While in the Airforce (flightline maintenance) I managed to spend almost my entire time on graveyard shift. This was when most of the actual, productive, work was done. There were no officers, only NCO's running things. (I think there may have been a lieutenant nominally on duty, but presumably the NCO's locked him an office somewhere where he couldn't do any damage.)
During daylight hours the military dictum, "if it moves, salute it, if it doesn't move, paint it," took over. Even worse than usual, since this was a headquarters base, only a couple hours drive from D.C.
The few weeks I spent on dayshift I was continually shocked by the mass idiocy and meaningless (at best, more often counterproductive) activity occurring everywhere around me. What was most horrifying was everyone pretending (or could they possibly believe?!) this was all normal.
The return to graveyard was like being released from an asylum.