Improving Sleep Health for US Servicemembers

A RAND study — the first comprehensive review of sleep policies and programs in the U.S. military — examined codified U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Service-level policies and programs related to sleep to make recommendations for improving sleep among servicemembers. Sources included more than 100 instructions, issuances, and regulations that address the (1) prevention of sleep disturbances, (2) medical screening and treatment, (3) sleep during training, and (4) sleep in operational environments. In addition, RAND researchers conducted key informant interviews and convened an expert working group panel, which included line leaders, clinicians, sleep medicine experts, and policymakers, to identify the barriers to implementing sleep-related policies and programs across DoD.