Battlefield_Sleep_Deprivation

Effects of Battlefield Sleep Deprivation Sleep deprivation is a common tactic used against our enemies to massively reduce casualties and achieve success on the battlefield. Sleep deprivation can significantly impact physical performance, a soldier’s alertness, and their ability to perform. Its effects can be the difference in winning or losing the battle. Our military believes, that with proper research they can come up with ways to keep soldiers alert and effective on the battlefield. It’s a race between nations to have the edge over the enemy. (“Night”) When planning campaigns, battlefield commanders need to weigh carefully on the effects of sleep deprivation to reach maximum effectiveness of their forces in an extended period of sleep deprivation. One of the most well known commanders who used the tactic of sleep deprivation was General George Patton. General Patton’s sleep deprivation tactic was used to push the enemy to sheer exhaustion. This type of tactic is now used in almost all battles. The point is to push the enemy as hard as possible, which in turn limits their loses and allows them to reach the goal first. When used properly it can cause the enemy to make irrational decisions, have blurred vision, and impaired coordination. These effects would be detrimental on the battlefield. When overtaking an enemy, soldiers would want the enemy to have blurred vision so the enemy couldn’t shoot as accurate, and in hand to hand combat impaired coordination would affect the enemy’s reaction time. Just imagine taking a handful of painkillers and trying to fight someone; that’s the kind of reaction time soldiers might have. (“Night”) The use of supplements to cure sleep deprivation and improve physical performance is common among combat soldiers. The post ex-change at most military bases is stocked with popular supplements. Soldier’s coolers are stocked prior to patrol with cases of energy drinks, honey buns, sodas, and many other snacks packed with sugars. Soldiers’ are turning to the use of performance enhancer’s, prescriptions, caffeine, energy drinks, and multiple other stimulants that will help them stay awake. From first hand experience this is a cultural norm amongst combat soldiers; however, it is not directly endorsed by the US military. In a report by the Pentagon’s Office, there is already a race in pharmaceutical enhancement drugs for combat troops between the militaries of the world. Our governments know that if one military has a significant advantage in being able to stay awake longer or the ability to be more alert during battle it would be a huge advantage. Foregoing research in drugs to help maintain our troops alertness and ability to cope with fatigue is now compared to not supplying troops with an adequate supply of body armor. The armed forces have stockpiles of research on drugs that reduce sleep deprivation. There have been multiple tests done on Navy Seals, Army Rangers, and Special Forces to find the best drugs, which could speed up their reaction time and develop better cognitive skills while being sleep deprived. (“Porrino”) One drug under research; used to overcome lack of sleep is Ampakine. The U.S Department of Defense Advance Research Projects Agency partly funds this research with hopes to eliminate effects of sleep deprivation. (“Worcester”) The effects of sleep deprivation amongst soldiers during redeployment are already linked to post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicide. Sleep deprivation and its effects can impact soldiers and their families for many years. How much is our government willing to sacrifice the well being of our soldiers just to gain an edge over our enemies' –need more-''' Works Cited “Night of the Living Meds- The U.S. Military’s Sleep Reduction Program” Slate Magazine, 2008 “Web” 05/30/12 Porrino, L.J. “CX717 May Reverse Effects of Sleep Deprivation and Possibly Benefit AD Patients.” Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update; Oct2005, Vol. 9 Issue 10, p7-7, 1/3p. “Web” 5/31/12 Sharon Worcester. “Sleep Deprivation Predicts PTSD in Soldiers” Clinical Psychiatry News. 40.1 (Jan.2012): p35. “Web” 05/30/12