A Survey of Some Human Factor Problems in Night Operations

In the preliminary research on this subject, the physical, biological, and behavioral factors that affect night operation performance in the individual soldier were considered. Subjects such as silent movement and camouflage, communication at night, and night target engagement constitute an important but separate body of knowledge and are not part of this plan. Emphasis in this report has been placed on current sensory, motor and cognitive factors in night mobility, the role of night vision, and the effect of fatigue and stress in night operations. In addition, individual differences in otherwise similar populations exposed to similar environmental conditions are considered. This report provides background information potentially useful in planning future behavioral research on efficient utilization of the individual soldier during continuous and sustained night operations. Also considered in this light are the further evolution of night operations training, and the military operations that require weighing of the variability and limitations of the night warfare capability of a soldier.