|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Military.com Forums Coast Guard Discussions Operations Specialist (OS) Watchstander Physical Fitness Question|
Go
|
New
|
Find
|
Notify
|
Tools
|
Reply
|
|
New Member |
g. Allow time during the workday (a minimum of three hours per week) for
military personnel and to carry out their Personal Fitness Plans. This is from the health promotion manual. My question is: Is there anything saying that watchstanders (12 hour rotating type) are excluded from this? We (watchstanders) at my unit having been trying to bring this up the chain but get no help with it and we arent getting the 3 hours per week during our work hours to go to the gym, so I'm just curious to know if it has been implemented at other command centers/VTS's. |
||
|
|
New Member |
"Is there anything saying that watchstanders (12 hour rotating type) are excluded from this?"
Answer is no. "I'm just curious to know if it has been implemented at other command centers/VTS's." We implemented it as local policy in our SOP. Shoot me an e-mail in global and I'll send you the verbiage. |
|||
|
|
Member |
That policy was designed more for units that work 8-4 type schedule 5 days a week.
Not for people to skip out on watch for an hour to "workout" Physical fitness along with your being within your MAW is your responsibility. I work 12 hour watches too and have never had an issue getting to the gym a few days a week. The issue with getting workout time during your watches is someone would have to "cover" your watch. You may be able to facilitate this but the end game the watch will be short one person a few hours each watch while the watchstanders cover for each other (if they're even qualified to do so), and this is a practice that will just bite you in the butt eventually. It just makes more sense to do it while you're not on watch. Its not like we're expected to maintain any physical fitness standards. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
I don’t really see it as "skipping out" on watch, I see it as being in compliance with policy, because nowhere that I or several other people can find does it say that this is only for Monday through Friday dayworkers who actually get plenty time to do things anyway, and who also on another note work roughly one month less than watchstanders do a year when you figure in holidays and early liberty. I also don’t see the harm with the day workers or chiefs coming in and listening to the radios for a couple hours during the day, which has been the main issue at our unit. They have to stand two watches a month to keep their qualification anyway, they could just break it up into hours. I understand that being on nights would make this process a little trickier.
I'm happy for you in that you get to the gym a few times a week, I also go to the gym on my off time...but a lot of us feel that if some members get this privilege than everyone should get it, including watchstanders. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
the regs say 3 days per week at 1hr. most commands I know of give this to their personnel if they are on watches during the day. at night i could understand where they cant swing it but most commands will make the effort to ensure their people get the time on the coast guards dime and I've been to a lot of commands. As a side note, I remember many a watch on a 378, 210 and 270 where I worked out in radio on my watch when time permitted. it's not ideal, but it worked. as for the policy, it did not specify to my knowledge the type of unit..it's all units and all personnel and just because we are not expected to maintain a certain physical standard doesnt mean we should not...it's beneficial to the watch to be alert and healthy.
|
|||
|
Member |
Brownie22, are you talking from a Command Center Perspective? Where a watchstander has a 2 on 2 off, 2 on, 3-4 off schedule? The kind of watcstander that works an avg of 15 days out of the month? Please help understand this, because it seems to me that you are saying that your 15 days of watchstanding equates to that of a day worker, or even that of someone on a cutter, in which underway, they are on the clock 24/7. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
Hectorcaliente, where I'm at we stand a 2 on 2 off sliding weekends (and stand by on our off days). I understand the underway schedule...I was on a 378 for 3 years and was never better than 1 in 3, although trop hours in port were always nice. A day worker (mon-fri) works 8 to 4 and gets holidays, early liberty, command morale days, and such off. We watch standers who usually stand 12 hour watches do not, the study was done and watch standers work roughly (when broken down into hours) 1 month more than regular day workers. I don’t feel it’s necessary to get into an argument over who works more hours, that’s not what my post is about. I'm really not interested in who thinks watch standers should get these hours or not...it’s a policy and should be implemented.
