Servicewomen in the U.S. military are still encountering significant challenges with ill-fitting gear, a problem that has persisted for at least five years despite a landmark report highlighting the issue. Several service members, speaking anonymously to the BBC, described their body armor as "definitely not female and definitely not good," with some noting a lack of female-specific options and designs that do not accommodate diverse body types, such as "busty women."
These issues have been consistently noted, with an Ofsted report from October 2025 stating that for the fourth consecutive year, women and smaller recruits were issued clothing and equipment that did not fit properly. This not only affects their appearance and sense of belonging compared to peers but also hinders their ability to fully participate in training due to ill-fitting equipment like webbing or rucksacks. The report emphasized that such ill-fitting kit poses a "very serious risk" in combat situations.
Dr. Mary Keeling from the Centre for Evidence for the Armed Forces acknowledged that the rollout of new female-specific kit and equipment has been inconsistent since an earlier report by Atherton. While some progress has been made with "good steps in the right direction," Keeling noted that the pace of change is slow, particularly as the military aims to increase the number of women in its ranks. She suggested that ensuring appropriate kit and equipment is available could improve recruitment challenges by making women feel more welcome.
Past reports have indicated that the lack of properly fitting equipment can disadvantage service members, potentially impacting their performance and safety. For instance, body armor that does not fit correctly may not offer optimal protection, and poorly adjusted equipment such as rucksacks can lead to discomfort and injury during training and operations.
The ongoing shortages underscore a systemic challenge in equipping all service members with gear that is both functional and tailored to diverse physiological needs. Efforts to address these shortcomings are ongoing, but the experiences shared by servicewomen indicate that further sustained attention and investment are required to fully resolve the problem.