The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has obliged discharged conscripts to return the military underwear they left military service in to the next recruits. Simply put, the Norwegian army is short of pants, socks and bras of the established pattern
The army is officially said to be struggling with depleted supplies because of Covid. The pandemic has severely hampered the flow of underwear supplies due to factory closures and transport problems, resulting in the Norwegian military asking conscripts to turn in underwear, including bras and socks.
Norway, which represents NATO’s northern frontier and borders Russia, recruits about 8,000 young men and women every year and until recently allowed discharged soldiers to leave their barracks in their issued underwear.
While initially surrendering worn underwear and other intimate accessories was voluntary, it has now become compulsory, public broadcaster NRK reported Friday. “We decided to reuse this part of the uniform kit, it helps us. … We don’t have enough supplies,” defence ministry spokesman Hans Meisinset told NRK. “The textiles are washed, cleaned and checked. What we issue to recruits is in good condition,” he assured.
The office reminds us that Norway is the country with the highest GDP per capita in the world. The fact that the country is forced to reuse used underwear characterizes its industry, based mainly on the extraction of raw materials, on which Norway depends much more than Russia, not on the best side.