Rank: Super forum user 
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Can anybody update me re sun cream etc re the army e.g. do we now issue/allow sun block/sun cream in the army and is it still a 'malingering' offence if a person gets burnt etc as it was in my day
REgards
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Rank: Forum user
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Bob,
When I recently left the senior service ;) it was still a 'troopable' offence to get sunburnt, as it was a self inflicted injury. Nowadays though the scablifters dish out free sunblock etc. Not much use for it down the engine rooms though !
All the best
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Rank: Super forum user
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The army issue sun block on operations, the MRS issue out sun cream,
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Rank: Super forum user
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I've never understood shirt sleeve order in the British Army, having been under the colours for 18 years. You never see the locals in hot countries wearing short sleeved shirts in the blazing sun. Having worked in Iraq as a civilian contractor I made a point of always wearing long sleeves, despite wearing kevlar too.
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Rank: Super forum user
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On a related historical note, how did the British Eighth Army avoid or minimise sunburn while fighting in North Africa during WW2? Are there any experts reading this forum who can say if suncream/sunblock was available at the time? If so, was such protection issued to service people, bearing in mind that suffering from sunburn was (I understand) and remains a disciplinary offence? Also, as an earlier responder, has noted, service people during and since WW2 have tended to wear short sleeved shirts - and also shorts. Did/do they have any option to wear long sleeved shirts and long trousers?
Perhaps I'm thinking too much of the film "Beau Geste" but didn't the classic uniform of the French Foreign Legion in its early decades include long trousers and a neck cover or curtain of white cloth connected to the kepi hat so as to keep their soldiers covered as much as practicable? Though the early uniform apparently also included a medium-blue double breasted greatcoat (capote) which must have been somewhat hot in the desert, perhaps the soldiers were allowed to wear it open or even buttoned back during the daytime. Considering that hot desert areas can become cold at night perhaps the greatcoat was especially useful for insulation against the cold.
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Rank: Forum user
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I can remember back in my day the mozzy repellant was a good sunscreen it didnt stop the rays or stop you burning but you got a cracking tan eventually
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Rank: Forum user
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Left the Army in 2009 - sun block was issued by the QMs before deployment. It is in nice civvie looking tube and no longer army dark green with merely an NSN on it. Same with mossie repellent - the dark green tubes with NSNs on seemed to put soldiers off using the sun block and mossie repellent!
On my last overseas trip to a rather hot place I applied factor 50 all day every day and returned home looking even whiter and paler than I usually do whilst everyone else was well tanned.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Many thanks for the replies
After discussing this with old soldiers [WW1/WW2/Korea/Vietnam + my own 'knee brown' experience] all seemed to think the same - what have we come down to
People just got on with it as sunburn was the lesser of 2 evils [death or sun burn] and yes it was a chargeable offence if U became 'inoperative' because of sun burn. NB: If U go back a short time before WW2 soldiers covered up as much as poss
NB: Marmite is an old remedy to stop 'mossies' as they do not like the aroma given off by the skin -the last time I tried this was in Egypt and it worked a treat so it does 2 things at once; feeds U and protects U from mossies but its not kudos and if U spread if on your skin U get packs of dogs following U!
This is in fact a serious question/area as many mangers do not want to manage the subject and let staff go unprotected when they should cover up; and all the best to our people who are serving on our behalf
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Rank: Forum user 
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I remember the mozzie and sun cream used to melt your water proof maps !!!! And you were expected to put it on your skin... I think not lol
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Rank: Forum user
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The old 'Deet' issue insect repellent did tend to 'melt' plastic, including map covers, Rifle stocks, etc. Also stung like mad if you put it on your forehead before sweating it into your eyes......
Those were the days.......
On a note more relevant to the OP, since the MoD are required to abide by the same H&S laws as everyone else, then if it's considered necessary to protect against the UV from the sun then sun cream is issued. You will also find that as the modern equipment is designed with blast/ballistic protection in mind, many soldiers will have sleeves rolled down despite the hot conditions. Part of a modern soldiers protection includes ballistic glasses and one of the 3 types issued provides UV protection as well, so it is something the MoD considers.
And so far as I know it is still considered a disciplinary offence to be in-operative due to a self-inflicted injury such as sun-burn. (getting sun burnt is not in itself an offence!) Mind you, I left the Army a few years ago now.....
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Rank: Super forum user 
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wizzpete wrote:The old 'Deet' issue insect repellent did tend to 'melt' plastic, including map covers, Rifle stocks, etc. Ah! fond memories. Especially good for getting a custom fit on the cheek piece of SA80's. :-)
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