Charles Esther
US military personnel are increasingly facing the challenges of chronic sleep deprivation.
Many combat troops and pilots often operate on less than six hours of sleep per night.
In some combat scenarios, this figure drops to as little as three hours.
This kind of deprivation isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s dangerous.
A 2024 government watchdog report highlighted that inadequate sleep has contributed to safety mishaps and even deaths within the Department of Defense.
Some troops have blamed long work hours and poor-quality mattresses for their lack of rest.
DARPA’s Mission to Optimize Sleep
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a major research arm of the Pentagon, is spearheading efforts to address this crisis.
Led by sleep research manager Gregory Witkop, DARPA is investing in solutions that could help military personnel maximise their limited sleep.
Witkop, a former flight surgeon, emphasizes the need to make sleep cycles more efficient.
His goal is to ensure that even with reduced hours, the body and brain still benefit from essential sleep stages — both REM and non-REM.
DARPA itself does not run experiments but sets research goals for universities and private firms to explore.
The Promise of Light Therapy Devices
One of the futuristic solutions DARPA is exploring involves wearable headbands or caps.
These devices would emit targeted light waves to specific parts of the brain during sleep.
The aim is to enhance the quality of short-duration sleep, making three hours feel more like five.
Witkop believes this innovation could be a game changer, especially for warfighters who regularly face unpredictable and long shifts.
He highlights the fact that sleep is often treated as a luxury instead of a necessity.
Yet, sleep plays a vital role in brain health and recovery.
Chronic lack of rest can raise the risks of PTSD, suicide, and other mental health issues.
Why Sleep Matters More for the Military
Scientists still don’t fully understand why humans sleep, but they know its effects are critical.
Witkop points out that from an evolutionary standpoint, being defenceless for several hours a day makes little sense.
Despite this, the benefits are so great that sleep remains essential.
He stresses that sleep “literally heals the brain every single night.”
While sleep troubles affect all Americans — often worsened by screens and artificial light — the stakes are higher for soldiers.
Unlike civilians, troops must remain mentally sharp during life-or-death scenarios like aerial refueling or firing weapons.
Staying Awake Without Caffeine
DARPA isn’t only focused on helping troops rest better.
It also wants to help them stay awake when needed — without relying on caffeine or stimulants.
Pedro Irazoqui, a researcher managing another DARPA project, is working on a device for pilots.
This device also uses light therapy — but focuses on keeping the user alert.
He describes the common situation of drinking coffee before a late drive, only to be too wired to sleep afterward.
Pilots often face similar issues, downing energy drinks before landing, then needing more the next day to keep going.
Irazoqui’s goal is to replace these stimulants with infrared light therapy.
With the light turned on, pilots can feel alert, like they had caffeine.
Once it’s turned off, the stimulation stops immediately — allowing for a quick transition to sleep.
A Safer and Healthier Alternative
Irazoqui stresses the importance of giving pilots the right level of alertness at the right time.
Equally important is being able to “turn it off” afterward.
This targeted, on-demand stimulation could help pilots make better decisions without the side effects of caffeine.
More importantly, it may allow them to rest more easily after long flights.
DARPA’s goal is to enhance combat readiness while protecting the mental and physical health of America’s warfighters.
By investing in advanced sleep and alertness technologies, the agency hopes to improve both performance and quality of life for the troops.
