Should Height/Weight be Disregarded if the PT Score is High Enough?

In the mid 80's it was not uncommon to have a weight waiver based on body fat percentage. I was 5' 10" 200lbs at 6% body fat and ran consistent 300 PFT and had a weight waiver. According to the scale of the day my weight was suppose to be about 170 max.

tape test is garbage and so is the caliper test, if you want a real measurement conduct a water displacement and go from there.

I have always seen the height and weight system has a way to cut soldiers from service.I have personally seen some soldiers get the wave by or overlooked and some being harassed for it until they just gave up.I personally never had the problem but it is your duty has a soldier to stay in shape and meet pt requirements.I also know that their are soldiers who are just talented at what they do and some injury may limit their ability to do certain things.This statement was not intended to insult any soldier.It was just my thought.I know sometimes we just keep our thoughts to ourselves I just had to let this one out.I am a veteran and its been 10 yrs since I've been in service so I do not know how they do things now.God Bless stay healthy and in shape and one more thing keep your weapon clean and qualifying at the range is just has important than pt is.

I would agree if it was a truly valid PT test. However, we have all seen where the grading is not done to the standards. We see "head bobs" counted for push ups, and sit ups where the legs are almost straight counted. Everyone is trying to help each other out. At Ft Riley, we had the "Old Bill" challenge, whereby another unit's NCOs came and gave the PT test and were supervised by one the Division senior NCOs to ensure they were holding everyone, no matter rank, to the exact standards. If the standards were truly being adhered to, then I would agree a 270 or above the Hgt/wgt gets pitched.