All we want where I'm at is to have the option to take those 3 hours that other members get and is now a policy, from people I have talked to even at other command centers and vts's a good portion of them have done this but we still have not. So all I'm trying to do is get some info on how the other command centers have it worked out so we can maybe get this started here. |
|||
|
|
Member |
Brownie, a 378 has a plethra of OSs. I can see if every now and then your watches were 1 in 3 for those months people would leave, and new ones came in.
If you feel that you are not finding the time to workout. It is an issue you should bring up to your Chief. I'm sure he/she can sit down with you, and figure out a wourkout schedule/routine. Watchstanders in a OUC/SUC/and CU are unique because the member is on the seat for 12 consecutive hours. Most commands that have 5 members for each seat will have a 2 on 2 off/2 on 4 off schedule (respectively). Because of the average sectors where the OS1/2/3 have so many days off within the month, they are not included in the 3 hour week workout allotment. But like I said, talk to your Chief. You may not get the answer you like, but I'm very sure you will get an answer. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
I just want to address the idea of the luxury of the 15 work days of the watch stander. Now, it is possible I have missed something, and I've only looked at the numbers for October. But I have a feeling this will hold true to the other months.
But by my count, there are 22 workdays in October for day workers. 22 days at 8 hours a day = 176 hours worked in a month. Now compared to the 15 workdays for a watch stander; 15 days at 12 hours a day = 180. I’m not complaining about a difference of 4 hours. But I’ve heard it implied in a few different places that watch standers should feel happy they work so few days. I just wanted to point out, that hour for hour we end up working the same amount (give or take). Additionally, I’ve yet to see a day off for a federal holiday. Holiday routine for me is the same as regular routine. When I need to go to medical I go in my off time. When I workout to maintain my MAW I go in my off time. If I need to drive to Coast Guard Island to work on my collateral, I go in my off time. Honestly I can’t speak to life on a cutter. I was just hoping to point out that the similarity in hours worked between day workers and watch standers is pretty similar. |
|||
|
Experienced Member |
To answer the original question, no there is nothing that exempts the 'watchstander' from this policy.
So, I would suggest that you go to your Chief and ask that everyone's workday gets extended from 12 hours to 13 1/2 so that they may work out 'during their normal workday' when they choose to. The extra 90 minutes is to provide a Standby for the person's watch duties so that they may work out. Pretty simple solution and if I were you, I would actually raise it in front of all of your shipmates at the next all hands! |
|||
|
Member |
It's not nearly similar and if you've never stood WATCH and never been on a cutter then really have zero knowledge of it. Now - to get the train back on track after ignorant derailment. Unfortunately - as you know 'Brownie' what's good for the goose is not always good for the gander. There are watchstanders (as you know) that have the ability to go to the gym for the hour that is REQUIRED to be provided by the command. That is NOT in lieu of lunch nor is it necessary to extend a SIXTY HOUR work week. It needs to come down to watchstanders helping each other out because in reality it's only the watchstanders that can understand and support OTHER watchstanders 100%. (I know there are some dayworkers that support watchstanders as well, but I'm talking of someone who currently sees it from the "inside".) VTS: If you get 3 hours on, 1 off, see if everyone would be willing to extend their sector time by 15 minutes (for all) so that individuals can work out. OR - take your one hour break and work out for 45 min with 15 min to clean up, change and relieve. Command Center/Comm Center: Ideally, everyone would be cross-trained, but of course, thats not how it always works out (new folks, old folks, whatever) The one watch position that I've ALWAYS seen hosed is the OU. Unless there is another qual'd OU on watch, they are basically SOL. Now, I hear supposedly, that the CDO's are all going to SAR school (which has its pros and cons) but if they do, and they actually QUALIFY in the OU position, instead of attempting to butt-in without their letter, then the OU would also be able to run to the gym for 45 min or so. As you know - as long as you go to your command with the solution and not only the problem - you'll make way. If you still feel like you've not gotten a fair answer go to the CMC and see what he/she has to say about it. At least you'll get a (reasonably) unbiased response. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
Excuse me? I AM a watch stander. What I was trying to do was point out that even though we only work 15 days we cram a lot of hours in to those 15 days. I'm not sure how that was an ignorant derailment at all. Enjoy your discussion. |
|||
|
|
Member |
Okay I have no problems digressing. Didn't know you were a watch-stander. Sounded like a day-worker to me.
