Posted on Sep 16, 2022
Why did the height and weight standard stay the same on the ACFT?
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I did the ACFT with a new private last month, and scored very high for each event, but when it came to the hieght and wieght, I wasn't the standard which was 185, which annoyed me, as a guy who's Deadlift max is 525 lbs, and had to get taped, which put me at 19% BF. Why do I have to get taped, even though I passed the ACFT with high scores.
ACFT
Physical Training
Height and Weight
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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I'll explain Height and Weight here.
The first table that you didn't meet is not the weight standard. That is a common misconception. It's a screening table based on body mass index. It means, if you are under this weight at this height, you are statistically almost certain to meet the body fat allowance and do not need to have you body fat calculated. It does not mean you don't meet the BF% standards.
Everyone is required to meet the BF% standards, the screening table just allows commanders to save time by skipping over taping people below a certain BMI.
Don't think of it as you had to be taped, think of it as everyone gets taped unless they're so skinny it isn't worth the time to check
The first table that you didn't meet is not the weight standard. That is a common misconception. It's a screening table based on body mass index. It means, if you are under this weight at this height, you are statistically almost certain to meet the body fat allowance and do not need to have you body fat calculated. It does not mean you don't meet the BF% standards.
Everyone is required to meet the BF% standards, the screening table just allows commanders to save time by skipping over taping people below a certain BMI.
Don't think of it as you had to be taped, think of it as everyone gets taped unless they're so skinny it isn't worth the time to check
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SPC (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable I'm just sick of killing myself to pass tape because, I'm 240lbs, but I've put so much stress on my body, from cutting muscle, water and food, to where my immune system is so low that my malaria from 2018, keeps producing, and have to sit in a doctor who tells me that I'm unhealthy even though I show him my physical schedule from morning to night.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SPC (Join to see) - I started lifting while I after I joined the Kentucky National Guard. I had come out of my Infantry Officer Basic Course at 164 and probably about 8% body fat. When I started lifting, I went from a 42" to 48" chest, a 17" neck. etc that took me to around 205 lbs. at 5'9" (like I said, a stump). I don't think that tape gave me an accurate body fat percentage, but it did give me a passing one. At age 40, I was still scoring over 285 on the 19 year old scale, what difference does my body fat percentage have at that level.
I hope the Army changes method of determining body fat and I hope they adopt the same PT score exemption
I hope the Army changes method of determining body fat and I hope they adopt the same PT score exemption
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
I have always thought that the Ht/Wt has nothing to do with physical ability, but, rather, looking pretty.
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SSG Roger Ayscue
The regulation states that a factor on the ABCP is appearance in uniform. No where in it did it mention duty performance or performance on Physical Fitness Tests, nor does it make allowance for long term injuries that require medications that make you gain weight, although allow you to continue to perform.
It all has to do with appearance.
In my first unit, the commo sergeant was a Vietnam vet, had taken more bullets than a horse trader's mule and had malaria. He was forced to retire because he appeared to be fat in his uniform, though he passed his APFT and we never had a break down in comms, ever. His replacement, lets call him SGT John Stud, could cut diamonds with his abs, was the perfect body type for a recruiting poster, and could not fix a radio to save his testicles he was lost when it came to a Kyk13 and a Vinson and forget it with an SOI, BUT he looked good while not fixing radios!. Who was the combat multiplier there.
It all has to do with appearance.
In my first unit, the commo sergeant was a Vietnam vet, had taken more bullets than a horse trader's mule and had malaria. He was forced to retire because he appeared to be fat in his uniform, though he passed his APFT and we never had a break down in comms, ever. His replacement, lets call him SGT John Stud, could cut diamonds with his abs, was the perfect body type for a recruiting poster, and could not fix a radio to save his testicles he was lost when it came to a Kyk13 and a Vinson and forget it with an SOI, BUT he looked good while not fixing radios!. Who was the combat multiplier there.
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You know I think that the entire program is outdated and in an Army where it is OK to have people enlist that are confused as to which genitalia they should have, maybe a guy that is over the BMI that can dead lift a quarter of a ton and can max his run is not a bad thing. If you got a Soldier that can bench press a Deuce and a Half who cares if he has a BMI that is over somebody's chart. If you can do you job then that factor should not matter. But then I want the Army to design equipment that is half the size we have now and packs the same firepower, and then recruit midgets to man it. The First Battalion (Midget) 3 Armored Regiment. Think of all the savings there.
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Unfortunately at the risk of sounding politically incorrect... those standards were designed and crafted a long time ago & based on the demographics of a single ethnic group as a baseline for comparison. You for example are a beefed up, strong person I on the other hand am a person of color, have a natural large frame with wide shoulders and was VERY lean at the time. I was 6'0 230 waist 27inches and 7% body fat and was taped every weigh in. My platoon and section sergeants all would say in awe what the??? Because it was VERY apparent that I was far from over weight and by looking at me it was apparent that I had zero fat to give up & taping me only verified that. Many things in the military are slow to change and at some point I Pray that many changes occur & at the same time (I am a dinosaur) I do feel that too much change is also a bad thing because the honor, integrity and what made me proud to Dawn my uniform each day are changing and not all for the best in my opinion. Don't let it bother you keep pressing forward, stay positive and just show that the standards need to be changed by excelling in all that you do! ~Forever Forward!
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