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On was on this helicopter infil-extract mission (walking multiple km in and out for fun) and got back to base, and was immediately put on the gunturret of a convoy that was going to an outpost. I was oh by the way informed I going to spend the next few weeks (read: months) there so it was a frantic packing job before hopping in the turret. I think I was up in the ballpark of two solid days, probably a hair over going into a day 3. I ended up throwing up from energy drink overdose.
Edit: in retrospect perhaps not an amazing amount of time, as I’ve almost certainly spent a few weeknights gaming the whole night and then going to work the next day, which would be a similar amount of time awake- but it did feel the longest. Certainly the most sustained exertion and concentration without sleep.
I can't imagine being awake that long and having to do things that have actual consequences. At least if I drop into a microsleep while playing a videogame or get paranoid and shoot at a friendly no one gets hurt.
Definitely seen the black dog on the road driving and that was only after a 24hr stint awake and behind the wheel for 11hours under some less than ideal conditions. I said no to my boss a lot more after that, luckily they understood.
It's fascinating how much us humans can endure.