ABSTRACT
Cognitive perfonnanee can be impaired by lack of sleep. Healthcare Specialist (68W) Advanced Individual Training (AIT) is rigorous and students must learn and process a great deal of information in a short time. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between self-reported sleep (SRS) and the academic and physical perfonnance of students attending 68W AlT, as well as exploring the relationship between SRS and personal variables that may impact performance . Soldiers (n=579) attending 68W AlT completed a questionnaire two weeks after beginning training. The questionnaire addressed hours of sleep, demographics, personal characteristics and coping skills potentially related 10 performance. Final grades and physical training scores were recorded. SRS was less for those Who were older and who currently smoked. Those who were more motivated and willing to complete training, or with higher self-efficacy scores had higher SRS. SRS followed an inverted U-shape, according to stress levels, with SRS being lowest among those with extremely high and extremely low stress . SRS was related to initial and mid-course physical fitness scores (p < 0 .05), but not to the physical fitness test conducted at the end of the course or to final grade point average or pass/tail status (p > .05) . The results reveal relationships between SRS and constructs related to Soldier perfOlmance . Possible fulure research and program considerations are provided
Keywords : sleep, academic performance, physical performance, motivation, stress
As our nation i s at war, our military services have a greater need for Healthcare Specialists, also known as Combat Medics or 68Ws. Yet, thcre is a shOliage of trained personnel and attrition rates during military occupational specialty training looms at approximately 25% (Whittaker and Parsons, 2009) .
