The military has used speed to boost the performance of soldiers in war for almost a century, especially when in extended combat situations to stay alert and awake beyond an ordinary sleep cycle. The Nazis famously gave pep pills to their Panzer tank crews during the 'blitzkriegs' of Poland and France, and many militaries have given it to bomber pilots on extended runs, including the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_and_culture_of_substit...