What is the AR that covers sleep?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 15:09:15 -0400

So from basic to now I have been told a soldier can function on 4 hours of sleep. And they are not required to be consecutive hours of sleep. Someone pointed out to me that they could never find the AR that states that. So I bring it to the group.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2016 3:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 15:26:30 -0400

Best I can find is FM 6-22.5 and FM 22-51, but no actual regulation.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Aug 31 at 2016 3:29 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 15:29:41 -0400

There is no AR on when you will eat or shower either. I believe health and well being of a Soldier falls under the Company Commander's discretion in the daily basic needs area. I could be wrong though. Just a hunch I have when I was in uniform and heard the same exact thing in regards to sleep.

Response by 1SG Mike Case made Aug 31 at 2016 3:31 PM

1SG Mike Case — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 15:31:18 -0400

TR 350-6, which covers TRADOC Soldiers in a training environment and FM 6-22.5, Chapter 4, which covers principles and practices for sleep discipline and optimal sleep in garrison and operational settings.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2016 4:47 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 16:47:58 -0400

you can function for a period of time. there is training you can attend when you find out how well you operate while sleep deprived and starving. It's not optimal, but you can function to a point.
More important that a Soldier can fall asleep anywhere/anytime!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2016 5:17 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 17:17:09 -0400

It is very important to be reminded AR's are guidelines. Rules and laws, standard setting forth a basic direction to our military life.

If I am to examine the need for sleep, and to apply it in a battlefield environment, then the truth becomes this reality: As a leader you plan the failure and success of the people. Sleep is as important as the breath one takes. As a leader you limit yourself just as you do when you seek to improve your run time or your push ups. You pace yourself on the need of the mission. You rely on the integrity and effective communication of everyone involved in the fight. You will rest with the trust you have by the voice of the one you asked to wake you, even when the shots are fired you do not hear, but that voice who comes to wake you in the trust of sleep so dear.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 31 at 2016 10:13 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 22:13:52 -0400

"So from basic to now I have been told a soldier can function on 4 hours of sleep."

Anyone who told you that needs to receive an education on Sleep Deprivation.

Going without Sleep is "just as dangerous" if NOT MORE dangerous than drinking on duty. Continued lack of sleep puts you, and those around you at risk. You develop a "sleep debt" which has to be paid back eventually.

Sleep deprivation leads to bad decision-making, because you have a physiological NEED for sleep. Your BRAIN needs it. An Adult human needs approximately 7-9 hours of Sleep per "cycle" and we need the right kind of sleep. Sleep outside our normal rhythm does jack & squat.

There are EXTENSIVE studies on what lack of sleep will do to the human body. The Army has the Triad of Fitness (Sleep, Nutrition, Activity). For whatever reason, we as a culture (military), have decided that "lack of sleeping" is a strength, or some skill that can be built up... like a tolerance... like driving a car drunk.... oh wait.

CC MAJ Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2016 12:18 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 12:18:32 -0400

So based on the post and the FM's I followed up on. It seems there is NO ACTUAL AR the covers sleep. There are 2 FM's that give guidance on recommended amounts of sleep. But neither of them state how much you are required/entitled to have. Considering how many people have "watched their eye lids" at some point while on duty. You wold think there would be an actual AR on this by now. But then again, this is a new Army and the things I hear about what's going on in basic and AIT make me wonder. Mind you I'm a support MOS who came out of Ft Benning for basic and then Ft Gordon for AIT. That AR my just be around the corner.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2016 4:57 PM

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 16:57:55 -0400

Medically speaking, a person NEEDS 7-8 hours of consistent sleep a night to function properly. Unless you are a part of an exclusive group who can function on 6 hours of sleep, you need those 7 hours.. Yes, we all have functioned "fine" on less. However, what you don't realize is that your cognitive functions are suffering every day you go without a full 7-8 hours. I went 2 months without getting more than 4 hours of sleep a night (during this time there were several days I didn't get sleep for 48 hours or more.) I started having micro-sleeps, was emotionally unstable, simple tasks were nearly impossible, and decision making was out the door. I was, without a doubt, a total mess. You may think 6 hours of sleep or less is fine, but it definitely is not. Also, splitting up sleep into blocks, does not work very well. Yes, you may feel fine for a little while - it may even give you an energy boost, but your cognitive functions are still suffering. I've done plenty of research on this one. Not sure where the military stands on this one, but I can definitely tell you where science stands.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2018 1:32 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 01:32:44 -0500

FM 22-51 appendix A - 9 page 145 of 183

Response by SPC Justin Claypool made Aug 28 at 2018 10:04 PM

SPC Justin Claypool — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 22:04:38 -0400

Thank you, your information is exactly what I was looking for.

Response by Sandra Clark made Jun 1 at 2022 7:02 AM

Sandra Clark — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 07:02:08 -0400

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