Abstract
This paper offers a brief summary
of recommendations for the MQ-1B community to improve unit effectiveness,
increase the mental and physical health of unit members, and reduce the number
of mishaps caused by fatigue, and stress.
It is based on the recommendations of the FAA, and other experts in the
areas of fatigue and stress management.
Through the implementation of these recommendations, and the included
shift schedule, the benefits should prove to be exponential going beyond this
military deployment. Please carefully
consider these recommendations as a way of improving your lives beyond your
professional career, and incorporate them into your personal live as well. The beneficial aspects to good sleep, and
stress management cannot be understated.
Shift Work Schedule of MQ-1B Medium Altitude, Long Endurance Crews
Scheduling Review and Recommendation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published
numerous case studies, reviews, and analysis reports focused on the subject of
sleep, fatigue, and stress. As a
resource, the FAA offers a Risk Assessment Tool, training on the countermeasure
to fatigue, videos, and newsletters focused on aviation safety with a focus on
combating fatigue (FAA.gov). The purpose
of this paper is not to simply reiterate the details of those publications, but
to offer specific recommendations to the U.S. Air Force units operating in the
environments unique to this military organization; for improved individual
recovery from the fatigue and stress associated with shift work at the MQ-1B.
The military aviation unit supporting combat operations
faces exceptional challenges in providing the support to their customers. In this context, “customer” is the men and
women of the United States military (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines), as
well as our coalition forces in theater; the war fighter. A substandard or ineffective mission is
unacceptable, and a missed mission could have dire consequences. Aircraft pilots, sensor operators,
maintainers, logisticians, and every member of the unit faces intense pressure
to perform their jobs to the best of their ability, without fail. Unit members understand they must put the
needs of the unit above their own, but what they sometimes need to be reminded
of is their own responsibility to take care of themselves. No one is immune, from the commander
attending meeting under the time schedules of coast to coast ,and even across multiple
continental time zones, the Chief that oversees every section of the unit, to
the uniquely qualified engine mechanic that must be there to lead his or her
crew in an engine swap. These dedicated
men and women must take the time necessary to get the rest they need, maintain
a proper diet, exercise, and recharge their minds.
Military units are populated with people that actively
seek out opportunities to improve their bodies physically. Commanders will evaluate the physical fitness
routinely, making this less of an issue as we look at fatigue and stress. What requires more focus is in the areas of
nutrition, and sleep to meet the triad of healthy living (FAA.gov). The U.S. Air Force has dietitians on staff
that can be available for training, offering expert guidance on the nutritional
needs of the human body. It is strongly
recommended that the MQ-1B unit take advantage of this resource and encourage
the unit members to give nutrition the attention it deserves.
Some other methods of treating and managing the effects of
shift work which can often lead to depression include Bright Light Treatment,
and music which has been found in studies to increase dopamine levels in the
brain (Whiteman, H. 11/19/15). Links to
online articles on these subject can be found in the references section of this
paper.
Lastly, as a Human Factors consultant, I would highly
recommend the unit explore offering classes on meditation. It might be difficult at first to imagine
meditation gaining wide spread acceptance in the “macho” world of the United
States Air Force, but when unit members hear that companies such as Apple,
Google, and Nike now offer meditation to their employees and have seen
exceptional results, it might just become a integral piece to improving the
effectiveness of unit operations, reducing stress and allowing people to gain a
feeling of well-being (OnlineMBA.com).
The FAA recognizes shift work places tremendous stresses
on the human body, and the result is often exhibited as fatigue which is often
simplified as tiredness, forgetfulness, poor decision making, slow reaction
time, and many other negative effects.
Routinely changing the shift assignments of unit personnel, while it may
seem like a way of treating everyone fairly, does in fact place them under more
stress. It does the exact opposite of
what it may been intended to accomplish.
With that in mind, the attached schedule realignment is recommended as a
means of improving unit effectiveness and reducing the many negative
consequences of fatigue, and stress. It
recommends keeping personnel on one assigned shift throughout the month,
eliminating the need for them to readjust to a new schedule every week. Treating people individually will allow
sub-groups within each team to have days off whereas changing out entire teams
at the same time induces group stress.
People can become accustomed to working in their assigned shifts, and
use those methods discussed above and those found on the resource sites to
mitigate the negative effects of shift work.
The Computer-Based fatigue countermeasure training on the FAA web site
should be mandatory training for all unit personnel.
References
10 Big Companies
That Promote Employee Meditation, (2/1/12). Retrieved 12/19/15: http://www.onlinemba.com/blog/10-big-companies-that-promote-employee-meditation/
Bright Light
Treatment Efficacious for Nonseasonal Major Depressive Disorder, (11/18/15),
Retrieved 12/19/15: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/302836.php
Whitman, H.
(11/19/15), The Power of Music: How it Can Benefit Health, Midical News
Today. Retrieved 12/19/15): http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/302903.php
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