Work/Rest Plans?

Question

Some of the answers have been very informative. What we must understand with today's military, is that these kids are not dumb. If you volunteer for a mission and then the peramiters of that mission are not the ones you volunteered for, these kids won't volunteer or stay in when ETS comes up if they feel they were lied to on a regular basis. We volunteered for a mission where we were told that the shifts were to be 12 on 12 off, 3 days on 3 days off. Hundereds volunteered. When the actuall mission started ( CONUS, Non-Combat ) it became 24 on 24 off for 70 straight days. These kids knew this wasn't what they volunteered for and felt that it was a set up so our state would look good for the number of volunteers. There must be a reg that allows us NCO's to protect our soldiers from others trying to build their resume on my soldiers sweat. This mission may be the straw that breaks my units retention. Most of these soldiers were in Iraq with me and are not babies. Their men.

Answer 1

Sarge,
I feel for you. Honestly I do. But the reality of it is that as a Non-Commissioned Officer you have 2 basic responsibilities. First and Foremost is what ??? Accomplish all of your assigned Missions. Foolowed by ?? The Health and Welfare of your Soldiers. Mission always comes first. Soldiers second.
24 on 24 off. 70 days straight. OK so you worked for 35 days. Had no actual off time to do anything. OK but you werent in Combat. Would it have made you feel better if you were in Straight Combat for those 70 days ??
Yes Soldiers are smarter. Yes you probably were briefed that you would be working 12 hours on 12 off. OH well Sarge get over it. Situation changed but the mission stayed the same. It is YOUR job to impress on your Soldiers that sometimes this happens. Did your Soldiers accomplish the Mission ?? To Standards?? If so Then let your Soldiers know it. Let them know that it was a difficult Mission and yet they accomplished all tasks to standards. You have alot of power Sarge. You have the ability to influence these young Soldiers. Or you can sit back and whine and cry about how the Situtaion changed and you had to work different hours than what you thought.
Sarge this isn't all that deep. Lead your Soldiers. Train your Soldiers. and Be a Leader. Be the Backbone that you are supposed to be.

Answer 2

24X24 hours does not sound too bad. During my time 6X6 watches and full work days (0600 to 1800) were the rule at sea, and in-port 36 hours on 12 hours off was most common.

In one case during an overhaul in a shipyard in the United States we were work 18 hours a day for 173 days straight (no days off).

You talk about protecting your people, you need to get more people or reduce the ineffective usage of your people. Let your chain of command know what is happening in the proper manner.

Answer 3

I suggest you get out of the miltary as quick as you can. They probably don't want you anyway. If you can whine about working every other day in a non-combat environment, you are unfit. Volunteer for Iraq if you want to see true hardship.

Answer 4

since your an NCO, try making it comfortable for you troops. 24 on 24 off is not a bad idea at least you get some rest. you make the schedule to give them days off. take charge your a NCO.