Despite female soldiers representing a growing user population, military body armour systems are currently better suited to the anthropometric dimensions of male soldiers. The aim of this study was to explore issues that female soldiers experience with current Australian Defence Force (ADF)-issue body armour. Following a sequential exploratory design, an initial questionnaire was completed by 97 Australian female soldiers. Subsequently, 33 Australian female soldiers participated in one of three focus groups. Descriptive statistics of questionnaire data considered alongside thematic analysis of focus group transcripts revealed problems with the design (fit, form and function) of current ADF-issue body armour, as well as problems with the issuance and education surrounding use of the system. It is recommended that anthropometric data of female soldiers be better incorporated into future body armour designs, that these data inform processes surrounding both acquisition and issuance of body armour and that training protocols for body armour use be reviewed.

尽管女性士兵代表着不断增长的用户群，但军用防弹衣系统目前更适合男性士兵的人体测量尺寸。本研究的目的是探讨女兵在使用当前澳大利亚国防军 (ADF) 防弹衣时遇到的问题。按照顺序探索性设计，97 名澳大利亚女兵完成了一份初始问卷。随后，33 名澳大利亚女兵参加了三个焦点小组之一。调查问卷数据的描述性统计与焦点小组记录的主题分析一起考虑，揭示了当前 ADF 发行的防弹衣的设计（合身、形式和功能）存在问题，以及围绕系统使用的发布和教育问题。