Posted on Jul 11, 2015
Fat to Fight: Are Current Fitness Standards Good Enough?
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"Per Army Regulation 600-9, males are allowed Body Fat percentages from 20-26% based on age. Females are allowed 28-34%."
Pass a PT test, meet height & weight requirements (or comply with these grueling standards). Check those two blocks and you're clear to go eat a cheeseburger pizza covered in Doritos with a six-pack of beer. Every service has a similar standard. When it comes to the health of the force, is that the right standard?
You've encountered diehard adherents to Paleo, Clean Eating and Whole 30. You might even be one of them, because the health benefits are unparalleled. Then you walk into an on-post food court full of fat bombs: Burger King, Taco John, Anthony's Pizza (Go ahead and argue that Subway Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt on Monterey Cheddar is pushing you to peak fitness).
What is the right fitness standard for your service? How should we shape the on-post environment to support the lifestyle that level of fitness requires?
Pass a PT test, meet height & weight requirements (or comply with these grueling standards). Check those two blocks and you're clear to go eat a cheeseburger pizza covered in Doritos with a six-pack of beer. Every service has a similar standard. When it comes to the health of the force, is that the right standard?
You've encountered diehard adherents to Paleo, Clean Eating and Whole 30. You might even be one of them, because the health benefits are unparalleled. Then you walk into an on-post food court full of fat bombs: Burger King, Taco John, Anthony's Pizza (Go ahead and argue that Subway Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt on Monterey Cheddar is pushing you to peak fitness).
What is the right fitness standard for your service? How should we shape the on-post environment to support the lifestyle that level of fitness requires?
Fitness
APFT
Height and Weight
Eating and Diet
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
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I was very overweight when I entered the service. I had huge physical challenges in Basic Training. I started out at the end of the line; while running the PT track. I ended up at the beginning of the line.
I was immediately chosen to be Squad Leader; when I got to AIT. I guess, because I was in such good shape.
At that point, I have never felt in better shape in my life. I felt great!
I believe that everyone in the military should be their ideal weight.
I was immediately chosen to be Squad Leader; when I got to AIT. I guess, because I was in such good shape.
At that point, I have never felt in better shape in my life. I felt great!
I believe that everyone in the military should be their ideal weight.
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Fitness Test or standards across the Military all need to be more specific to strength along with job related tasks. The fact is all people have different body types this should be a consideration for the bodyfat standard
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I remember being 6', 230 lbs 17% body fat, maxing out 500 on the old five-event APFT and still being sent to Gorgas Hospital in Panama everytime we weren't in the field or deployed. The reason was I didn't pass height/weight scale or tape test.
It went on for 7 months (always immersed at 17-18%) until the Hospital's Master Chief (Army Hospital but the immersion tank was run by the Navy) brought it up to the Hospital's Director. My CO and 1SG had to 'see' him about interpreting regulations as opposed toactual soldier fitness.
Pretty sure they didn't even get cussed at but afterwards they did display an understanding that the written regulations are a guide. I had met the "Commander's (read as the Army Surgeon General's) Intent."
It went on for 7 months (always immersed at 17-18%) until the Hospital's Master Chief (Army Hospital but the immersion tank was run by the Navy) brought it up to the Hospital's Director. My CO and 1SG had to 'see' him about interpreting regulations as opposed toactual soldier fitness.
Pretty sure they didn't even get cussed at but afterwards they did display an understanding that the written regulations are a guide. I had met the "Commander's (read as the Army Surgeon General's) Intent."
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Though the current BF Indexes are clearly discriminatory for males in the Armed Forces, it forces men to stay in a far more fit and trim physical condition. Allowing females regulation-sanctioned permission to pack on several extra pounds of girth is detrimental to them and to the overall battle readiness of the unit. I have seen what 34% looks like on some women in uniform, and it is neither professional nor smart.
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The issue with trying to introduce new healthier places is that the current options have long standing contracts with military posts. In my personal opinion, we should eliminate a majority of these places if we are indeed trying to promote a more fit service. However, this could be problematic as some posts have the only available options in desolate locations. How can we change this culture and solve both dilemmas?
Very Respectfully,
1LT Krohn
Very Respectfully,
1LT Krohn
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