Navy launches largest-ever study on sailor fatigue using Oura Rings
1,600 sailors aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford will help test how sleep data could prevent future disasters at sea.
When the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group deploys later this year, it won’t just be carrying aircraft and firepower — it will also be hosting a groundbreaking study into crew fatigue. More than 1,600 sailors will wear Oura Rings, smart biometric devices that will track their sleep quality, recovery, and overall wellness throughout the deployment.
It’s part of the Navy’s Command Readiness, Endurance, and Watchstanding (CREW) program — the largest initiative of its kind — aimed at helping commanders monitor rest levels across the ship in near real time. Using Starlink internet now available on Navy vessels, data from the rings will be securely and anonymously uploaded for analysis by leadership and researchers at the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego.
“This is about giving ship leadership the tools to see how the mission is affecting sailors’ ability to rest and recover,” said Dr. Rachel Markwald, senior sleep physiologist and implementation lead for the CREW program. “Sleep is critical to performance and decision-making — and most people instinctively know that. But without actual data, we’re flying blind.”
A Wake-Up Call from 2017
The CREW initiative was born out of tragedy. In 2017, two devastating collisions involving the USS Fitzgerald and USS McCain killed 17 sailors. Investigations found fatigue was a key contributing factor. While some changes followed — like adjusting watch schedules to match sailors’ natural sleep rhythms — systemic reforms came slowly.
A 2021 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report urged the Navy to start gathering real-time fatigue data to better understand and mitigate risks. But as of 2023, that recommendation hadn’t been fully implemented. The CREW program began distributing wearables in 2021, yet progress stalled due to a lack of funding and formal backing.
“There’s still no program of record, no designated research sponsor,” said Dr. John Cordle, a Navy human factors expert. “This is the kind of forward-thinking fleet initiative that Washington needs to support — but so far, it hasn’t.”
Why Oura Rings?
Oura Rings — which retail for about $200 — were chosen for their passive monitoring, lack of GPS tracking, and minimal operational risk. They measure more than 20 biometric data points, including heart rate variability, temperature, and sleep cycles.
“They don’t emit signals or share location data, which makes them a good fit for deployed environments,” Cordle said. “Even if a phone isn’t nearby, they’ll still gather useful information — and they won’t give away the ship’s position.”
The Navy’s new onboard Starlink capability enables automatic uploads of ring data to researchers and commanders, who can spot patterns and address issues early. Reports will highlight trends and help unit leaders adapt workloads or schedules based on crew fatigue.
Participation — and Perks
Participation in the study is voluntary, but sailors who wear their ring at least 75% of the deployment will get to keep it. Inconsistent participants will need to return the ring, but there’s no penalty for opting out.
Looking ahead, Navy researchers hope the data collected will make a strong case for expanding CREW across the fleet. But there are still challenges — including whether wearables could one day be mandatory, and how to develop secure, shipboard upload systems that don’t rely on the cloud.
Still, Markwald believes the benefits will be clear. “It’s not just about stepping in before someone burns out,” she said. “It’s about giving sailors insights into their own health, performance, and recovery — and giving leaders the data to protect their people.”
