Posted on Oct 23, 2015
SSgt Paul Esquibel
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Posted in these groups: Usaf logo Air ForceHeight and weight logo Height and Weight
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
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I suspect your question is equally applicable to other branches as well SSgt Paul Esquibel.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
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Edited >1 y ago
An extra inch in height gives you 5-10lbs of leeway. I'm 5'6.5" so I measure 5'6" some days and 5'7" others. Changes my max weight from 170 to 175 (DoD Standards). Some folks have been known to put that extra inch(es) everywhere, like their ID card, med record etc. It's a lot easier to fight when all your documentation says you are 6'0" and the 1SG weighs you in at 5'10".... "Well I guess all that ruck marching made me shorter...."

You know whether you are close are not going in. Everyone knows their height. The week before a weigh in, cut sugars, oils, salts. Heck, all food. You'll drop 1lb/day.

"If" I were to fail that, I still get a second chance on Body Composition (Tape Test). The Tape Test can be "gamed" by increasing the circumference of the neck. Your neck muscles can be worked out FAST.

People that are "habitually" outside standards know tricks to stay inside standards when the time comes. Weight checks aren't like piss tests. We don't do them at random. We know when they are coming, so people prepare for them.

Edit: To clarify, I've never been caught anywhere near over. Been caught UNDER a couple times. Go go banana diet!
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CMSgt James Nolan
CMSgt James Nolan
>1 y
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS In the Air Force, now, no matter how tall you are, you can have a waist that is no wider than 39 inches period. Measured above hip bones.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
>1 y
CMSgt James Nolan - I had heard the USAF was using that model. I know that "off-sets" a lot of the issue. It's almost impossible to be under standard if you are over 39" waist.
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CMSgt James Nolan
CMSgt James Nolan
>1 y
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS Here is the sad part. People have different shaped bodies, not all are nice and thin. I had a guy in my unit who was 7 ft. He looked anorexic to be under standard, sickly. And then of course you have the "thick guys", (I know there were plenty of Marines who fit this bill) 5-9 to about 6-2, that weigh 250 plus, that are just big, that can run, do push ups, pull-ups, sit ups and bench press a buidling, that every time that they tape measure, they are right on the line.....lots of those guys are simply getting out, because they will never be thin.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
>1 y
CMSgt James Nolan - The services aren't asking anyone to be "thin" though. There's a pretty large window. For my height it's 50~ lbs, and I'm short. As you get taller, that window gets bigger.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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Sometimes its who you know that determines a successful outcome.
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SrA Marlin Taylor
SrA Marlin Taylor
>1 y
Yes. I remember well. Iwas a A1C and my first cousin came to my base and visited me He was a BrgGen. Talk about a lot of fuss over rank. Had my NCOIC all fired up and worried. LOL
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
>1 y
SrA Marlin Taylor - They should be, a pissed off general is not a nice person lol
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
>1 y
MAJ Ken Landgren Been there, done that! Hummn, did I pull rank to quickly depart that particular exam station?
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
>1 y
CSM Charles Hayden - lol like when I took a test to deploy to Kosavo the graders were telling me what I needed to change.
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