Report: Troops need more sleep

[unhappycamper]

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division sleep outdoors between missions at Joint Security Station Sadr City last year.


Report: Troops need more sleep
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, March 17, 2009

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — Army doctors will recommend soldiers deployed to combat zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan get seven to eight hours of sleep each night after research suggested such a move would result in fewer accidents, friendly-fire incidents and cases of ethical misconduct.

The recommendations are contained in a draft of proposed changes to Army sleep guidelines, which currently suggest infantrymen get a minimum of four hours of sleep each day during deployment.

"Soldiers require 7-8 hours of good quality sleep each night to sustain operational readiness," according to a draft of proposed new Army sleep guidelines, obtained from the U.S. Army Medical Command this week. "There is no ‘MINIMUM’ sleep requirement (but) anything less than 7-8 hours per 24 hours will result in some level of performance degradation."

While essential for many aspects of operational success, sheer determination or willpower cannot offset the mounting effects of inadequate sleep, the guidelines state.

"Sleep should be viewed logistically as an item of resupply, like water, food, fuel, and ammunition. Commanders need to plan proactively for adequate resupply of sleep for themselves and their subordinates," the guidelines state.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61374