I'm AF Retired and back when I was in at our permanent duty station we had a 1-1/2 mile run and measurements. It was later that some exercise were added. I could still do the exercise then if I had to if they'd of required them. Being in the AFSC (Air Force Specialty code) I was in I had to work harder to maintain my weight.. I did that by drinking a lot of water before mealtime.. and I wasn't as hungry at mealtime.. I did some work outs and of course consumed more water.. it had to go s'where.. The bks I resided at back then were not modified like those thst Airmen have now. Fortunate for me the Facility was only a couple doors down the hall. We had a SSGT. that also handled weigh-ins for the fat-guy/gal program.. He was incessed with catching s'one over-weight.. I would catch a minute or two free and throw some butcher paper on the big scale at the stores room and weighing in.. I'd be
15 lb under max for my weight and age..
That SSG would come through line at breakfast and inform me to tell my crew leader he needed me to weigh in at 0930.
and make sure I ate some breakfast.. yeah, sure truing to see how close to max I might be so he could send me over to
Get a diet counseling at the base clinic.
No way, Jose ! (Oh yes, that was his first name), Jose Herrera, SSG. USAF soon to be out if he didn't make TSG the next testing time..coming up.. He was froze for orders.. The AF didn't want to get him s'where then have to turn right around and discharge him because his 20 year mark had come up.. Then they had to find s'one to take his slot at the rank he is/was.
Another Airman whom I didn't see things eye to eye on about, reminded me later to make sure I eat a healthy breakfast.. I did : a qtr cup of breakfast cereal with a couple spoons of milk, no sugar(frosted oaties). A few pieces of banana .. a qtr cup of juice.. I went back and weighed on the scale at storeroom..
YES ! 20 lbs under max .. it was 3 medium city blocks (football field and a half?) To the Sqdn Orderly room.. So I jogged it.. Stopped by my room and left anything heavy .. changed into low quarters( boots too heavy), and dry clean fresh whites.. lightweight permanent pressed .. my others were soaked with perspiration.. and So I went over to weigh
In.. He was gone and wouldn't be back until after lunch. How utterly fantastic!
(I say that sarcastically) it seems he had to go to Wing/Base HQ to take some paperwork.. .. So the 1SG weighed me in
And wrote it down... then he asked why SSG Herrera was weighing me, it was not that time yet.. "maybe it was a random weigh in, 1SG". and I got off the scale and headed back to work.. 15 minutes later the Food Svc Super is calling and asking why I hadn't weighed in.. the Weight monitor SSG had called. I called SSG
Herera and told him that 1SG weighed me and also the Cmdr. Was right there when it happened and 1SG wrote it in the.book.
Have s great day and I hung up the phone.
I wasn't the only person he done that to.. there was a dozen others... that guy was going overboard.. there may have been some that were dangerously close and some that were on the program.. WAPS testing came and went .. I had got sent. TDY with a expeditionary group .. I never found out before that if he made TSG.. when I got back he was gone.. When I returned I asked about him and had he
Got the line number.. Nonody talked for s week about him.. then I seen Base newspaper: SSG Herera, a TSG. selectee
Had been found murdered and robbed in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Wow !
He had been selected but passed before He got to wear it.. The Base CMR. Made a
Judgement Call to Posthumously promote him to Technical Sergeant effective the 1st of the month, two days before he was murdered. They had taken him to Philly Navy Yard Hospital morgue.. They held him, performed autopsy.. he had been stabbed several times.. They prepared him and held him until a funeral home could retrieve.his remains. I was on Base Honor Guard at that time , A Air Guard Honor Guard team would be doing the ritual.. So with permission of my Honor Flight Chief and theirs I went to Philly to take part with that Honor Guard.. I stepped in and filled a slot on the pall bearers. The Air Force got me there and got me back to base.. Our Cmdr. Had no prob with that.. There were others there
From base that knew him.. Their cars were packed with people.. The driver told me to take my time after the duties were performed and the cemetary was right by the church.. So it was in one door and out a double side door to the Cemetary.. There was a school and a hall.. e'thing was right there.. So I paid my respects to the family and had some lunch.. then it was back to base.. Didn't have to return to work.. it was my scheduled day anyway.. they got a new monitor.. from
Base/Wing HQ.. a SGt. She wasn't as zealous as SSG. Herera, she had a line number for SSG.. when she put it it on she didn't put on Her monster mask, more officious but not mean about it.. she said
She could catch more flies with honey than by barking at them and riding them ..
Yes.. a little more sternness in her voice but she always had a smile. Just don't cross her !.. I never had that with her..
She liked partying with her fellow Airmen and NCOs and Officers.. she knew the boundary line and how far she could go..
and she guided us Airmen along that line
also.. My being on Base Honor Guard I'd
Got to go to some Military balls.. and gotten dances with some ladies.. of course many that were not exactly young fillies. One of the Sgts on another team
had asked why did that A1C from Charlie Flight get to go to the balls all time (6 while at McGuire.. but who's counting[obviously he was]). Well, he's been fortunate to have opportunity to go to the Class at the Rec center about the ettiquites of Military social affairs the base officer's wives held for anybody that wanted to go .. (I may of only been a A1C .. I had my sources around Base.. I take comments (gossip)with a grain of salt or more.. when s'one says it's 'gospel truth'
I wonder should I be more wary. I look at the source telling me and who told them..

Agreed. After all, we are not robots

I totally agree w/ yours long as you pass the PT test. Most people who are 'out of shape' would most likely NOT be able to pass.

yes, the height weight should be disregarded if the PT Score is high enough; as long as you don't look like 10 pounds of sugar in a 5 pound bag while in uniform.

If you pass your APFT and don't look like a slob in uniform you should be good to go. All it takes are eye balls. No tape necessary. The key point here is PASS the APFT.

I have seen SM's who got kicked out or passed over for promotion based on the height and weight "program", but in retrospect there has been SM's who crushed the Physical fitness test and were stellar soldiers but the ht/wt ruined their careers. I think the military needs to get rid of the current program and research a new one that works. I personally have had no issues due to my body type but I've had a soldier of mine who would've made a great NCO, he regularly scored 310+ on his pt test, but because he was Samoan ht/wt rules let a great soldier go.