Cf. Ferrer et al., CIRCADIAN-RHYTHM DESYNCHRONOSIS IN MILITARY DEPLOYMENTS - A REVIEW OFCURRENT STRATEGIES, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 66(6), 1995, pp. 571-578
The combined problems of changing work schedules and work places are n
ot uncommon in military operations, For example, during the Persian Gu
lf War, many military units underwent short notice transmeridian deplo
yment with immediate commencement of 24-h operations upon arrival, Som
e of these individuals likely suffered from circadian desynchronosis,
blunting their effectiveness, The United States Air Force approved lim
ited use of one short acting hypnotic medication to assist aircrew sle
ep disorders in the operational theater and, until recently, one stimu
lant medication to enhance alertness, Multiple theoretical strategies
for circadian rhythm management are available, However, many U.S. Air
Force flight surgeons are not trained on how best to use medications i
n combination with other circadian rhythm strategies, We present a con
densed review of current human circadian rhythm coping strategies pert
inent to military operations,