Cavalry Soldiers at Fort Carson Can't See Doctors in the Early Morning Under New Rules

I don't see the big issue here, other than the optics of it looking like he doesn't care about his troops. The article said that most of those services aren't even offered before 9am anyways. Plus, his directive focused on appointments, which wouldn't cover going on sick call. Additionally, he said that subordinate commanders can approve appointments before 9am, but that the soldier must coordinate that with the commander first. So, soldiers can indeed still see doctors in the early morning. That's a misleading headline.

"Boyd's memo notes that units may approve earlier appointments, but that soldiers must consult with their commander before making that appointment -- a move that can be complicated in situations in which health care providers may have to schedule follow-ups without delay."

""We are in the business of warfighting, and to fight wars successfully, we must be physically fit for war. The rigors of combat will not forgive suboptimal fitness," Boyd's memo says. "This policy memo protects the time to condition our bodies and minds to be fully ready."

Traditionally, decisions on whether a soldier may be excused from low-profile scheduled unit events, such as fitness training, are left to noncommissioned officers. It is unclear whether Boyd's squadron has seen a significant uptick in soldiers failing the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, and his rules are a reaction."

So...are people failing their ACFT? ABCP? What caused him to think he needs to do this? I mean yeah if someone is constantly making appointments at PT and aren't like ETSing or retiring, ok that might be an issue. But - he wants them to miss out on performance of their duties which also affects warfighting capabilities but not PT...

I don't know...it just seems like more micro-managing. but most often the things people are doing at PT time is sick call. Not actual appointments. So if someone gets sick, gets injured they're supposed to now wait until 0900? And going to sick call sometimes you can get same day appointments for things. No one is getting any appointments at 630-0800 other than maybe physical therapy I have gotten once at 645. Most appointments you aren't getting until 0800 anyway. It's just sick call that's during PT.

Let's be real the Army just shoots itself in the foot constantly with these recruiting and retention issues. It's honestly things like this that just make people say "f* this I'm out." And if there are people taking advantage of going to sick call and malingering, take care of them individually. Mass punishment never works.
"How do yo