Stay Alert Gum

[I274]

Army has new (?) gum out they've published today.

http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=8471

The gum contains 100 milligrams of caffeine--as much as in a six-ounce cup of coffee--but is absorbed into the body much more quickly.

In three studies, using multiple administrations of caffeine with Stay Alert gum, [soldiers] reported that alertness, marksmanship -- both simulated and live fire -- vigilance on observation and reconnaissance tasks and physical performance during simulated operations were either maintained or improved as compared to those soldiers who received a placebo chewing gum.

[killernurse]

Interesting...

Wonder how this will be handled by unit members with religious dietary restrictions on caffeine- if it's the standard/required at some point. (Ooh- ethics questions- realizing that your Soldier is a practicing Mormon and as such is against using caffeine, but requiring your Soldier to chew it could keep another Soldier alive do you make him use the gum? Is it God or Country first? What is the value of a human life versus a dietary restriction?) But that's not my problem just now and I don't have a paper to write.

I would be in trouble if I tried it- I shake from a half glass of caffinated soda.

[TheTokenGook]

so when does this go out to ROTC cadets and other college students?

[neo]

Interesting...

Wonder how this will be handled by unit members with religious dietary restrictions on caffeine- if it's the standard/required at some point. (Ooh- ethics questions- realizing that your Soldier is a practicing Mormon and as such is against using caffeine, but requiring your Soldier to chew it could keep another Soldier alive do you make him use the gum? Is it God or Country first? What is the value of a human life versus a dietary restriction?) But that's not my problem just now and I don't have a paper to write.

I would be in trouble if I tried it- I shake from a half glass of caffinated soda.

Religious restrictions are generally not an issue. Catholics get excused from abstaining/fasting during lent by Bishops and muslims generally get excused for Ramadon when in a field situation.

[I274]

maybe it will replace the smoke break:

"Chew em if you got em."

and we'll have to have police call to pick up the wrappers...

(But I suddenly realized most of you guys don't even know what a smoke break is and having to pick up cig butts on police call. I know dbuntz does.)


But seriously, - - KN, this is not an issue in the way you brought it up. It's an optional item in your kit (for SOF and others). -- No different than getting cigarettes back in the days of C-rats. If you don't want it, you trade with those who do.

[GIJared]

so when does this go out to ROTC cadets and other college students?
yeah, im gonna need it for our spring ftx...spring finals, tests, and exercises

[Aries]

and we'll have to have police call to pick up the wrappers...

(But I suddenly realized most of you guys don't even know what a smoke break is and having to pick up cig butts on police call. I know dbuntz does.)


hey old man, been there done that. Buckner we had to police call most of it cuz they caught some idiots smoking outside of the smoke areas.

[Wes]

I know all about police calls, and the smokers picked up the cig butts. That was a rule enforced by the Spc4 Mafia.

The gum sounds awesome. I could have used it out in the desert when we were running 12 on 12 off and were either filling sand bags or staring out into the desert on guard.

[killernurse]

(But I suddenly realized most of you guys don't even know what a smoke break is and having to pick up cig butts on police call. I know dbuntz does.)
Hey, hey... the Army isn't quite like that. I've had to pick up cigarette butts on police call several times- including when none of us could smoke. Not that it was a problem anyway, but I would've appreciated some non-latex gloves to handle other people's kleenexes and cigarettes.

[I274]

... Not that it was a problem anyway, but I would've appreciated some non-latex gloves to handle other people's kleenexes and cigarettes.

Typical medical response. :)

'better watch out. if the EPA finds out, we'll have to issues non-latex gloves for police call.

Things have changed so much... we used to be able to handle anything and then just wash your hands. (my dad is an undertaker... 'did many "removals" back in my teen years helping dad... we never used gloves. (and we had a few that I wish we did). My brother now has the business and has to follow all sorts of rules.

[killernurse]

There are some things I would just rather not touch. But I'd worry more about OSHA than EPA on this one...

[TheTokenGook]

'did many "removals" back in my teen years helping dad... we never used gloves.

:o