What time do military go to bed?

Asked by: Logan Botsford  |  Last update: January 9, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (1 votes)

When you're in the military, you learn from day one of basic training that sleep is just as tightly scheduled as everything else: Lights out at 2100 (9 p.m.) and you're up and at 'em at 0500. Every activity is scheduled and if you're late, there are consequences.

What time do they go to bed in the military?

Lunch is at noon, followed by additional training, before breaking for dinner. In the evening, you'll clean the barracks, then enjoy some personal time before lights out at 9:00 PM.

How many hours do military sleep?

For more than a decade, the Department of Defense (DOD) has found that the majority of service members sleep 6 or fewer hours a night. DOD guidance calls for 7 hours or more of sleep, which is still less than what is recommended for most of us (8 hours).

What time does night start in military time?

The day ends just before midnight at what civilians would call 11:59 p.m., but which in military time is 23:59, or twenty-three fifty-nine hours. For those still learning the 24-clock system, a simple way to translate afternoon and evening hours into civilian time is to subtract 12.

What time do marines sleep?

You're usually asleep somewhere between when the Drill Instructor flips the light switch and when the lights actually turn out. With that being said, the time varies depending on the training schedule, the phase you're in, time of year, etc. The “usual” time is around 2100 (9pm).

FALL ASLEEP in 2 Minutes: Military Insider's Secret | Dr. Mandell

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How long is a military nap?

The key to the nap, according to Jocko, is to keep it short. Eight minutes is ideal, 10 is okay, but it's important to set an alarm so you don't go beyond that. Learn more about naps of all lengths and how they can benefit your body and mind.

What time do American soldiers wake up?

Army soldiers typically wake up at 4:30 a.m. They have 30 minutes to prepare themselves and report for formation by 5 a.m. Physical training (PT) occurs from 5 a.m. until 6:30 a.m. Then, soldiers eat breakfast and meet with their drill sergeant to train until lunch at noon.

Does the military have night shifts?

The military works around the clock, which requires some service members to work nights and weekends. Whether you are working long hours while deployed or standing duty overnight, shift work can help provide critical mission coverage.

How do soldiers fall asleep quickly?

Called the Military Sleep Method, which involves a combination of mind-body relaxation techniques, including deep breathing, visualization, body-scanning and muscle relaxation.

Do male and female soldiers sleep in the same barracks?

Basic Training Barracks

During Basic Training, men and women live in separate quarters, which consist of shared bunks and bathroom facilities.

How long is army basic training?

Basic Combat Training (BCT) is a ten-week training course (not including the "Reception" week) where recruits go-through the process of becoming full- fledged Soldiers. Throughout the process the soldiers will learn new rules, learn to trust themself and understand what it means to be a Soldier in the U.S. Army.

Do soldiers have a bedtime?

“Soldiers should sleep as much as they can, whenever they can, as the situation allows. The vast majority of Soldiers require 7-8 hours of sleep per night to sustain performance; more sleep is better. Soldiers can maximize sleep and subsequent performance by timing sleep and caffeine use optimally.

Who wakes you up in basic training?

Then, sometime around week 4, all it takes is for the drill instructor to enter the room in the early morning and quietly say, "Get up," and everyone pops out of their bunks immediately and begins their morning routine.

Why 24 hours in a day?

The Egyptians also divided the dark hours into 12 sections based on the appearance in the night sky of 12 stars as the night advanced. So with 12 hours of daylight and 12 of night, the 24 hour day was established. In this system, an hour of daylight in the summer would be longer than one in the winter.

How long does the military sleep?

"On average, military personnel sleep approximately six hours" a day, said Dr. Tom Balkin, a senior scientist at the CMPN's Behavioral Biology Branch. An average of six hours of sleep isn't enough – at least seven hours is recommended, Williams said. Running short on sleep could lead to poor health or poor performance.

Where is the hardest Army basic training?

A United States Army infantry recruit should expect a more intense, physically demanding basic training located at Fort Moore, Georgia through One Station Unit Training program that is 22 weeks in duration.

What is military life like?

Being part of the Military doesn't mean giving up a social life. In fact, it's quite the opposite. From recreational facilities on base and special entertainment to sports leagues and discounted leisure travel, military personnel often maintain very active social lives.

Is the Navy SEAL sleep trick real?

A TikTok doc shared a simple hack for a perfect power nap. Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink was the first to popularize the nap trick. Fitting for a man who lives by the mantra, “Discipline Equals Freedom,” Willink told Business Insider he caps his naps at 8 minutes.

Is it hard to sleep in the military?

In a 2013 study by the Veterans Health Administration for over 1,600 recent combat veterans, over 49 percent slept fewer than five hours, 23 percent slept fewer than seven hours, and 72 percent reported poor sleep quality (inability to properly cycle through sleep stages or achieve enough deep and REM sleep).

What is the NASA nap?

Keep Your Nap Short: Try to keep your nap under 30 minutes. To take a proper NASA nap, spend 6 minutes falling asleep and 26 minutes asleep, napping. Try consuming caffeine: Ingesting caffeine immediately before your power nap may provide an even greater energy boost than a nap alone.