Promoting
Better Sleep
NAVY IS FIGHTING FATIGUE
IN THE SURFACE FLEET
BY JAMIE L. PFEIFFER
Sailors have always joked that “sleep is for
port,” but lack of sleep is a serious readiness problem.
While round-the-clock operations and a cultural
acceptance of sleep deprivation make it challenging for
Sailors to get adequate rest, the modern military has
begun to examine more closely how a lack of sleep affects
performance, safety, and operational readiness.
Over the last few years, the Navy has implemented
new policies and practices across the surface fleet to
address this critical readiness component and improve
the health of its fighting forces. In addition to making
cultural changes, it’s using new technology to help
advance this mission.
A staggering majority of service members report sleeping
an average of less than six hours a night, despite ofÏcial
Department of Defense recommendations that they
get seven hours or more of sleep per night. Decades of
studies on chronic sleep deprivation show that fatigue
slows reaction times, impairs decision-making and
increases the risk of mistakes.
Chronic fatigue is a self-inflicted penalty that needlessly
Lieutenant Xavier Pierce puts on a health-monitoring ring as part of the Crew
Readiness, Endurance, and Watch Standing (CREW) study in 2021 aboard Wasp-class
amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2).
endangers the overall mission and decreases readiness.
In addition to costing hundreds of millions of dollars in
financial losses, sleep deprivation significantly increases
servicemembers’ risk of illness, injury and mental
health issues. A 2017 Stanford Medicine study showed
that variable sleep schedules and interrupted sleeping
hours significantly increased insomnia, nightmares and
suicidal ideation.
Fighting fatigue is particularly challenging for the sea
services. Life aboard can be cramped, chaotic and far
from conducive to good sleep habits. Small crews cover
long watches, leaving little downtime for recovery in an
environment that works against rest. Bright artificial
lighting, constant noise and unpredictable operations
make it impossible to maintain consistent sleep patterns.
However, ensuring Sailors get enough quality rest is
especially critical in this high-stress environment.
A Wake-Up Call
While fatigue has contributed to countless naval
accidents and collisions over the years, several high
profile accidents in 2017 forced the Navy to acknowledge
the severity and cost of this issue. In January, crew error
caused the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54,
now decommissioned) to run aground in Tokyo Bay,
causing millions of dollars in damages and an extensive
oil spill. In May, the guided missile cruiser USS Lake
Champlain (CG 57, now also decommissioned) hit a
South Korean fishing vessel, an embarrassing accident
attributed to “human error.” In June, the guided missile
destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) collided with a
container ship off the coast of Japan, killing 17 U.S.
Sailors. Just two months later, the USS John McCain (DDG
56) hit an oil tanker, resulting in 10 more deaths. Fatigue
was identified as a significant factor in both fatal warship
accidents.
By the end of the year, the Navy released a joint directive
outlining 117 concrete measures for improvement,
including many directed at helping Sailors get enough
high-quality rest. To track its progress, the Naval Surface
Force Pacific established the Human Factors Oversight
Council. This group collects a broad range of fatigue
related data from surface fleet members, including the
amount of sleep each Sailor gets each night, the amount
of training they receive and their proficiency test scores.
It also monitors accidents, collisions and other mishaps,
correlating them with the Sailor data.
Analyzing this comprehensive database of information
has enabled the Navy to refine and retool its directives.
In December 2020, the Naval Surface Force Pacific
updated its 2018 instruction with the “Comprehensive
Crew Endurance Management Policy.” According to the
2021 Crew Endurance Handbook, Sailors should get a
minimum of 7.5 hours of sleep each day. Ideally, this
should include at least six hours in an uninterrupted
block, or five consecutive hours plus a two-hour nap.
Night OWLs
Successfully implementing these directives relies on
a combination of cultural changes and state-of-the
art technology. Many ships have shifted to circadian
friendly rotations, such as three hours on and nine hours
off, or 12-hour systems designed to match natural sleep
Scientists from Naval Health Research Center’s operational readiness team outfit
the guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) with monitoring devices
to prepare the ship to participate in Rim of the Pacific, a biennial maritime
exercise, in June 2024. NHRC’s monitoring devices collected biometric data, primarily
related to sleep, which could be used to identify individual Sailors at high risk of
fatigue and to predict fatigue risks across a shipboard department.
cycles. These schedules reduce the constant “rotating
watches” that leave Sailors perpetually jet lagged.
