Training for food and sleep deprivation

[gmanflyarmy]

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]

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy

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]

rephrase: "and it occured to me"

[Dozer523]

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy

rephrase: "and it occured to me"

I still think you should let it hit you again, harder.

But . . . here is how I look at it.
Rest is like a checking account at the First National Bank of Sleep.
You can fill it up but it is a non-interest bearing account. You will never have a surplus.
All deposits will be honored.
You can make reasonable withdrawls without penalty.
You can overdraw the account and the Sleep Bank will, for a time, honor your checks without penalty.
Soon thereafter, if you continue to overdraw the account, there will be penalties assessed. The penalties will become significantly more severe as the deficit grows.
The Sleep Bank WILL close your over-drawn account without warning.
Eventually, you will be required to make a significant deposit.

the silliness can now resume. (I hope your wife catches you napping while shopping, hard to imagine what you might buy)

SNORE.

[35NCO]

Gmanflyarmy,
Um…why are you looking for all the answers in SFAS? I understand that a lot of people are here to learn but at some point you have to draw the line with what to ask and just do it. S**t or get off the pot. For something like SFAS you prepare mentally and physically, but there are no easy wins and no super secrets that will just make it enjoyable for you. I myself have read many, many books on past JSOC/SOCOM operations and training. Simply for the education for my job, but I think you are missing the point. Soldiers are assessed on their abilities to adapt and endure, if you are out to gather all the intel there is on the subject before your class date then what are you really doing for the training system? I think the right answer would just be who you are and not pretend or force yourself to temporarily be something else you may be incapable of continuing. On any assessment military program those types of people are looked for too. The surprise is the whole purpose of the adventure path.

…I am sure this makes me a target, but I had to say something.

“You want sleep deprivation and starvation? Go to Ranger School. Or SERE.” +1!

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy

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.

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy

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]

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy

............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.

[gmanflyarmy]

Originally Posted by Pete

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.

[jon670]

Originally Posted by gmanflyarmy

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]

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.

Originally Posted by Dusty

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]

Originally Posted by wet dog

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.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by wet dog

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]

Originally Posted by Dusty

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.

Originally Posted by Dusty

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

lean against the cart, it helps.