Posted on Jun 3, 2021
SSG Squad Leader
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Having a discussion at work today and I couldn’t find any answers so I’m asking the RP community. Is there any regulation or policy that specifically states recovery period length for a 24 hour shift?
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Responses: 11
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
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According to FM 7-22, naps are encouraged: “When regular nighttime sleep is not possible due to mission requirements, soldiers can use short, infrequent naps to restore wakefulness and promote performance,” the document explains. “When routinely available sleep time is difficult to predict, soldiers might take the longest nap possible as frequently as time is available.”
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MAJ John Adams
MAJ John Adams
>1 y
That's certainly a change. Back in the dark ages when I was a 2LT (mid 1970's), a nap was a sure path to a bad OER. That was the culture. I was told -- in so many words --, that officers didn't sleep in the field, ever.
That's something I remembered when I got a Cav troop a few years later. Remembered as in making sure that all my pirates got at least 6 hours of sleep in 24. Mission requirements may require some bending of that ideal, but I never forgot the feeling of 72 hours without sleep, and the resulting mental fog.
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MSG Mechanic 2nd
MSG (Join to see)
>1 y
MAJ John Adams - pirates or privates both terms work for me lmao
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MAJ John Adams
MAJ John Adams
>1 y
MSG (Join to see) - It was intentional.
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SFC Marc W.
SFC Marc W.
>1 y
I had one unit in 14 years that actually allowed naps. The rest explicitly stated 'no sleeping while on duty' in the book, it didn't matter that 3 people were on duty.
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CSM Charles Hayden
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SSG (Join to see) Ft Knox, 1953. We pulled overnight guard duty and were returned to the company area in time for duty assignments. A Corporal commenced making protests that since we had been on overnight duty we were exempt from erecting the company’s tentage for an airing. The 1SG appeared, called the detail to attention and said, “erect those tents or I will charge y’all with mutiny”. Everyone slouched over to where the pallets of tents were. When I got tired of the detail’s pissing and moaning, I went over to a folded tent, grabbed a corner of a tent which didn’t move. I then called for assistance for that tent and all of the tents were erected within an hour or so!
One of my first acts of leadership!
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SSG Squad Leader
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
Very nice, CSM!!!
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
>1 y
SSG (Join to see) CSM says it all, thanks.
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Walter Kurtz
Walter Kurtz
>1 y
In 1953 they were "pissing and moaning" about overnight guard duty and were returned to the company area in time for duty assignments. In 2021 they are "pissing and moaning" about not being allowed to have a beard. "The times they are a-changing." LOL!
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
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Edited >1 y ago
There is under FM 22-6 Guard Duty an area for "Interior Guard" which could refer to Charge of Quarters .
CQ or charge of quarters is a tasked duty in which a United States armed forces service member is to guard the front entrance to the barracks. It is usually a 24-hour shift in which the two service members, one a non-commissioned officer (NCO) and the other a junior enlisted service member, sit at a desk to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic into the barracks. There are usually additional duties, such as sweeping the entryway, cleaning the entrance restrooms, and checking the barracks laundry room for laundry left overnight. Other duties may include performing radio checks every few hours with other company barracks and battalion headquarters around the base or surrounding installations as well as bed checks to ensure service members are in their rooms with their doors locked by curfew. For example, some U.S. Armed Forces service members stationed in South Korea have a curfew for being on post, and another one for being in their own individual rooms with their doors locked.
Weekend shifts USUALLY (but not always) start at 0700 hours (7:00 a.m.), depending on the military branch and installation, and go for 24 hours. During the work week, the duty starts at between 1600 and 1630 hours (4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.), also known as Close of Business (COB). Service members are typically excused from duties the following day after being relieved by a senior NCO, in most cases the unit's first sergeant, though the CQ orders may say who in the soldier's COC may relieve him but at all times the unit 1SG will be apprised of the changes and receive his approval of changes.
However Unit SOPs vary between commanders and of course the mission of the unit dictates what the individual's duty will consist. A shift can be 2 hours on-shift 4 off-shit, 4 hours on-shift 8 off-shift, 8 hours on-shift 16 off-shift or even 12 to 24 shifts. When a soldier's relief is present a supervisor post the new shift.
The unit mission will dictate how long a soldier is given between duty off and duty on times.
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You did not give us a real lot information on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Best thing is to do what your NCOs and other Supervisors say and use your COC to debate any problems about duty and time off.
Don't whine.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
>1 y
SSG (Join to see) - Generally for CQ, staff duty it's 24 hours on, "24 hours" off (although I've never really gotten a full 24 hours off and usually awake more than 24 hours). I have pulled Staff Duty Officer at BN as a SFC - and that one there is no recovery but are allowed to sleep during the night because there's no recovery the next day. That's when I was BDE S2 so I would just go to my office on the NIPR - and then I'd go in the S2's office and push together these two bigger chairs to make a couch and sleep on that for a couple hours here and there - go do checks at the motor pool and BN Staff duty and then go back to the office.
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
SFC Ralph E Kelley
>1 y
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - It actually stated that in the post but it isn't set in stone.
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SFC Robert Nerkowksi
SFC Robert Nerkowksi
>1 y
Before I retired I had "Crazy Wife Syndrome" and I was under constant investigation. To "Punish" me for the drama she caused the CSM put me on Staff Duty day on day off for months. Finally I filed a complaint and was removed from that unit and allowed to retire peacefully. 24 hours will wear on your soul; especially when it is 4 months worth...
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SGT Brianna MacKinnon
SGT Brianna MacKinnon
>1 y
When I was still on active duty, the CQ and Runner relieved the previous CQ and Runner at 0700. The oncoming CQ would then post their Runner at the Desk while the NCO assumed their regular daily duties. After the COB formation, the CQ would then assume their duties as CQ.

The CQ and Runner at the end of their duties were released from all duty until the next duty day typically starting with the PT formation the next day.
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