Soldiers in the military must wear old panties and bras – VG

Now, union delegates from the Armed Forces fear that this will lead soldiers to choose to wear their own civilian clothes instead of the used underwear they are given.

– This has created reactions among the soldiers. These are intimate items that you are not happy to share with others, whether you are in the Armed Forces or not, national union representative Anette Hyldmo tells VG.

He has received comments from soldiers and union delegates in various camps around the country.

If any of the soldiers sustain occupational injuries as a result of wearing plain clothes, for example frostbite during a drill, they will not be entitled to compensation from the Armed Forces, according to Hyldmo.

It was the Armed Forces forum that first discussed the issue. The newspaper writes that the reason soldiers have to hand over used underwear is that the Armed Forces logistics organization (FLO) lacks so-called tight personal clothing and equipment (PBU).

It is garments such as wool underwear, T-shirts, panties, bras, socks and towels that are in question, FLO communication manager Hans Meisingset informs the newspaper.

Did not prioritize large populations

For VG, Meisingset says that “over time there have been very few stocks of certain items” in the warehouses of the Armed Forces.

– It has not been a priority to have large stocks of clothing compared to what it was several years ago, says Meisingset.

– Why not?

– These are priorities that have been established and that there has not been the same focus on preparation as before.

Meisingset also notes that the corona pandemic has made the situation “more complicated” for them in the form of “delivery delays.”

– Some of our manufacturers are in Asia, and logistics are generally affected by the pandemic, he says.

In addition, he says that so far it is the Army, Navy and Air Force that have been notified of the change.

– You will get underwear that others have left behind.

National union steward Hyldmo, for his part, believes that the work FLO has done is not good enough. She expects more.

– This is just another clothing shortage in the Armed Forces. It is always the recruits who are affected, he says, adding:

– We believe that FLO should take responsibility for discrepancies and plan better. It is unacceptable that this affects soldiers over and over again.

All graduating from December through August 1, 2021 will need to return underwear. In the raids after the entry into force of the scheme, new soldiers will be able to receive underwear that has been used by former soldiers.

– Those who move in January will get the underwear that others left behind, says Hyldmo.

I would wear used underwear myself

Communications manager Meisingset says he currently does not have an overview of how many new soldiers they will have to wear, among other things, used socks, knickers or bras.

– What is delivered again has been washed and checked. In that sense, it is a circular economy, which we use again, he says.

According to Meisingset, the Armed Forces have initiated this measure to “make sure they have enough underwear.”

– Soldiers have no right to receive new underwear, he says.

– Would you go even with underwear that has been worn by others before you?

– Yes, and I have done it for many years as a soldier in the Armed Forces. As long as it’s completely, neat, washed and clean, it’s safe, Meisingset says.

Hyldmo, on the other hand, is not so willing to put on used underwear:

– I would not have used it if I had known that the underwear or the bra that they gave me, had been used before me.