Considering Evolution, should the body fat standards be relaxed across the U.S. Military?

yes I think they should change it because this yr. I had never failed a BCA not even pregnant and the CFL tape me incorrectly and my percentage was over by 2 and I request to ask CO waiver it but was denied. So Doing away with it is fine with me or have someone to properly tape. I feel if you can do the run or bike or etc. sit-up and pushup then that great you pass.

The entire height/weight system needs to be revamped. The standards are from the 1950's. The tapeing method for deturmining body fat % is highly inacurrate. When I reenlisted I dropped 10lbs and increased 2% bodyfat because I lost more off of my neck than my waist. I am considered obese by BMI standards, which I am far from obese. My solution is to track it but don't use it as a QBI standard. My belief is that if a Soldier can pass the APFT then the height/weight/body fat standards are not needed.

I think it is important to realize that the body fat and BMP standards is based on an "ideal" body type, which is the average mesomorphic 18-21yr old white male. Therein, it is a flawed measure as many perfectly healthy people do not match that "ideal" body type. The problem with many military standards is that they are often black and white absolutes in a world of greys. Weight and body fat composition does make an impact on health....but how much and it what ways? Also, are we measuring "fitness" and "combat ability" or "looks good in a uniform?"

Military ought to change the methods they extract body fat %. I dont see how "evolution"(I suspect you mean micro-evolution) has anything to do with it. Another consideration is all the horrible food and drinks our society consumes on a daily basis. Standards ought to be based on war requirements, nothing else.

I think that the way we assess body fat and methodologies should be reevaluated. It just makes no sense to me when I have a Soldier that can max his PT test yet fail tape by 3%. Seriously...how does that happen?!?! But on another aspect, I'd keep an overweight Soldier who works his/her butt off doing their job over a seemingly "fit" Soldier who can't pull their own weight because they're not strong enough to so! I understand the "fit to fight" concept and the image we want to show that we are an elite and physically fit fighting force, but if that's the case, why are we so lenient on recruits? I mean...some people just can't help their genetics no matter how hard they try.

Like some of the above individuals stated, evolution is not the issue. A sedentary lifestyle accompanied by a poor diet are the primary reasons for the higher number of obese people in general, not just in the military. I do agree however that the tape method of body fat measuring is highly inaccurate and it can vary greatly depending on the individual doing the taping. An extra half in. on the waist or half in. less on the neck and now you have an individual who´s flagged for busting tape who may achieve a pt score of 270 or higher. I have witnessed this first hand. I agree that we should focus more on meeting the pt test standards and I do not mean by lowering the standards to get more individuals to pass. How are we supposed to defeat our enemies if can´t go up a flight of stairs without running out of breath? Another problem is that in general, our younger generations of service members come from a society that expects everything to be convenient and done for them. These are the issues we need to be dealing with and not worrying so much about bodyfat percentages. I shall stop now before I start to ramble too much.

As someone who has never made the scale weight and has had to be taped for 18+ years, the standards are the standards. I can pass my APFT with a greater than 200 score and never fall out of ruck marches. With that being said, the remedial PT group are all younger than 30 and do not have to be taped. Does being under a certain weight make you fit? No. Does being heavier make you unfit? No. There should be a happy medium where if you can still pass the APFT you should not be penalized for weighing more.

This is not "evolution"
This is an imbalance in intake and output.

As long as the mission can be accomplished. Body fat% should mean nothing.

That is horrible.