Sleep isn't a luxury — it's a mission-critical function. And for veterans, the stakes are even higher. Dr. Sara Alger, Sleep Research Scientist with the Psychological Health Branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, unpacks what chronic sleep deprivation is actually doing to your brain and body — and what you can do about it.

Alger explains why the military culture of "I'll sleep when I'm dead" carries real long-term consequences, how combat-trained sleep patterns can follow you home long after deployment, and why those 3 a.m. wake-ups may be more biology than disorder. She also makes the case for tactical napping as a legitimate performance tool — not a sign of weakness.

Whether you're dealing with PTSD-related sleep disruption, years of short nights, or just waking up exhausted, this conversation offers science-backed answers and practical strategies.

Also in this episode: a bipartisan effort to expand overdose protection for veterans, the wartime origins of Daylight Saving Time, and how the Star-Spangled Banner became official.

SHOW LINKS

Learn more about Buddy Checks

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Learn more about the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

Facts about tactical napping

Defense Health Agency Continuing Education Program Office

Be a part of The American Legion Oratorical Contest

Learn more about the End Veterans Overdose Act of 2026

Wartime history of Daylight Savings Time

Health tips for help you Spring Forward

Star-spangled history or The National Anthem

Learn more about the U.S. Flag - Indivisible: The Story of Our Flag