- OTTAWA - The Canadian Forces are contemplating an undercover project
so complex no other army has even attempted it; so sensitive that, even
if successful, it is almost sure to remain under wraps.
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- An elite unit at National Defence headquarters
is actively studying whether to proceed with development of the world's
first combat bra.
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- Skeptics may chuckle but it's no joke
for Capt. Frank Delanghe of the Clothe the Soldier Program, a $184-million
effort to update clothing and gear used by Canada's 42,000 troops.
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- "It's never been looked at before,"
Delanghe said in an interview. "No army that I know of has ever touched
or even approached this issue. I think we're kind of treading on new ground
here."
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- Delanghe notes that for females in combat
or rigorous training, brassiere design can be a significant issue.
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- "It has to be comfortable enough
to wear, potentially, on a 24 (hour) seven (day) basis, and yet it has
to be able to provide sufficient support to allow you to do "violent,
physical activity."
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- He says there are "dozens and dozens"
of bra models on the market, yet none seem satisfactory for the demands
of military work. Take sports bras, for example.
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- "What they do is they push the breasts
together at the front. Because the breasts aren't being supported independently
and kept apart, they're rubbing together so you're going to get chafing.
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- "On top of that you're doing a lot
of physical activity so you're sweating. What will happen is you'll start
to build up skin irritation and it can develop into some type of infection
that would be extremely uncomfortable."
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- Athletic-support bras are durable but
tend to be uncomfortable: "They're really heavy-duty and you can't
wear them more than a couple of hours at a stretch because the straps really
dig in."
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- Some military women are skeptical about
the notion of a combat bra, mainly because they fear it would not take
account of individual preferences.
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- "I think most women would look at
it as not a high priority," says Maj. Joan Prior. "It's much
more important to have a backpack that fits and boots that fit.
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- "Personally, I think a bra is such
an individual piece of apparel -- most women are pretty particular about
what they wear. It's pretty hard to do one product that fits all."
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- But she's keeping an open mind. "I
think it's a good effort to give each gender the right attention. The guys
get shorts so we may as well get a bra."
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- The decision on whether to proceed will
not be left to gut instinct. The Human Factors Group at the Defence and
Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine in Toronto has been asked to
prepare a scientific survey of combat women.
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- "I realize this is something we
can't crack really simply," says Delanghe.
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- "We're going to have to take a scientific,
proper methodical approach if we want to solve it. And that's what we're
hoping to accomplish."
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- Delanghe admits he gets some ribbing
about his work.
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- "They don't call me Delangherie
for nothing."
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