion or do a Command Climate survey, then you respectfully address the problem. PT is not a voluntary thing, duty is not a voluntary thing. You volunteered for this way of life, showing up for PT after a few hours of sleep is easy.
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SSG James Knopp
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I can remember when I was in the NCO Academy one of my soldiers rolled out for PT a little worse for wear. But, he soldiered through the session and two mile run.
When did the Army start “bankers hours?” PT was mandatory for everyone at 0530, no exceptions.
If you don’t understand the time management concept then maybe you should find a different MOS or have manned up a bit before joining the service. Back in the day we were trained to accept that you may not get your “beauty sleep”, three squares a day, or even a warm clean bunk.
What the hell happened to our military?
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SP5 Derick Johnsohne
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when in the trenches, you might not get 4-5 hrs of sleep
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PO1 Vince Shavico
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I once was up for almost 56 hours straight. I put in a special request chit for 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It was denied. The XO wrote on the chit, "he will get enough sleep when he is dead". That is now my motto. Suck it up buttercup.
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SPC Kenneth James
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I have to go with a lot of comments on this thread see I say working in the hospital setting seems to me you would have special times because when you get called in I imagine you are up and in there to take care of the best and most important part of the Army and that is the soldiers see most of us brought the less then two or three hours because of the clubs or being with that girl you are going out with or the skating rink or the colleges around the base where was I going with this o yeah lmao you working should not have to get liquor gas in your mouth from running pt in formation that is why I used to get the road guard vest lol I really hope you get this solved soldier but in the mean time keep a stiff upper lip and use your head to figure it out
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SFC Special Forces Communications Sergeant
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You are whining, and in the military. Time to grow up. Sorry to sound harsh, but having spent 20 years in the Army with 10 deployments, complaining about having to go do PT is just too much.
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CW5 William Gasaway
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Edited >1 y ago
I spent thirty-one years in the Army and learned two important lessons:
1) Eat whenever you can!
2) Sleep whenever you can!
BECAUSE you never know when the next opportunity will arise.
As anyone from PVT to COL in the 226th MEDLOG Battalion would tell you;
STOP YOUR WHINING AND GET TO WORK!!!

Oh and like SGT Cameron, I'm in my 70's
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CSM Richard Montcalm
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No one ever said that the duty day had to be on 'your' schedule. You are on the verge of becoming a Non-Commissioned Officer; act like you are one now and figure out your time management- either choose to adjust to the needs of the command or tell your first line supervisor that you are not NCO material. NCOs make life and death decisions EVERY DAY- if you cant make a decision on how to work around the problem, how are you going to do that with the lives of America's most precious asset- your Soldiers?
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SSG Netops Ncoic
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Suck it up is a non answer. Since you are working a hospital shift you're obviously not working a schedule like the majority of most soldiers. Your 1SG is new to the unit and doesn't understand the current state of operations. I would bring it back up to your supervisor and see if a compromise can be reached. If that doesn't work, ask to use the open door policy with the commander. If you do use the open door policy, bring a couple plans with you that would allow you to work PT into your daily routine. Don't just show up and say I'm not being treated fairly, have a suggestion for a resolution, otherwise it will only sound like you are complaining. Just make sure you give your NCO support channel a chance to fix things before you go to the open door option.
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PO1 Operations Specialist
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Are you in the military? If the answer is Yes, suck it up buttercup. What do you think your schedule will be if Biden sucks us into WW3?
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LTC Karen McKay
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Your ARE whining, You're in the damned Army. Suck it up, or get out and find a life where you can be coddled.
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MSgt Michael Madden
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I do not see a problem just a failure to realize that you enlisted in a volunteer military. You can decide to avoid re-enlisting on your next reenlistment but then you will stop getting benefits.
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CMSgt Donald ONeill
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Always follow orders then go to your commander or first shirt . That's why they have the rank to take care of their troops .
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CPT Daniel Helix
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SFC Mike is spot on, son. What did you think you wer joining when you signed up. Didn't hear that complaint during my 34 years. Grousing about it, sure; asking for advice to try to get someone out of it, nope.
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CPL Cavalry Scout
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It's called embrace the suck, this guy lmao
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SFC Wade Adams
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Are you really posting this? You’re doing exactly what you don’t want to sound like . 4 or 5 hours of sleep?! Sometimes we went to PT without 4or 5 minutes of sleep and deployments? Huh, don’t get me started. I know that sleep deprivation used to be taught in the Army. All I can say is soft and that’s putting it mildly.
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SFC Paul Garza
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I don't get it. Go to PT formation, what's the problem? You get off at 0000. Go home, get some sleep, show up to PT formation and then go back home and get some more rest. What's the problem?

I could type a long response about my time in the military but who cares, right? You will always have to do things you don't like or want to do.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Now from a leader/mentor POV.
* What does the rest/work plan look like?

* How is accountability conducted with medics in the hospital vs medics in the organization?

* You don't work alone, you work with a section at the hospital, what is everyone else doing?

* Why hasn't your PSG implemented a PT program that allows you to go home and rest for 8 hours and then your platoon do PT before going back on shift at 1600?

I was under the belief that those who worked at the hospital fell under two commands, the hospital commander who oversaw the operations of the hospital and those assigned the hospital and then the assigned command who they report to for accountability and roll call.
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SFC Paul Garza
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I had to read this twice to make sure I read it correctly.

I'm sure you're a great kid but no one is coming to save you. You have to be your own hero. Your time in the military will define who you are. It will either make you better and stronger or it will break you and reveal who you have always been.

There are 24 hours in a day and there will always be 24 hours in a day. You work a shift from 1600 -0000. What are you doing with the rest of your time? I might be a little crazier than most, but it still looks like an 8-hour shift to me. What are you doing with the other 16 hours aside from looking for an excuse to not be accounted for at the 1st Formation of the day and conducting physical fitness training to fortify your health?

Your 1SG should have never needed to tell everyone to show up. Your 1st line leader should have been chasing you down to make sure you were doing PT every morning with everyone else to begin with. You can be mad at your 1SG, but I say the failure to be at PT started with you and went all the way to the 1SGs door until he squashed it and demanded accountability.
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CPO Paul Davis
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You're whining. Get your butt to pt
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LTC Author
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You could provide a regulation that fits your complaint with your concern of safety to patients if any. Go through het chain of command first. If that does not work you could go to hospital chaplain or IG just for them to know as in "FYIi" for your information in confidentiality and not make any complaint but to let them know. It may not change it but it would be something you tried in case a problems occurred due to lack of rest. I remember this same complaint with the soldiers in Hospital was brought up. There may not be much of a a choice than to suck it up. Possibly get rest at the hospital during any down times if any with the team at hand. I never worked those hours so I would not know.
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