“I'm going to fail height-weight on purpose and get booted” – how would you handle this?

I was big my whole career, but I never quit, I loved PT but couldn't run do to an accident so I opted to swim it and it pissed off the E-8 in charge because except for the measurements part I score an excellent on the actual test, he would then try and make me run everyday which with minimal cartilage in my hip it just wasn't going to happen. So before he could try stuff to boot me I took Clinton's 15 year retirement so I retired 4 years early I wish I had stayed just to mess with him though!

But to address the question I would put him on mandatory PT as extra duty everyday at 1800 or 1900 hundred hours, I'm sure he would shape up, the swimming pool can be used greatly

First try to get to the root cause of his/her issue with being in the service. If that fails, council the service member on height/weight standards. Along with a plan covering how to get within standards. Also, would cover malingering and conduct unbecoming. Purposely failing to meet standards fall into both in my book.

An Apft failure is a much quicker way to remove someone. Also a lot less paperwork. The memos required for Army Body Composting Program are rediculous.

Make sure he's not going to change. If there's a spark left then work with him. If not then tell him to eat up and make sure he knows he'll leave service as Private, with RE/SEPS code that ensured he never comes back and will not have discharge allowing GI Bill or any other bennies. Turn your attention to those willing to contribute to the unit and let him do his thing. Document the process and ensure what you told him was fulfilled until he's gone. Too many good things you can do to better lead the unit and members rather than wasting time on a lost cause. He may reconsider and if so then react accordingly, but if not just accept it. Nothing personal, just business.

Put him in the Brig let him think about it !

I would hope as an XO that you informed his NCO chain so they could take the proper action

I would find out what the real or underlying issue is and come up with a contingency plan. Remedial PT. Order a medical and Psychological evaluation. Once we get to the bottom of that I would devise a remedial plan. Once I've exhausted all options it would be time to consider action under the UCMJ.

Let the guy screw himself. When I was a young troop in Germany in the 70s right after the Vietnam War and drugs were an EPIDEMIC problem the Army instituted a well-meaning, but poorly thought-out policy of giving guys with a drug problem honorable discharges under (then) Chapter 16 - after they failed the drug-rehab program. I got stuck as a PFC as my battery training NCO (long story) and part of my duties was running the DAES program. I don't know how many guys I had come through who intentionally tested positive on random drug urinalysis testing (I had five major areas of responsibility in my unit in Germany - besides my job as a surveyor but I was known as the PEE Man...). After awhile, the first question I asked them when I gave them my briefing on what was going to be expected of them (this was after they spoke with the Battery Commander) was, "Do you really want help or are you just trying to get out of the Army?"

If a guy told me he was trying to get out of the Army I would tell him the risks of putting a king-sized monkey on his back for the rest of his life. After that, he was on his own - I wasn't going to waste time trying to help someone who didn't want it when there were guys I COULD help. I just resented there were ----heads who got out early and got much the same benefits I and others served honorably for. But I didn't make the rules. There were a couple times we DAES Clerks were asked and we were pretty much unanimous in our opinions - eventually, the Army changed its policy. For the good, I expect.

I didn't want losers in my Army who didn't want to be there - particularly guys with a habit who were unreliable at the best of times. I have mixed feelings about the draft and don't know it's a bad idea, but we have an all-volunteer Army for a reason.

I have opinions about the weight control program and will discuss the reasons below - but when a guy comes up to you and tells you what he's about doing I have no sympathy. Get him out and if possible, get him out quickly and make sure he doesn't reap the rewards of those who fulfill their commitment and serve their time honorably. JMO.

As far as height-weight control - I know from experience sometimes guys can't help it. I got my bell rang on JTX Gallant Eagle 82 (was declared dead three times) and started gaining weight which eventually led to my facing discharge under AR 600-9 in spite of what was considered a pretty good career. It was only by a hair an alert doctor caught me before I was gone and the tests were run that linked my weight gain to the TBI I received five years earlier at Gallant Eagle 82. I was discharged with disability and deal with the residuals today. I suspect there are a lot of guys who got their bells rung by IEDs suffering similar TBI to what I received who are catching grief for weight gain and other physical problems with PT due to loss of stamina - check the hypothalamus in your primitive brain - that's what my problem was/is. All it takes is an insulin shock test to prove it.

I try to get that in whenever I can because if I can help one guy and prevent him from going through what I went through it was worth it.

I would have given him his request as soon as possible and sent him back to civilian life to see how his bad attitude went over on the outside. Good luck in finding stoop labor employment. With a BA and his other physical ailments, probably no one would hire him in the first place. It would be noble and worthy to 'save' him by exercising yr leadership skills and training to help him turn around and become a model soldier. If that happens, congratulations and job well done. More likely a person would waste a lot of time on this SM and have nothing to show for it except an expedited early discharge.

Ok...several things come into play...I have rarely if ever seen a Soldier this big (who is clearly obese with a BMI over 35+) in the RA, this Soldier would be a liability to his team mates...when put into a stress situation this Soldier could have a heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid issues maybe but unlikely, high cholestrol etc etc...So being faced with this...from the regulation the Soldier goes to a Nutritionist, gets tested for Thyroid Problems, and his medical record is screened by a physician...Then he is put into the Unit Rmedial PT if medically cleared and is on Weight Control...the regulation states that the Soldier must make a 3-8 pound reduction in weight loss every month, more is ok, less is not if you fail 2 months in a row...the Command can separate you under Chapter 18...I have had Officers and Enlisted personnel on this program, however; In my travels, generally speaking, the Enlisted Guys and Gals don't mess around... their NCO's get them to remidial and are on there way...many make progress and are allowed continued service as long as they are making progress however; they are flagged for PT and or weight until they pass...

The really bad part of this is persennel actions are flagged AND if you are Enlisted in Promotable Status they lose the promotable status and are taken off the list...it is the one thing I hated doing as a Commander...for Officers its a bit different...Officers under obligation (let's say a 4 year Obligation) like with ROTC or some other prgram...it is unlikely DA will let them go until the Obligation is satified...so it is possible for a 2LT to stay a 2LT the whole 4 years...The AMEDD, JAG Corps and Chaplain Corps do this quite often...There is a DoDI Regualtion that states if an Officer fails to promote to 1LT, they are booted; however; obligated officers are not going anywhere...

My biggest problem was with the Officers, many medical officers are under obligation...and sometimes they really don't care...yes this creates a double standard...but they are flagged and would be under the same restrictions as the enlisted folks for one BIG exception...If an Officer in Promotable Status fails PT or HT/WT their promotable status is not taken away..it is only delayed until the flags are lifted...

Ok....in the picture the Soldiers are from the 81st Armor Division (Reserve/Guard)...that Soldier would have been processed out in the Regular Army and/or Med Boarded if their was a medical connection...but it is likely that the unit may have had critical shortages before deployment...the bottom line; he is a liability to his teamates..that Soldier is at least +100 pounds...and should have been separated under normal circumstances, b/c weight gain of that magnitude takes time...so its likely that the AR Regulation may have some flexibility...personally I probably would have recommended the Rear Detachment and either make progress or process for Discharge.

Another possibility is the Soldier could have been in the IRR and recalled for Deployment, still the risk to teamates remains...

The tricky part is when a Soldier has a valid medical issue and has been on a PT or Weight Flag prior to the medical issue...this Soldier may never pass an APFT and is Flagged until they pass...If the medical issue is the causal effect of the PT Failure..then the Soldier would be Med Boarded and evaluated IAW the Medical Fitness Regualtion and either Returned to Duty or Medically Discharged...