One exciting new development is the Optimized
Watchbill Logistics (OWL) system. It incorporates
wearable devices (rings and watches) to monitor and
record each Sailor’s biometric data, including their sleep
time and quality. It analyzes this data and customizes a
recommended schedule for each individual, including the
best time for dedicated rest. Using this data, ofÏcers can
optimize onboard scheduling and identify Sailors who are
at high risk of fatigue.
Its first trial run was aboard the guided missile destroyer
USS Shoup (DDG 86), which field-tested the OWL
system in 2023. In response to overwhelmingly positive
feedback, the Navy approved its installation on 16 more
Navy guided-missile destroyers in 2024.
While OWL provides data-based recommendations,
successful implementation requires leadership action.
The Navy has directed commanders to protect Sailors’
rest whenever possible and added fatigue management
training to leadership courses. Its directives emphasize
that anti-fatigue measures are a critical component of
overall readiness.
In addition to prioritizing dedicated periods for rest,
the Navy is exploring ways to help Sailors get better
quality sleep, including by making changes to onboard
environments.
The Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity
has developed a tint for safety lenses that blocks about
70% of blue light. Their research and preliminary studies
suggest wearing the glasses for an hour or two before a
scheduled rest period makes falling asleep significantly
easier. Widespread distribution of these glasses could
allow many Sailors to get more (and better) sleep, even
outside of “normal” sleeping hours.
Another strategy has been to improve harsh artificial
lighting, especially in cramped sleeping quarters.
Many ships are now outfitted with LED lighting that
can shift color and intensity to mimic natural day and
night rhythms. Red-toned light in the hours before
rest helps signal the body to wind down, while brighter
white light during working hours promotes alertness.
Bunk arrangements have also been redesigned to reduce
disturbances.
Reports suggest these measures are beginning to
pay off. Nearly 90% of ships now follow circadian
rhythm watch bills, with many reporting noticeable
improvements in alertness, morale and operational
safety. Some fleets have noted fewer near-misses and
fatigue-related errors.
However, operational realities often conflict with
recommendations. Crewing shortages mean there aren’t
always enough Sailors to fully staff circadian-based
watches. High operational demands can necessitate
shortening rest periods. Overcoming the old idea that
toughness means “pushing through” exhaustion is an
enormous cultural shift, which some commanders have
been slower to embrace. A 2024 ofÏcer survey revealed
that 86% still slept less than seven hours per day, with
more than half regularly getting just five.
The bottom line, however, is that fatigue is bad for the
bottom line. Perpetuating a culture that accepts (or
endorses) chronic sleep deprivation needlessly increases
the risk of costly and dangerous accidents. It also erodes
a crew’s physical and mental health, reducing the
effectiveness of our fighting forces.
From Ships to Screens: Navy Sleep in Pop Culture
As the Navy works to improve its internal culture to
promote healthier rest, its efforts have begun to creep
into civilian culture. Navy sleep strategies, such as the
“eight-minute power nap,” have exploded on social
media, with podcasts discussing how these techniques
can enhance personal productivity. Clickbait-style self
help articles tout circadian-based scheduling as a secret
to success for C-suite executives, students and busy
parents.
While this may seem over the top, the general public will
likely see many benefits from the Navy’s sleep-focused
initiatives. Between 2017 and 2023, the U.S. military
services conducted nearly 130 fatigue-related research
projects. Data and innovations from these projects will
likely lead to the development of many new consumer
products supporting better, more restorative sleep.
Effective tools to help reduce fatigue could save the U.S.
economy billions of dollars and countless lives.
The Navy’s push to improve sleep is an ongoing
mission. Future initiatives may include AI-assisted
watch rotations, advanced wearable trackers to monitor
fatigue and redesigned ship compartments to minimize
noise, light and vibration. Along with developing new
technologies, new generations of Sailors may finally
break the habit of treating sleep as expendable.
Today’s Navy recognizes rest is a core part of readiness,
as critical to the mission as fuel, training and equipment.
Allied navies, including the British Royal Navy and the
Royal Australian Navy, have adopted similar measures,
creating a broader push across the maritime world.
Sailors have always been asked to do more with less and
sleep was often the first thing jettisoned overboard. In
the last few years, the Navy has charted a new course.
Now, with science and policy finally aligning, the Navy is
making strides toward a healthier, more alert fleet.
Jamie L. Pfeiffer practiced in Illinois, Oregon and Washington state before retiring from active law
practice. She is currently based in Chicago.