Since March 2002, Naval recruit trainees at the RTC in Great Lakes have been able to sleep an additional two hours every night, with the adjustment extending to 6:00 a.m. The new "rack schedule" gives the recruits the opportunity to get eight hours of sleep a night during their demanding training program. Sleep conditions are also being improved with new dormitory facilities that have more room between bunks, allowing for more comfortable sleeping. Some of the new dorms have been completed; others are scheduled for building.

The new sleep schedule is helping the RTC reach important goals, which include improving the well-being and success of the trainees during their initial nine weeks of Naval service. The men and women are sleeping more and while other results cannot be attributed solely to changes in sleep practices, data show a dramatic reduction in attrition rates, higher scores on standardized academic performance tests, and many fewer illnesses.

"The success of this special Navy program seems to send out a clear message -- sleep works! NSF is proud to recognize the Navy's leadership and commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and productivity of its recruits in Great Lakes. We hope this special program will serve as a model for other military and civilian training programs throughout the country," said Richard L. Gelula, NSF's chief executive officer.

In addition to the winning entry, several sleep centers are being recognized by NSF as runners-up and with honorable mentions for outstanding community sleep awareness programs. Sleep Centers serve as year-round resources for sleep information in their communities, holding lectures, information fairs, open houses, and other activities that help educate the public about the importance of sleep and the treatment of sleep disorders. Many are NSF members participating in the Foundation's Community Sleep Awareness Partners® (CSAP) program.

The runners-up this year are Lehigh Valley Hospital Sleep Disorders Center in Allentown, PA, and Bryan LGH Medical Center in Lincoln, NE. The honorable mention winners are Park Nicollete/Methodist Hospital Sleep Disorders Center in St. Louis Park, MN, CGH Sleep Center at CGH Medical Center in Sterline, IL, Institute for Sleep-Wake Disorders at Hackensack University Medical Center "Sleep Well" Community Program in Bergen County, NJ, The Houston Sleep Center in Houston, TX, and Sun Health Sleep Disorders Center in Sun City, AZ.

This is the sixth year NSF has presented its Healthy Sleep Community Award (formerly called the Healthy Sleep Capital Award), which recognizes outstanding efforts to initiate or continue a sleep activity or program with effective, long lasting results on a significant proportion of a population.

The Award is presented in Washington, DC during National Sleep Awareness Week®, NSF's annual week-long campaign to raise awareness about the importance of sleep. The Week leads up to the return of Daylight Saving Time, when much of the nation "loses" an hour of sleep. This year, National Sleep Awareness Week takes place March 29-April 4; the award presentation will be March 30 as part of a press conference announcing the results of NSF's 2004 Sleep in America poll.

The National Sleep Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting public education, sleep-related research, and advocacy. NSF is based in Washington, DC.