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-   -   Training for food and sleep deprivation (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31348)

gmanflyarmy 12-03-2010 11:28

Training for food and sleep deprivation
 
One day I was working out and it hit me....a person could be a complete physical freak and still fail at various points in the SF selection. Correct? They could read all they want for preparation, but still fall victim to surprises or things just hard to train for. The two I thought of is sleep and food. Now, I have not attended SFAS or any other part of the pipeline, so I'm only figuring that instructors will try to make candidates uncomfortable as possible...within reason, to represent situations they could in encounter later-on. Is this correct?

So that said, is there any smart way to condition one's body for to these mental tests? That is training for sleep deprivation and/or minimal food?

Dozer523 12-03-2010 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy (Post 360672)
One day I was working out and it hit me....a person could be a complete physical freak and still fail at various points in the SF selection. Correct? They could read all they want for preparation, but still fall victim to surprises or things just hard to train for. The two I thought of is sleep and food. Now, I have not attended SFAS or any other part of the pipeline, so I'm only figuring that instructors will try to make candidates uncomfortable as possible...within reason, to represent situations they could in encounter later-on. Is this correct?

So that said, is there any smart way to condition one's body for to these mental tests? That is training for sleep deprivation and/or minimal food?

I think you should let it hit you again.

gmanflyarmy 12-03-2010 11:37

rephrase: "and it occured to me"

The Reaper 12-03-2010 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy (Post 360672)
One day I was working out and it hit me....a person could be a complete physical freak and still fail at various points in the SF selection. Correct? They could read all they want for preparation, but still fall victim to surprises or things just hard to train for. The two I thought of is sleep and food. Now, I have not attended SFAS or any other part of the pipeline, so I'm only figuring that instructors will try to make candidates uncomfortable as possible...within reason, to represent situations they could in encounter later-on. Is this correct? ?

No.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy (Post 360672)
So that said, is there any smart way to condition one's body for to these mental tests? That is training for sleep deprivation and/or minimal food?

Smart? No.

You want sleep deprivation and starvation? Go to Ranger School. Or SERE.

TR

Pete 12-03-2010 12:03

No
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy (Post 360672)
............So that said, is there any smart way to condition one's body for to these mental tests? That is training for sleep deprivation and/or minimal food?

Short answer - NO

Long answer - NO. But the long answer starts with - Do you cheat on yourself when nobody is looking?

You don't train for it - you deal with it. The mental part is dealing with it.

Notice how almost all of the threads like this return to the mental state of the individual?

A strong mind can carry a weak body father than a strong body can carry a weak mind.

So you can go without sleep to see what it feels like and go without food for a while to see what that feels like - but knowing what it feels like is not the same as running through the woods at 0200, bouncing off a tree, realizing you have uncounted clicks to go - and get on with it.

jon670 12-03-2010 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy (Post 360672)
One day I was working out and it hit me....a person could be a complete physical freak and still fail at various points in the SF selection. Correct? They could read all they want for preparation, but still fall victim to surprises or things just hard to train for. The two I thought of is sleep and food. Now, I have not attended SFAS or any other part of the pipeline, so I'm only figuring that instructors will try to make candidates uncomfortable as possible...within reason, to represent situations they could in encounter later-on. Is this correct?

So that said, is there any smart way to condition one's body for to these mental tests? That is training for sleep deprivation and/or minimal food?

i personally believe there is no mental conditioning you could do in preparation. however,i believe a strong will & faith correlates more closely with your body's ability to endure hunger & fatigue.

i've only brushed briefly with sleep deprivation during the invasion in '03. there was no benchmark available to me (as in prior experience) to measure this against, but i handled it as best as i could.

my meager $.02 .

-jon.

Dusty 12-03-2010 12:30

If you're anticipating a mission that involves food deprivation, eat until you're nearly a candidate for the fatboy program beforehand.

With regard to lack of sleep-you could practice being tired, but you'd be wasting your time.

drymartini66 12-03-2010 12:30

Agree on all previous posts. I've gone through my share of sleep deprivation in my brief military career via deployment, training and such. For me there was no book, you just deal with it. I always just concentrated at the task at hand and knew that if I slept or such that I would be letting my fellow soldiers down. :munchin

Snaquebite 12-03-2010 12:56

Quote:

You don't train for it - you deal with it. The mental part is dealing with it.

Notice how almost all of the threads like this return to the mental state of the individual?

A strong mind can carry a weak body father than a strong body can carry a weak mind.
This 16 year old (in the thread below) surely didn't plan to accomplish what she did the way she did it, But her mind was ready and strong enough to help her do what she shought she needed to do.

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ad.php?t=31339

As her coach said...
Quote:

Her vison was locked on her goal."

wet dog 12-03-2010 13:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty (Post 360698)
If you're anticipating a mission that involves food deprivation, eat until you're nearly a candidate for the fatboy program beforehand.

Ever noticed that two weeks before Infil, PT kinda drops off - minus rehersals, and eating becomes an exercise in itself.

I still never got enough sleep, well rested maybe, but sleep? No.

Napping is still one of my favorite pass times.

drymartini66 12-03-2010 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by wet dog (Post 360725)
Ever noticed that two weeks before Infil, PT kinda drops off - minus rehersals, and eating becomes an exercise in itself.

I still never got enough sleep, well rested maybe, but sleep? No.

Napping is still one of my favorite pass times.

Yep, 5 mins. here, 10 mins. there. Surprising how much it helped.:munchin

Dusty 12-03-2010 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by wet dog (Post 360725)
Ever noticed that two weeks before Infil, PT kinda drops off - minus rehersals, and eating becomes an exercise in itself.

I still never got enough sleep, well rested maybe, but sleep? No.

Napping is still one of my favorite pass times.

lol I do "standing naps" out shopping with Mrs. Dusty all the time.

drymartini66 12-03-2010 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty (Post 360740)
lol I do "standing naps" out shopping with Mrs. Dusty all the time.

Hehe yes and I've managed to nap with one eye open while shopping with the misses as well.:munchin

gmanflyarmy 12-03-2010 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete (Post 360684)
A strong mind can carry a weak body father than a strong body can carry a weak mind.

hmm..I've never heard that one before, but I like it.

wet dog 12-03-2010 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty (Post 360740)
lol I do "standing naps" out shopping with Mrs. Dusty all the time.

lean against the cart, it helps.


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