Sleep and predicted cognitive performance of new Cadets during Cadet Basic Training at the United States Military Academy

Abstract

The amount of sleep per day among new Cadets at West Point during Cadet Basic Training (CBT) was investigated. Sleep was measured using actigraphy. The results indicated that new Cadets slept an average of approximately 340 minutes or 5 hours, 40 minutes per night. The results were compared with survey data to determine whether or not reported sleep prior to arrival at West Point matched measured sleep at CBT. The findings indicate that the study population is sleep-deprived during CBT. Additionally, the results show that, on average, New Cadets receive 2 hours, 6 minutes less sleep per night during CBT than before their arrival at West Point. The findings also indicate that sleep achieved was not due to the various comparison factors: Gender, Race, Company, Age, Recruited Athlete, and Morningness/Eveningness preference.