---
title: "How US troops learn to sleep anywhere, anyhow, any way"
description: "Legend has it that there are individuals who can function effectively with only 7-8 hours of sleep. U.S. troops can do with half—here's why."
date: "2021-07-22"
modified: "2025-10-06"
authors:
  - name: "Eric Milzarski"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/eric/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/how-troops-sleep-anywhere/"
categories:
  - "History"
tags:
  - "Military Culture"
---

# How US troops learn to sleep anywhere, anyhow, any way

![functioning without sleep](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/18272734/origin.jpg>)
*(U.S. Army)*

Sleep is, apparently, one of those things that medical professionals tend to claim is vital to not dying. While in the military, you'll get so little sleep that your body grows accustomed to functioning at a high level with just four hours of non-continuous sleep.

For one reason or another, putting aside large chunks of time for that vital sleep just doesn't happen. So, troops quickly learn how to rack out at the drop of a dime while smothered in their gear. Or they find a nice, cozy spot underneath a Humvee in the glaring Afghan sun with only their rifle and pebbles to keep them comfy.

It's really an impressive skill — and it's usually among the first [truly mastered](<https://medium.com/s/story/combat-tested-training-unwind-and-sleep-anywhere-in-120-seconds-27d5307b7606>) by even the most average of recruits.

The most significant contributing factor to this mastery over snoozing is that troops are constantly on the move. The human body is only meant to exert so much effort and that limit is pushed daily by all troops. Normally, [the body needs to both sleep regularly](<https://novoresume.com/career-blog/how-sleep-affects-productivity#why-do-we-sleep>) to rebuild damaged muscles and eat healthy foods to replenish what's lost.

Troops supplement this by maintaining a higher-than-average caloric intake. It's assumed that an average active male in their twenties should take in about 3000 calories to function normally. The average deployed troop consumes three MREs per day, totaling 3,750 calories.

Contrary to popular belief, eating calories is actually [a good thing](<https://www.idealshape.com/blog/good-calories-vs-bad-calories/>) if you're moving about as much as troops do. This intake means that the body has more to work with when it finally has time to recharge.

![functioning without sleep MREs](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/18272720/origin.jpg>)
*That's not to say that too many calories are a good thing either. It's a level of complication that can't be footnoted into an article about sleep deprivation, though. (U.S. Army/Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth)*

Troops exhaust themselves by being constantly in motion. When an opportunity to knock out arises, even if it's just for a few minutes, it *will* be seized.

The next contributing factor is that troops are generally sleep-deprived and have their sleep cycles constantly interrupted. Starting in basic training, a drill sergeant could wake everyone up at 0100 for sh*ts and giggles, have a special someone pull fire guard at 0300, and wake up for the rest of the day at 0500.

The body does most of its recharging during cycles of [REM sleep](<https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Understanding-Sleep>), the first of which begins after approximately 45 minutes of sleep and recurs every 45 minutes thereafter. The rigors of training, however, rarely permit troops to achieve multiple cycles of REM, so the body tries to recharge [as much as possible](<https://www.sleepscore.com/articles/how-to-extend-your-rem-cycle>) during those first 45 minutes. As this pattern of interrupted sleep becomes the norm, the body adapts and requires less time to get into REM cycles.

In essence, this pattern resembles [polyphasic sleeping](<https://time.com/5063665/what-is-polyphasic-sleep/>)—which is a terrible thing to try without adding in a solid, six to eight hour chunk of rest into the mix.

![functioning without sleep guard duty](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/18272711/origin.jpg>)
*And you really don't want to try that while on guard duty. That's still punishable under the UCMJ.*
*(U.S. Army/Spc. Charles M. Willingham)*

The body actually can't handle this type of sleep deprivation, but by sheer power of will (and a metric f*ck-load of caffeine), troops can shut off their body's warning signs.

Troops' bodies can endure this for a few days, typical of a combat mission while deployed, but a dearth of sleep can't last for weeks. There will have to be a time when that troop hits their rack to get a full night's rest.

And when they do, it's some of the best sleep they've ever gotten.

![functioning without sleep under humvee](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/18272702/origin.jpg>)
*Even if it's in broad daylight on a pile of sharp rocks. (U.S. Army/Spc. Ken Scar)*

## Author
Eric is a U.S. Army veteran and was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division where he served as a radio operator. After being honorably discharged, he then pursued a career in the film and television world.He is now the resident "nerd" at We Are The Mighty. To follow Eric on social media: please check out the links below. [Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/EricMilzarski/>)