My son, 10, asks, how do Soldiers get sleep, when they're at war for over a day?

Question

He is very curious, and we can't sleep right now, when we should be.

Can you explain to him, how you're able to handle so long a time without sleep?

He's just 10 now, and wild, but please be gentle?

Thank you very much. This is his question, for Troops.

Answer 1

they do what they believe in

sometimes they wait until the war has calmed down. but a few always keep on guard. they carry tents with them.

Answer 2

First.... if you have a ghost they will thumbs down all your answers not just a few.  My husband is over in Iraq and he catches naps every chance he can.  A cat nap for 10 minutes is worth gold to them.  Thanks for the question.

Answer 3

They sleep in tents and at camp bases. During the day they often have planned routes and places set up to stop along the way - or they carry tents like when people go camping.  

Answer 4

I think it would be hard to sleep for them even if they could,.You can go for days without sleep, adrenalin is what keeps them going. I think you just get use to it, and after a while it gets easier. You can sleep when you die, and that is always in the back of their minds. Please pray for all of our solders and ask God to keep them safe.

Answer 5

When we invaded Iraq, there was a period of a week where I cannot remember sleeping at all, although I must have.  You find a safe place and doze off and go right into dreaming, like you are having waking dreams.  And you don't sleep for very long, maybe ten or twenty minutes at most.  Waking up was instantaneous.  One moment, asleep, next, wide awake and active.  You get through it by being driven by adreneline and nerves.      We found a place that was safe enough to set up a small camp where I managed to sleep for two hours.  I woke up and began to wander around the camp, looking out for things.  My rifle was always in my hands or within arms reach.  When my tour was up and we went back to the air base in Kuwait.  There was a large warehouse that had been set up as barracks.  It was dark and AC'ed and best of all, had real bunks, with mattresses. I had  been sleeping on the ground, small hammock, or on a cot before.  I laid down on the mattress,thinking to get up a shower and get into a t-shirt and shorts, but the next thing I knew eight hours had gone by.  Someone had put all my gear under the bunk for me, but I still had on my uniform and boots.  We had our weapons in a rack by the door.  But before that I don't think that I sleep for longer than three or four hours at a time.  

Answer 6

Actually most of the time one guy will stand gaurd while the other(s) sleep. But if we have to stay up for a couple of days were definetly buisy and truly it really sucks but we get through it.

Answer 7

My husband in the forces.he said you're always alert,power naps are some times better than a good nights sleep..you're subconscious is always alert and slightest thing will the waken you,also they are very trained and disciplined in what they do x

Answer 8

This is a good question.  I have been in combat 4 times in three different places.  Each time I did not sleep well when I first got there because I was not sure what was going to happen.  Then, after making sure our security was solid -  which means we had men who stay up all night in shifts to walk around and keep us safe as we slept - then I slept better.  Sometimes we had to sleep on the ground - I am a Marine and that's not unusual but it is sort of creepy because you wonder what little animals might get in your sleeping bag - but after a while you become too tired to care and you sleep anyway.  Hope this helps.  

Answer 9

First of all... you've got to deal with all the issues at hand example people shooting at you first before you can sleep.

You sleep when everythings calmed down.  Normally you'll have designated areas for sleeping and resting that type of thing.

When you are at war, and busy fighting the baddies.  The last thing you think about is sleeping.  But when all has calmed down, and you clean your weapon and getting everything ready for the next day... you try to sleep as much as you can (which can vary between half an hour to a good 8 hours sleep)

Bless him for asking though! How cute!!

Answer 10

They know that they might die tomorrow so some can't sleep but others sleep well because they know it might be the last sleep they ever get.

Answer 11

You determine the answers you read to your son. I can only add to the well written comments, according to my spouse,  a soldiers instinct for survival makes them stay awake long hours and days at a time. They need our prayers.

Answer 12

I was in during the Invasion of 2003, my job required us to be awake for a few days or more at times.  We would play mental games in our head.  I would envision disassembling/assembling every weapon that I could take note in our arsenal.  Or go over the details of our mission over and over again in my head.  We would take a 2 hour nap (taking turns) at times while our other Marines in the recon unit kept firewatch and lookout, then rotate.  But naptime was very rare!  Also, we reported in every hour to our commander, we were constantly on the move in tailing an enemy convoy or interdicting an enemy force.  All that adrenaline kept us awake.   But believe me, after 5-6 days of no sleep, you'll hallucinate and become a little mad!  Once I thought these small, black tractor tires (the ones you see on dump trucks-but way smaller) where crawling over me, I actually believed it and almost had a panic attack!  Freaks you out when you see dozens of tires wheeling around your body, I've actually felt them!

Answer 13

Sometimes they go days without sleep. Sometimes they take turns sleeping, wherever they are, whenever they can. If they're lucky enough to be stationed at an FOB, they actually have cots and can sleep when they're not patrolling or out on missions.  

Answer 14

You have a very wise and loving little guy there , most ten year old are interested more in the new iron man toy. more than our troops. So he deserves a lot of great answers. Mine would be, they have to sleep when they can and usually will have other soldiers walking guard. while they do catch a nap. but they are just such special people God helps them to to be able to stay awake and do things that would be hard for us to do. that's why they are our hero's they suffer for us to be able to sleep. Quiet a bunch of men and women Our troops. God Bless them all, and God bless the little guy for caring. he puts some adults to shame. they should learn from him. God Bless America.  

Answer 15

just let him know when you are tired enough you will be able to sleep anywhere. Before I joined the Army I could only sleep in a bed and it had to be completely dark and noise free but now when I am tired I can sleep anywhere from a humvee to a rooftop which I had to do in Afghanistan.