US Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) completes study of sleep patterns aboard 'USS Jason Dunham' (DDG 109).
The study was conducted by personnel from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) who came aboard Jason Dunham to interview crewmembers about their watch rotations and monitor their sleep patterns, activity periods and reaction times.
Dr. Nita Shattuck, an associate professor with the NPS Operations Research Department, said Jason Dunham's crew were the perfect candidates for the study.
"We were looking for a deployed ship with many different watch schedules and a commanding officer willing to let us set up the study. Jason Dunham had all of that," said Shattuck.
At the beginning of the study, Sailors met with the NPS personnel, who issued wrist activity monitors and smart phones to track Sailors' reaction times by having them perform physical and mental tasks.
"Participants were given a number to watch for on the monitor and had to press a button when the number appeared on the monitor" said Shattuck. "This gauged their reaction time at the beginning and end of their watches. Together with the data from the activity monitors, we are able to determine how a Sailor's sleep pattern and watch rotation affects their readiness."
The study showed in favor of a watch rotation with three hours on and nine hours off, but Sailors had mixed reactions.