Lack of Sleep

nick0094

10-Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
93
Now, I don't think you're supposed to get much sleep during BCT, but is there any way to get used to the lack of sleep? I have a summer job, and I don't get to sleep until around 12, but I still have to get up at 6 or so to go to work. I've never been but from what I've heard this seems like more sleep that the basic cadets get. Everyday I get up, I feel like laying back down and not going to work, and my mom says I can if I want to. But theres this part of me that doesn't want to. Theres a part of me that wants to get up just to see if I can make it through the day....anyway, I was wondering if there's anything I could do to need less sleep.

P.S. I've felt like this every morning since the first day, and tomorrow will be my 10th week and I've never missed a day due to sleep!

P.P.S I'm going to sleep early tonight lol, or at least I'm gonna try.... :rolleyes:
 
Well, this summer I went to CGA's AIM summer program (it's the toughest out of all the academies summer seminars) and I did fine. That's mostly likely because I've been getting up at 0530 for swim practices this summer, and we got up at 0600 at AIM! What I'm saying here is: wake up earlier, stay up later, and do strenouous activity right after you wake up as you prepare for BCT. That way, it's actually easier than what you were used to before! Oh, by the way, you get the more sleep during BCT than you do during the academic year:smile::yay:
 
Oh, by the way, you get the more sleep during BCT than you do during the academic year

Um, what? Simply no. I get more sleep during the year, all three years now, than I did in BCT.

I've never been one to jump out of bed, most here aren't. You may not get used to it, but you will be fine. Very normal.
 
Well, this summer I went to CGA's AIM summer program (it's the toughest out of all the academies summer seminars) and I did fine. That's mostly likely because I've been getting up at 0530 for swim practices this summer, and we got up at 0600 at AIM! What I'm saying here is: wake up earlier, stay up later, and do strenouous activity right after you wake up as you prepare for BCT. That way, it's actually easier than what you were used to before! Oh, by the way, you get the more sleep during BCT than you do during the academic year:smile::yay:

Hee Hee Hee.

Ok; seriously. Not going to give you a biology or psychology lesson. And I'm definitely not going to give you a martial arts (The Spirit and the Mind and the Body are One) speech. HOWEVER: Trust me when I say that there's a difference between "SLEEP" and "REST". If you can learn the difference, you will surprise yourself. I won't say how old I am, but suffice to say that I did 21 years in the air force, been retired for 10 years, have a daughter that just graduated college, and a son who is now a C3C at the academy. (I bring this up to say; "I'm NOT Young". Anyway; I go to bed EVERY WORK NIGHT at 1:30am. And I get up in the morning at 6:00am. That's 4 1/2 hours of sleep every night. When I was YOUNGER, I got a lot more sleep. AND I FEEL BETTER TODAY than I did then. 1 day a week I try and sleep in (8 hours). Usually Sunday. But I listen to my body. There's a difference between SLEEP and REST. You don't need anywhere near as much sleep as you think you need or want. DEFINITELY no where near 8 hours. Now, if you don't learn how to REST your mind and body; it will catch up to you. Learn to REST and NOT to SLEEP. Big Difference.

But for what it's worth, 10's of thousands have done it before you. Some people will use sleep, exercise, drill, marching, yelling, etc... all as excuses. (I'm not saying you will, don't read into this). I'm saying, don't worry about it. I'm saying, when the time comes, SUCK IT UP. I'm saying, so what if you don't always get 6-8 hours of sleep? Even if you think you need it; so what? You'll deal with it. "IF YOU WANT THE ACADEMY AND THE AIR FORCE". Good Luck. Mike.....
 
Basic wasn't easy by any means, but I didn't find sleep deprivation to be a huge issue. Just make sure you don't fall asleep during briefings, standing at noon meal formation, and marching. Yes, I've fallen asleep at all three activities.
 
i dont think it's as much sleep deprivation as it is having your adrenaline kick in the instant you wake up. that gave me a headache every day. basics do get a good bit of sleep
 
It depends on the person. I got about as much sleep as a basic as I do now. Actually, I probably got a little bit more as a basic, but I didn't have a watch...

During the AC year, you have a lot of choice in how much sleep you get. I average about 6 hours a night, during the week. (I tend to get a LOT more on the weekends.)
 
