If a soldier has Staff Duty at 0900, is he required to show up for PT formation at 0545?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 06:29:50 -0500

PT is at 0630, and people are making up rules. Required to show up 4 hours early for Staff Duty for no reason.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Nov 10 at 2020 6:36 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 06:36:11 -0500

Why wouldn't you be required to be there? It's a published unit formation and activity and your predecessor will remain on duty until properly relieved.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Nov 10 at 2020 6:37 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 06:37:09 -0500

Check your policy letters.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2020 9:20 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 09:20:10 -0500

Check your unit Orderly Room for posted Policy letters. But, to answer your question, yes the SM would need to show up. The duty day isn't starting until 0900. Plus, the PT formation is also used for Accountability and Info Distro. Being ordered to show up to a formation 4 hours prior to your Staff Duty shift is not immoral, not illegal, not unethical. So......be there at formation.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2020 9:42 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 09:42:23 -0500

Read the staff duty book. You have 24 hours anyways. Most units will publish their policy about pre and post staff duty working hours in their duty binder.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 10 at 2020 9:49 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 09:49:39 -0500

If you have a schedule conflict, go to your chain of command to get it resolved. If you should be excused from PT to carry out other directed duties then they can handle it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2020 1:40 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 13:40:42 -0500

People are making up rules, that's what SOPs and policies are for. Whatever your command team has written into their SD policy is exactly what the rule at your unit is.

Response by 1SG Charles Hunter made Nov 11 at 2020 9:42 AM

1SG Charles Hunter — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 09:42:57 -0500

PT starts at 0630 and you have to be in formation at 0545? What does you unit have you doing during that 45 minutes? PT (including run) should take no more than an hour. That leaves you an hour and a half to shower, change and get breakfast before reporting for staff duty detail.

Response by 1SG Brian Adams made Nov 12 at 2020 10:55 AM

1SG Brian Adams — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 10:55:55 -0500

Yes, however, PT could be waived for that day by simply getting ahold of your 1st line supervisor, its about accountability....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2020 2:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 14:39:43 -0500

First off it isn't "for no reason", you are showing up for morning accountability. The is arguably the most important formation of the day, especially during Covid. The point I think you are trying to make is one of safety and that I say it is on the unit to take on the responsibility and consequences of having a soldier up for over 24 hours. There have been multiple studies that have show duties like this can effect alertness and humans are their least attentive from the hours of 0500 to 0900, compounding lack of sleep makes this worse. HOWEVER, there are approved ways the military has push to mitigate this. The simplest and most effective, yet unpopular in the higher chains, is a work rest cycle.
In summary, yeah, they can make you show up. Kind of a "hoorah" move though.

Response by 1SG Joseph Dartey made Nov 29 at 2020 6:21 PM

1SG Joseph Dartey — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 18:21:54 -0500

The answer is a simple yes. However, every unit that I have been assigned to or in charge of as a 1SG, if you are pulling a 24hr shift (Staff Duty, CQ, ect.) you were required to in formation in uniform for accountability only. As everyone has stated, read the Company Policy Letters, better yet, check with your Unit 1SG.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2020 8:31 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 20:31:02 -0500

Unless someone gave you the day off, it's just another day of duty. That's plenty of recovery time, and enough to get chow and square away before reporting. Muster with your unit until you report. 24/7/365. Only vacation is annual leave, and you are subject to recall then.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 29 at 2020 9:09 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 21:09:02 -0500

That is a command decision. Ask the first NCO in your chain of command.

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Mar 22 at 2021 1:47 PM

SSG Eric Blue — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:47:31 -0400

Never seen that before. I'm used to seeing whoever has duty that show up for first formation and depending on the situation, mission, or PLT SGT's or first-line's guidance, the soldier does PT just like everyone else and reports for duty when it's time OR they're made to fall out AFTER the report has been given and given that time to prepare for duty.