Battlefield airbags
That's not a design failure, it's probably a must-have design feature!
I bet that the recent arsebomber wished he had fireproof underwear too...
The Swedish armed forces have been hit by a major equipment problem, according to reports. Flimsy military brassieres are unable to stand up to the strains imposed when female Swedish troops perform "rigorous exercises", routinely bursting open or even catching fire - so forcing busty young conscripts to hurriedly strip off in …
maybe it's to boost male soldier morale with an impromptu striptease. though i think even the more red-blooded swedes would pissed if that happened under fire.
but is there a reason the ladies don't or can't buy their own more suitable Anna K-style sports supports?
I recall reading that, in the Falklands conflict, sailors summer uniforms, made of synthetic material, would melt during fire-fighting, but their winter, woollen, uniforms had good insulating properties and would merely smoulder.
May I recommend bras made of natural materials, such as wool, or leather...
I'm just going to have a cool shower.
What's odd is that the general risk of fire, for military clothing, has been known for long time. Materials which melt are just stupid choices, though something with a bit of stretch might be necessary, and that could make for difficult choices.
I wonder what happens in other countries.
"...2,000 new young female recruits are to enter the Swedish forces next year, and that top brass had been informed of this recently.
"That got them moving,” she said."
To requisition more binoculars, no doubt.
The "where's the IT angle" icon applied sarcastically, because who could possibly think a story about healthy young Swedish women hurriedly getting out of their clothing outdoors after exercising vigorously, with an especial emphasis on baring their breasts, anything other than a must-read for anyone in this male dominated field desiring the fullest understanding of modern highly complex communications, automation, and data processing technology?
Reminds me of a uniform problem conscripts used to face - braces (or suspenders to those across the pond). Some uniform trousers used to come with them built in - attached at the back and buttoned onto the front. To take a dump in a combat environment meant taking off all equipment and uniform jacket. Even braces that buttoned on at the back and front were little better, as they were a nightmare to do back up without also taking off equipment and jacket. Thank god that uniform designers saw the light and started opting for belts and elastic.
And don't fob us off with Playmobil.
This is quite clearly Sweden's ultimate defence. Unlike more immature countries that rely on the threat of thermonuclear megadeath to protect against invasion, the cunning Swedes have worked out that a platoon of special forces striptease babes will bring any invaders to a grinding halt.
It's incredibly brilliant.
"The Post apparently brought the related bosom-combustion issue to light, noting that bras can catch fire during combat and then "melt onto conscripts’ skin"."
Ouch, that ought to be *really* hot action, then.
Side note: those female soldier, they really must wear gov. bras by law and can't buy market ones ? I'm sure a lot of them don't catch fire :-)
As a male-type person, I can tell you it's no fun to have personal parts bobbing around whilst working out or running. The idea that anything holding those parts would burst into flame or melt on me....too painful to consider. I would be sorting out some better garments "muy pronto".
>>>"If I saw a load of Swedish blonds with boobs bouncing running for me I'd drop my gun and grab my weapon..."
Repeat after me: "This is my rifle, this is my gun... this is for fighting, this is for fun..."
"Now write it out a 'undred times...if it's not done by sunrise, I'll cut your balls off."
Might be also that military regs require they use officially sanctioned gear only.
Is Sweden one of those countries that has compulsory national service? If it is and women are included then this is indeed not all that funny. Still can't help but find the idea of bursting bras amusing, just feel sorry for the poor girls. This is coming from someone who doesn't even find the whole "blonde swedish woman" stereotype that appealing.
Though the MOD admits it has boobed in the past, its designers are now abreast of the situation and are handling the relevant issues even as we speak. There is no doubt this problem can be nipped in the bud, if we juggle and rebralance our priorities.
Now will the Reg please stop milking the story?
The melting comment is unfortunately on target; in Vietnam, US Army aviators found out (the hard way) that they might survive a fiery crash unscathed, protected by Nomex and a helmet, only to have nylon undergarments melt, and char the areas beneath. Ow.
However, what kind of exercise gets a brassiere hot enough to melt?
Paris, because she might have an answer
The problem can't have "persisted for twenty years". They may have started issuing female underwear in the last few years, but at least in 2001 and earlier the military just provided a clothing allowance for them to buy their own.
Perhaps they do now, in which case they really should provide adequate underwear, but certainly last I heard no female underwear was issued. (Although female soldiers tended to run off with the issued boxer shorts, because they're rather comfortable.)
In any case, accomodation isn't generally sex-separated. Males and females share rooms, showers, tents... when I served, my female colleagues thought nothing of changing clothes in front of the rest of the squad on marches - because nobody else did either. Sure, some of us had attractive lumpy bits on the front, but we were all squaddies. Changing or adjusting clothing in front of the rest of the unit isn't a problem.
Paul 4:
"It frightens me how childish some people are.
"These girls are forced in to the Army and then not given basic working kit. This makes the British Army look like they know what they are doing. How the hell bras catch on fire I don't know."
They're not at all forced - indeed, while men still get called to "mönstring" at the age of 18, women still have to specifically sign up for national service. But more on that later.
As for bras bursting into flame, that's not quite the problem. The problem is if burning material lands on clothing; then the material can melt, causing severe burns. The issued M/90 uniform, for instance, can withstand burning material for over a minute, and when it does catch it just smoulders, rather than melting. And of course a burn is much easier to treat than if there's melted nylon in the wound... ;-)
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Craig 28:
"Might be also that military regs require they use officially sanctioned gear only.
"Is Sweden one of those countries that has compulsory national service? If it is and women are included then this is indeed not all that funny. Still can't help but find the idea of bursting bras amusing, just feel sorry for the poor girls. This is coming from someone who doesn't even find the whole "blonde swedish woman" stereotype that appealing."
On the whole, gear has to be issued, but there is plenty of scope for personalisation. Underwear isn't regulated, though soldiers are reminded that for fire safety purposes natural or flame-retardant materials are better. It is worth noting, though, that under most day-to-day duties, that fire-protection isn't necessary.
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Paul 4 again:
"Yes it is."
No it's not.
As Olof P - a fellow Swede, I'm guessing - says, there have been moves to expand the requirement to both males and females, and I think that would be a good idea.
The way it works in Sweden is that all males reaching 18 are called for "mönstring", to register. Most people leave it entirely; the most recent figure I've heard is that 14% of males get called up, though I can't remember if that's för military service or national service in general. You also get the choice between military service ("värnplikt") or civilian service ("civilplikt"), which includes things like the rescue services.
What all this boils down to is that, essentially, all men 18-24 are required to serve in the military for 7-15 months... unless they don't want to. (Seriously. Say "You know, I don't fancy it" in the interview, and there's a good chance they'll just say "OK, have a nice trip home".)
Similarly, women are required to serve - but only if they sign up and say "I want to".
So no, in practice nobody's forced into the military; with very few exceptions (if any), there's no one there who didn't want to be.
For what it's worth, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in, and the Swedish M/90 uniform system is one of the best designed systems in existence.