How much sleep does an average USNA mid get?

T

TheMochiKid

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Pretty much as the title says. Also, does your sleep schedule change over the weekends or summer training?
 
To add on: can you go to bed earlier than midnight? On the USNA website, it says that taps is at midnight, but do things ever wrap up earlier?
 
My DS got the least amount of sleep during his Plebe year. It was about 5 hours. Each subsequent year, he has gotten more. Now, he and his roommates have a fairly set rule to have lights out on or before 10PM every night except Friday and Saturday. Their goal is 8 hours.

That is not to say that there aren't exceptions. Once they realize the diminishing returns to lack of sleep first hand, they learn to prioritize better.
 
Honestly it can depend on how much you want to sleep and your personal habits. Especially after Plebe year, your are pretty much left on your own in terms of how you plan your day. Some people work more efficiently than others and get to bed by 10, but some people don't start working until later and naturally won't get to bed until midnight. I personally got the most sleep 3/C year, and the least sleep 1/C Fall.
 
Sleep depends on your class year, major, and how well you prioritize your time. TAPS is at 11PM during the week, and midnight on the weekends. However, nothing is stopping you from going to bed earlier if you get all your work done in time. Here are my best guesses for the average amount of sleep per class.

Plebe Summer: 2200- 0530, 7hrs, 30 minutes
4/C Academic Year (Plebe): 2330- 0515, 5hrs, 45 minutes
Upper-class Academic Years: 2300- 0630 7hrs, 30 minutes

I know plenty of people who are in bed by 2200 every night, and I know people who are up until 0200 every night watching Netflix. You can control the amount of sleep you get.
 
Moonmonkey1000 said:
To add on: can you go to bed earlier than midnight? On the USNA website, it says that taps is at midnight, but do things ever wrap up earlier?
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TAPS only dictates what time you need to be back in your company area by, though you can always sign-in then request an extension from the CDO (company duty officer) to go off deck in case you need to meet with partners in other companies to work on projects, study, etc.
 
I had classmates who got little sleep and were constantly tired, and others who spent quality time with the Rack Monster (and had permanent creases on their face from the blue bedspreads).

Seriously, time management is one of the most important skills you can develop and bring to, or learn at, USNA. Sleep is important and how much you get is a function of time managment and priorities. Young people often think that pulling all nighters to study, write a paper, or work through a lab report is a sign of motivation and effort, but over time you will learn that all nighter and sleep deprivation are not something to brag about (and frankly takes longer to recover).
 
25Grad said:
Pretty much as the title says. Also, does your sleep schedule change over the weekends or summer training?
Click to expand...
My fancy watch says I am "in bed" for 7 hours most nights but only "sleep for 6" and should "try to destress" and "limit my caffeine intake". Unless you have a random watch or extra duty pop up you are completely in charge of your sleep cycle.

Best advice I ever got was that it's better to come to class well rested than to pull an all nighter, be half asleep in class, and then have to do it all over again.
 
Title answer: Not enough. Although, I surmise, some Youngsters (3/C) and 1/C midshipmen will often try to help raise the average on sleep. It would be hard to move the needle given that plebes tend to drag the average down.

Here are some cruise laughers regarding sleep: If you sleep twelve hours a day, the cruise is only half as long.

Regarding pilots and crew rest (SWOs are jealous of this one): Pilots should get eight hours of uninterrupted rest in addition to what they can get during the day🤣.
 
ET3toMid said:
My fancy watch says I am "in bed" for 7 hours most nights but only "sleep for 6" and should "try to destress" and "limit my caffeine intake". Unless you have a random watch or extra duty pop up you are completely in charge of your sleep cycle.

Best advice I ever got was that it's better to come to class well rested than to pull an all nighter, be half asleep in class, and then have to do it all over again.
Click to expand...
Truer words.
 
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