Isn't it extremely difficult balancing military responsibilities, sports, and the academics though? I've heard that the curriculum is extremely challenging...hence staying up later and getting to bed later. Does it vary on your major? You guys have been there and lived it, so you would know more about this than I would.
 
Isn't it extremely difficult balancing military responsibilities, sports, and the academics though? I've heard that the curriculum is extremely challenging...hence staying up later and getting to bed later. Does it vary on your major? You guys have been there and lived it, so you would know more about this than I would.

Majors do have a huge impact. An Economics major is going to have a less grueling course load than a Physics major (I know, my friends across the hall have this problem!). Time management though. Getting of the video games and getting to HW makes a world of difference.
 
the best nights of sleep that i think i've ever had were at jack's valley, no joke. and the day after basic when you get to sleep in until 7... you don't know what to do with yourself.
 
I've never been one to jump out of bed, most here aren't. You may not get used to it, but you will be fine. Very normal.

Yeah, I've figured out that if I can force myself out of bed and survive the first 10 minutes, my chances of surviving the rest of the day increase greatly ( no Red Flag pun intended......well, maybe a small one :rolleyes: )
 
Yes, major, IC status, and your time management skills are the BIG factors.

Things also vary by squadron and position. (A squadron commander would have a lot more to do than an attached firstie.)
 
Jacks Valley = best sleeping of BCT, because you are dead tired.

I never had a problem waking up in the morning, staying awake during briefings was a whole different story. I am looking forward to this weekend, when I can sleep in as long as I want.
 
Wakeup times

In some information sent to appointees, it had 5:15-7:00 am as Personal Time/Chapel. It had Reveille at 7:00 and mandatry Breakfast 7:25 - 7:40. Does that mean everyone has to get up at 5:15?
 
nope! 4 digs just need to be up in time to call minutes at 0650 or 0700 (depends on the squad) and uppers need to be up in time to make it to mandatory breakfast!
 
the only time I felt tired during bct was during briefings and right before we went to bed. I also had to get up early for summer jobs, dont worry you will be fine
 
Basic is basically,no pun intended, just a 6 week sleep deprivation period. For me basic was toguh and challenging but not unbearable by any means except maybe lack of sleep. Now that the school year has started, you really have control over how much sleep you get. Its all up to you really. If you get your work done you could easily get 8 hours of sleep, but if not and you procrastinate it could be much more like 4-5 hours. all depends on you
 
Some acdemic squadrons make us 4 degs get up earlier than others. We have to wake up early to clean up hallway trash, bathrooms, and SAR well before calling minutes.
I got the best sleep during Jack's because the cots/sleeping bags were so warm and comfortable. I loved them. Oh, I also slept on the ground during 1st BCT so my bed looked awesome every morning, too, so yeah, sleep was better at Jack's for me.
 
Alright, I feel your pain. But here's my two cents:

When you're at home, you rule your life (okay, parents do...but for the most part you run your schedule). If you don't get out of bed some days over the summer, nothing at all happens other than falling back asleep and getting to enjoy those nice, soft sheets (I'm currently still sleeping on my comforter on the floor of my room....I'm not bitter, don't worry. Haha).

As soon as you're in basic. "YOU ARE MOVING ENTIRELY TOO SLOW!!!" or my personal favorite, which got me in trouble for losing my bering several times, "If you don't have pants on yet....YOU ARE WRONG!" is being shout outside of your door. Suddenly that "wow, I really don't feel like moving" turns into "I really, really don't want to move.....but if I don't, bad things can happen." So don't worry about that at all. Your cadre will take care of it!

So, in basic you just do it to do it. The academic year, well, I'm not allowed to say anything about that until I rack up some more days on my counter. What I can say though is waking up to be at practice at 0510 every weekday is just a whole bunch of fun!
 
Crano said it pretty well. Yeah, I would've rather not gotten up at 4:45 every morning during basic. But the combination of reville and kicking/shouting was all i needed to jump off the bed or floor. Sleep deprivation was annoying during basic. With the exception of the first few days, I did sleep well at night. However, I still fell asleep at some point at a majority of the breifings and during a few noon meal formations.
 
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