Is there a regulation that states Soldiers must get a break/smoke break?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 15:59:45 -0500

I have looked in FM 7-22 (HHF) and in AR 600-63 for guidance but cannot specifically find anything to support breaks. Sure, people will say "that's what lunch is for." And I don't want to argue for or against it right now, just looking if there is anything specific.

For more clarification, my unit just banned all breaks besides lunch throughout the day. I am not a smoker, but still obviously enjoyed a few minutes to recollect myself like most people do.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 3 at 2021 4:36 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 16:36:33 -0500

1. Not that I have ever seen. Besides, not all smoke so why are giving breaks to everybody due to a addiction?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 3 at 2021 4:47 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 16:47:36 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2021 5:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 17:03:38 -0500

Banned all breaks?? That's a great way to raise unit morale

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Mar 3 at 2021 8:28 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 20:28:43 -0500

I've been known to give a smoke break. Or was that a session???

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2021 9:17 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 21:17:06 -0500

You actually looked in FM 7-22 Holistic Health and Fitness thinking it would mention smoke breaks?
It might mention how to quit smoking.

The last time someone asked if we wanted a smoke break, that was followed by "get on your desks! The flutter kick!"
That smoke session lasted longer than the actual class.
That was 1993 and I haven't taken a smoke break since.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 3 at 2021 9:24 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 21:24:11 -0500

A smoke break meant something different in my day...I really can't add anything positive to this question so I will just snicker in retired old fart and shuffle away.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2021 9:25 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 21:25:41 -0500

Why all the breaks were taking ?

Response by Wayne Soares made Mar 3 at 2021 9:33 PM

Wayne Soares — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 21:33:39 -0500

Thanks for the question Sgt. LaShure

Response by SPC Cathy Goessman made Mar 3 at 2021 11:14 PM

SPC Cathy Goessman — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 23:14:27 -0500

Smart leaders will realize that soldiers don't stay sharp and productive working hour after hour continuously. A 10 minute break every few hours will make those hours much more productive.

No regulation requires leaders to be smart though so you're on your own unfortunately.

One of the hardest jobs I ever worked was seasonal salmon processing. 18-20 hour days and 7 day work weeks. People falling asleep at their stations. 15 minute break every 2 hours made it a lot easier to push through and get stuff done.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 4 at 2021 6:40 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:40:18 -0500

I am so happy not to be apart of that unit. What’s sad state of affairs when Soldiers don’t get a few minutes throughout the day to take a breath or chat up for a minute or two. Breaks in my units were breaks not smoke breaks. Of course when I joined it was smoke em if you got em.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 4 at 2021 10:17 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:17:08 -0500

This is, more or less, urban legend. I *believe* (as in I am making a wild guess based on experience with no evidence to back me up) that this comes from TRADOC rules requiring classroom breaks periodically for students. This becomes normalized across the Army, and in classroom settings, we tend to format things with 50 minutes of class and ten minutes of break every hour. (And civilian school is pretty similar if you look at High School and even college courses). Once we move out of the classroom setting, somehow Soldiers got it into their minds that those breaks are REQUIRED. They are not.

Now... all that being said, good leaders understand that small breaks are important for maintaining productivity. Even if it isn't a true break, but a shifting in task and task type (i.e. we are doing a Command Inspection layout - after spending 45 minutes in the Hot Connex searching for the last widget for the dinglehopper, take some time out in the fresh air - go jog back to the Company area and grab me the file folder with this paperwork.) We need to give both our brains AND our bodies the chance to regroup and refresh. I spent a LOT of time in an office throughout my career - dangers of being good at staff work. Every hour or two, I would just get up and walk out of the office. I would go on walkabout for 5 or 10 minutes. Stretch my legs out, get some fresh air, allow myself to cognitively relax. Twice, I had a boss that had a problem with this. So I just took a "bathroom break" every couple hours.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 4 at 2021 10:28 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:28:52 -0500

I believe it’s good management to allow measured breaks during a work period. When I taught Lean Six Sigma classes we took a morning, noon, and afternoon breaks. It helped the students stay awake. As a pilot training instructor we gave the students short breaks during the day to relieve stress. In very hot or cold weather breaks are necessary for cooling or warming to keep workers safe and healthy.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Mar 5 at 2021 5:57 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:57:07 -0500

Banned all breaks? Hmm sounds like some COmmander wants a IG complaint

Response by SSG John Jensen made Mar 5 at 2021 10:22 PM

SSG John Jensen — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 22:22:23 -0500

Dad said that when he was in '58 - '62, if you smoked, you got a smoke break, if you didn't smoke, you didn't get a break.

Response by PO3 John Keas made Mar 4 at 2022 10:17 PM

PO3 John Keas — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 22:17:00 -0500

I don't think in any branch (except maybe Air Farce) has anything about actual breaks. I don't remember breaks being "required" but back when I was in (93-96)...if we were caught up on the day's (busy) work, no one complained if you disappeared for a few. I think there was a command level rule that said breaks were required for supply onloads, but other than that, I never had cause to check. Even if we did later have an E6 that tried to monitor every second of every work day...that didn't go over well. heh

Response by CWO4 Gene A. made Mar 5 at 2022 1:07 PM

CWO4 Gene A. — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 13:07:37 -0500

Hey Russia&China. Hold up a bit this boy needs to take a break. The new Warrior ethos'. Give me a break.