On was on this helicopter infil-extract mission (walking multiple km in and out for fun) and got back to base, and was immediately put on the gunturret of a convoy that was going to an outpost. I was oh by the way informed I going to spend the next few weeks (read: months) there so it was a frantic packing job before hopping in the turret. I think I was up in the ballpark of two solid days, probably a hair over going into a day 3. I ended up throwing up from energy drink overdose.
Edit: in retrospect perhaps not an amazing amount of time, as I’ve almost certainly spent a few weeknights gaming the whole night and then going to work the next day, which would be a similar amount of time awake- but it did feel the longest. Certainly the most sustained exertion and concentration without sleep.
I can’t imagine being awake that long and having to do things that have actual consequences. At least if I drop into a microsleep while playing a videogame or get paranoid and shoot at a friendly no one gets hurt.
Definitely seen the black dog on the road driving and that was only after a 24hr stint awake and behind the wheel for 11hours under some less than ideal conditions. I said no to my boss a lot more after that, luckily they understood.
It’s funny, my most distinct memory of the time is being on the exposed turret and reaching for my energy drink can, only to find it frozen solid to the metal of the turret. It was about that time I started really realizing how long I’d been up for.
On was on this helicopter infil-extract mission (walking multiple km in and out for fun) and got back to base, and was immediately put on the gunturret of a convoy that was going to an outpost. I was oh by the way informed I going to spend the next few weeks (read: months) there so it was a frantic packing job before hopping in the turret. I think I was up in the ballpark of two solid days, probably a hair over going into a day 3. I ended up throwing up from energy drink overdose.
Edit: in retrospect perhaps not an amazing amount of time, as I’ve almost certainly spent a few weeknights gaming the whole night and then going to work the next day, which would be a similar amount of time awake- but it did feel the longest. Certainly the most sustained exertion and concentration without sleep.
It’s fascinating how much us humans can endure.
I can’t imagine being awake that long and having to do things that have actual consequences. At least if I drop into a microsleep while playing a videogame or get paranoid and shoot at a friendly no one gets hurt.
Definitely seen the black dog on the road driving and that was only after a 24hr stint awake and behind the wheel for 11hours under some less than ideal conditions. I said no to my boss a lot more after that, luckily they understood.
It’s funny, my most distinct memory of the time is being on the exposed turret and reaching for my energy drink can, only to find it frozen solid to the metal of the turret. It was about that time I started really realizing how long I’d been up for.