New Instructions for Sailors to Get Better Sleep
January 01, 2021
The U.S. Navy surface forces are receiving new instructions, aimed at ensuring sailors are getting consistent sleep while out at sea.
The Comprehensive Endurance, Fatigue Management Program further expands on similar instructions released in 2017, a result of an investigation discovering sailor fatigue played a role in the fatal collisions of warships Fitzgerald and John S. McCain, killing 17 sailors.
According to Dr. John P. Cordle, SURFLANT’s human factors engineer and a retired surface warfare officer, the Naval Surface Force Atlantic and Naval Surface Force Pacific will be directed to use watch rotations that align with the body’s natural circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm is the natural cycle of physical, mental, and behavioral changes that the body goes through in 24-hours. Sailors will follow strict schedules that conform to a 24-hour day, allowing sailors to work, eat, and sleep at approximately the same time each day.
Dr. Cordle would go on to say, “What we find in the studies is not necessarily that sailors are sleeping more under this watch rotation, but they’re sleeping at the same time each day… What they like about it is that they can now plan their day. Ships have reported better physical readiness training performance and better morale with circadian-based watchbills.”
Schedules following a circadian watch rotation could look like a three-on/nine-off rotation separated into four sections, or a four-on/eight-off rotation in three sections. To ensure sailors are rested and ready for whatever is next, there will be additional tweaks to meal hours, limited 1MC usage, more flexible training schedules, among others.
Research has shown that fatigue in addition to an un-synced circadian rhythm can inhibit an individual’s ability to learn or concentrate on tasks, while long-term sleep deprivation can contribute to diabetes, weight gain, heart disease, among other diseases.
Dr. Cordle goes on to note, shipboard leaders should make these changes not only for their sailors, but for themselves, if you work too hard, don’t sleep, eat, or exercise properly, you will be unfit, and there will be a time when you’re the last person between your ship and disaster, and you’re going to make a bad decision because you let yourself get in a bad place, and somebody could get hurt or killed.
Dr. John P. Cordle was recently featured on an episode of Veterans Radio Podcasts. Veterans Attorney Jim Fausone interviewed Dr. Cordle on sleep deprivation and how it affects Navy performance. Dr. Cordle also mentioned possible implementations of circadian rhythm watchbills on naval ships.
Stream this intriguing and engaging episode in the media player below, or click here to be redirected to our BlogTalkRadio page.
Medical Issues / Disability, Mental Health, News and Press, PTSD, Veterans Law