 Nor did it sound like you were debating 'for' the watchstander, again, my fault. See - anyone that knows me would say that I don't admit when I'm wrong, but I do! Regardless, it still isn't nearly the same. As you know, whether the hours are "somewhat" equal, the work, the stress on the body (e.g., days to night switch) is not equal at all. The Command Policy's are (unforunately) geared towards day workers and their ability to leave on a whim. |
|||
|
Member |
Seriously though, if you want to bring a stationary bike into the CC and keep in covered in a corner or on a nearby patio, etc I think that should fit the bill. I'm beginning to get the feeling (I'm intuitive like that) that this has less to do with health and wellness than someone getting something you can't/aren't. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
Sean,
You're always thinking... Just like that time in SD when you wanted a Halloween pumpkin in combat... I like where your head is at!!! |
|||
|
|
Member |
At one point at SEC NY there was a stationary bike, but it was in use only for "testing" then it was taken away. I heard a lot of people say they wish that they could have it back. From what I heard, it was used often. I was overseas at the time so I wasn't able to see the difference that it made, but I know the bike is missed. That is a definite solution so long as the Command doesn't think it takes away from the "aesthetics" of the "new & improved" Command Center.
It might be a litte of both. I KNOW that there are people who work out all the time, but after a 12 hour watch on the 3rd day they don't want to get off at SIX AM and work out. Plus that hour workout at midnight or so produces more energy for them to get through the rest of the mid-watch |
|||
|
|
New Member |
Dayworkers have feelings too!
|
|||
|
|
Member |
Hush up ski! How can you have feelings if you have no heart???
 |
|||
|
|
Member |
What have you proposed to your command and what concerns did they give as a reason for denying your proposal? Did you take those concerns and offer another proposal to address them?
I would have to believe that most, if not all, commands are willing to provide you the time to participate in a fitness program if you can present a reasonable proposal that doesn't have a serious impact on the readiness of your CC. But if it comes down to readiness of the watch or participation in a fitness program...the watch readiness is probably going to win out. I would also hesitate to say that having the Chief cover the watch is a good plan. Depending on the number of watch positions in your CC that could mean spending most of their day standing by for people to work out. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
Thats the most obsurd answer I have ever heard concerning being able to workout while on watch. And coming from someone in a leadership position is frankly disconcerning. By your logic Master Chief, day workers should be required to to do the same. Extend their work day to accomodate a workout during work hours. A typical watchstander standing sliding weekends averages 12 hours more a month than day workers do. Which in reality is twice that given that day workers are allowed 90 minutes 3 times a week to workout. Take into account smoke breaks, lunch, flexibility to do errands ect and really demonstrates how screwed watchstanders are when it comes time to comply with the same standards as those who do not stand weekends and do not need to switch from days to mids every 2 weeks which screws with metabolism, sleep ect ect. The easy answer to this, and I know because I did it within my watch section, is for qualified watchstanders to cover eachother to accomodate someone to work out given the watch is slow and you have the people to do it. Grant it, at SCC's this difficult, but if you have a 1st Class who dayworks and is fully qualified to cover the watch then this is really a non issue. That 1st Class should want this for his watchstanders simply because it's whats best for them, the section, the unit ect ect ect. Be proactive. But to throw it out there that watchstandards aren't allowed to work out during their watch or should extend their watch by 90 minutes really expresses just how far out of touch senior leadership is with the deck plate. If I were in a senior leadership position, I would be looking for ways to help the watchstanders maintain not only weight standards but a level of physical fitness as this is the area of the CG where the weight policy truely affects. Never forget where you came from.............. |
|||
|
| Powered by Eve Community | Page 1 2 3 4 5 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
Military.com Forums Coast Guard Discussions Operations Specialist (OS) Watchstander Physical Fitness Question
