Soldiers’ performance impaired by fatigue

A study carried out last year by the US Army found that stress caused by combat, combined with a lack of sleep, can result in soldiers being so impaired that they performed worse than if they had been drunk or sedated. A recent article in the New Scientist highlighted the possible link between this study and the war in Iraq and the number of friendly fire incidents. The study was carried out by the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.