Why the Army is Changing Soldier Sleep Regulations

A recent Department of the Army memo shows that the Army appears to be changing its approach to sleep. The memo, issued by the 18th Airborne Corps (also known as the Command) and shared on social media, follows a long tradition of staff service. Highlights? To reduce the risk of traffic accidents and other types of accidents after extended shifts, soldiers assigned to staff duty must sleep at least four hours during their shifts.

U.S. Army SFC (Ret.) Louis B. tells Sleepopolis: “Staff duty is essentially a type of guard duty that keeps the lines of communication open between company commanders and their soldiers. Typically, soldiers are tasked with answering phones, relaying messages and remaining on standby in case of an emergency. He adds, “These tasks are always scheduled on 24-hour shifts and every service member must complete them at some point in their military career.”

Louis goes on to say: “Employee obligations have a long history. These types of tasks were undeniably necessary in early armies and warfare where word of mouth was the only real means of communication, but times have changed. Technology makes employee responsibilities obsolete and redundant, and yet they remain.”

Now retired, Louis looks back (and not fondly) on his share of work responsibilities. “Not only did we have to stay up for the entire shift, but when it was over, many of us had to go home exhausted.”

Sitting non-stop for 24 hours is simply dangerous

“Not sleeping for 24 hours can be physically and mentally dangerous for any person,” says Dr. Dan Gartenberg, sleep researcher and sleep health advisor at CPAP.com. “When you don’t sleep for 24 hours, you may experience things like high anxiety, irritability and decreased memory. (2) Physically, it is comparable to alcohol poisoning, where a person may experience slurred speech. It may also cause visual disturbances, tremors and muscle tension.

The memo pointed out the harmful effects of going 24 hours without sleep, explicitly comparing it to driving under the influence of alcohol. Relying on some CDC statistics, they wrote: “Not sleeping for long periods of time has a significant impact on consciousness and executive function (decision-making ability), which dramatically increases the risk of accidents. After 17 hours of wakefulness, a person’s executive functions are equivalent to those of someone who has a blood alcohol percentage (BAC) of 0.05%. (3) After 24 hours of alertness, the decline in executive function increases exponentially, up to an equivalent BAC of 0.1%, which exceeds the legal limit required to operate a motor vehicle. (3)

How long does it take to recover from one sleepless night?

As for what 24-hour shifts could mean for Soldiers in the days following assignment to staff duties, Gartenberg says, “One night of no sleep typically requires 2-3 days to fully recover, even with additional dream. But you can never fully make up for lost sleep.

Gartenberg adds: “Some people naturally recover faster than others from sleep loss, and age plays a key role. That is why it is so important to ensure high-quality sleep during the recovery period. Factors such as a consistent sleep schedule and a relaxing environment before bed contribute to better sleep quality.

Noting that he spent his college career developing fatigue models for the Air Force and Naval Research Laboratory to reduce crashes and accidents, Gartenberg said it’s great that the Army is prioritizing the sleep of its soldiers. “Well-rested soldiers will have improved cognitive function, reaction time and physical endurance, which is very important for their overall safety. Lack of sleep can have serious consequences because men and women in the military constantly use their bodies in physical ways, whether it is training, combat or other activities. Therefore, making sleep a priority is a wise investment in the effectiveness of the Army and the well-being of its soldiers.”

Sharon Brandwein

Sharon Brandwein is a certified sleep science coach and freelance writer. She specializes in health and beauty, parenting and, of course, everything related to sleep. Sharon’s work has also appeared on ABC News, USAToday and Forbes. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her preparing her puppy’s wardrobe.