Risk Management Magazine

Human performance while sleep deprived is a lot like being under the influence of alcohol. Driving after being awake for 18 hours is equal to a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent — legally drunk in the U.S. — and leaves you at equal risk for a crash.

One small mistake is capable of producing catastrophic consequences. By having a better understanding of our own limitations, as well as the limitations of the aircraft, we can increase our chances of avoiding those catastrophic mistakes.

Generally, Soldiers join the military at a fairly young age. Therefore, many of them won’t have much experience dealing with tasks or events that could be seen as dangerous.