In military culture, sacrificing sleep is often worn as a badge of honor. Curt Brooker sits down with podcast editor Ron Granieri to highlight how chronic sleep deprivation impacts everything from reaction time to emotional regulation. While intense training like Ranger School deliberately pushes soldiers to their limits, the lack of a formal “reset” in garrison often leaves troops in a cycle of physical and mental attrition.
Brooker suggests the solution lies in wearable technology—like rings and watches—that tracks biometrics such as heart rate variability and body temperature. These tools allow individuals to auto-regulate and provide commanders with aggregated data to manage readiness. By treating sleep and stress as operational factors rather than personal weaknesses, the armed forces can build more adaptive, capable formations. Ultimately, you can outwork many things in the Army, but you can never outwork your own body.
The key lesson is simple. You can outwork a lot of things in the Army, but you can never outwork your body.
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Curt Brooker is a colonel in the U.S. Army and a Citadel graduate who began his career as an Infantry Officer, completing four combat tours between Iraq and Afghanistan. After his company grade time, he transitioned to the Acquisition Corps. His most recent role was as Military Assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army, and he’s slated for CSL in PAE Maneuver Air at Redstone Arsenal this summer. He is a member of the AY26 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College.
Ron Granieri is Professor of History and the Chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of War.
Photo Credit:Created by Gemini