What makes a military bra fit for purpose?
“A sports bra is part of your kit. Without one, you’re unable to do your job to the best of your ability,” Army captain says. 26th July 2022 at 4:21 pm
The British Army now gives female recruits more support in the form of correctly fitted support for their breasts during exercise – but what makes a sports bra the perfect fit for Armed Forces personnel?
The move comes following scientific research into the effects of poorly fitted sports bras.
A scientific study, led by Army Recruit Health and Performance Research with experts from the University of Portsmouth, showed that 85% of new recruits were experiencing breast health issues relating to inadequate breast support and poor bra fitting during basic training.
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In response, all-female Army recruits starting Phase One basic training has been given an individual fitting by sports bra experts Boobydoo and issued three free exercise bras for the past two years, in a bid to alleviate symptoms of ill-fitting underwear.
On 1 April 2022, 10% of the UK Regular Forces were women (16,710 personnel). Paying attention to the health of recruits’ breasts in a traditionally male environment is part of efforts to make the British Army more female-friendly.
Other changes include allowing women to apply for any role in the British Army – including infantry and once serving, the SAS – and regulations about how hair has to look have been relaxed to allow women with long hair to wear it in a ponytail or plait, braids, twists, cornrows or locks. Play Video
WATCH: Boobydoo staff help British Army recruits find the perfect fitting sports bra.
But what makes a sports bra perfect for serving personnel?
We spoke to Boobydoo brand manager Charly Wright to find out what the official fitters and suppliers of sports bras to the British Army look out for when trying to find the perfect fit for new recruits.
Being given the option of three different types of sports bras as part of their kit helps female soldiers more successfully complete the variety of different physical actions required.
For example, the British Army says that wearing an underwired sports bra isn’t suitable under body armour.
Charly said: “We give them the opportunity to have three different bras.
“So, if they wanted a bra for low impact training or for marching or something that they would wear for long periods of time more comfortably compared to something very high impact, structured, supportive for much higher intensity PT or obstacle course.”
Captain Joanne Ellett, of the Corps of Royal Engineers and who is also a GB Bobsleigh athlete and Army Rugby 7s player, is a brand ambassador for Boobydoo and has been championing improved breast support in basic training.
She said: “As a female in the military, you already stand out, you’re in the minority.
“If you have larger breasts, you feel like you stand out again.
“A correctly fitted bra means you can have more confidence and perform better.
“A sports bra is part of your kit. Without one, you’re unable to do your job to the best of your ability,” she added.
What is taken into consideration to find the perfect sports bra for Armed Forces personnel?
Boobydoo spoke to servicewomen such as Capt Ellett about what training looks and feels like and how they would improve the bras they were originally being offered.
Charly thinks recruits are being given an amazing opportunity to own three free sports bras because good-quality ones are not cheap.
She said: “What we have come to notice is that sports bras that they come with are very low value and therefore not really suitable for the amount of training they are going to be doing and the intensity of training.
“That’s not everybody, but the vast majority, they’re very entry-level products that aren’t really suitable for the job.
“I think it’s great that this has been afforded to them as a service.
“They get not just a good quality sports bra but one that is properly fitted to them, which is what we provide,” she added.
It is vital for performance that Armed Forces personnel are not distracted by wearing uncomfortable sports bras that interfere with carrying a Bergan or webbing.
Additionally, a zip at the front might dig in when a soldier is crawling or wearing body armour.
Boobydoo has a wide selection of bras with band sizes from 24 to 56 and from A to K cup that can be bought on the high street to cater for every different body shape and size.
The sports bra experts travel with their fitting kits and a selection of the most suitable bras to wherever they are needed.
Charly said: “We’ll go to the training centre and we’ll fit that intake and sometimes we go to Catterick and we’ll fit one woman or we’ll go to Pirbright and we’ll have 30 to 40 so we adapt very much to the size of the intake.”
And when it comes to finding the perfect fit for recruits, there are many different factors taken into consideration.
Charly said: “All the bras are made with sweat-wicking, quick dry sports materials as you would expect from any sportswear.
“Usually the best sports bras, the ones that are most popular, have separated cups so they’re structured better across the cups.
“They have compression and encapsulation, kind of, as a hybrid together.
“Some things that we have learned along the way are that the positioning of the straps is quite key, so when you’ve got a Bergan or heavy load on your back, the relationship to where your straps are sitting, and if that can cause friction, rubbing, or just overall discomfort across shoulders, that’s something really important.
“Also, front fastening we have steered away from because of the hardware of the zip at the front when you’ve got your body armour on.
“Again, just trying to reduce the points of potential friction.
“When a bra doesn’t fit right, it’s going to move against you, it’s going to rub,” she said.
The new approach is already yielding positive results, with 60% of recruits reporting reductions in excessive breast movement, 57% a reduction in poor posture and a third said there have been improvements in their physical performance during basic training.
But what about the other branches of the Armed Forces?
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) released a statement about what female Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel can expect now and in the future when it comes to being issued sports bras.
The Royal Navy will introduce fitted sports bras for phase one recruits in March 2023.
The MOD said: “As the Royal Navy requires all personnel to maintain fitness and undertake regular physical exercise, it was decided personnel will be entitled to purchase a maximum of two sports bras, with a maximum value of £50 per bra.”
The RAF is investigating options for the provision of sports bras, as part of a wider commitment to delivering the most appropriate clothing for all personnel.
The MOD said: “A delivery route similar to the Royal Navy is being pursued and details of any provision will be released in the very near future.”
Captain Joanne Ellett, of the Corps of Royal Engineers and who is also a GB Bobsleigh athlete and Army Rugby 7s player, is a brand ambassador for Boobydoo and has been championing improved breast support in basic training.
She said: “As a female in the military, you already stand out, you’re in the minority.
“If you have larger breasts, you feel like you stand out again.
“A correctly fitted bra means you can have more confidence and perform better.
“A sports bra is part of your kit. Without one, you’re unable to do your job to the best of your ability,” she added.