Posted on Apr 13, 2014
Should Height/Weight be Disregarded if the PT Score is High Enough?
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We all know that the Army's Height/Weight system has it flaws, and something I believe that could fix part of it would be making it invalid if the PT score is high enough. My personal opinion is that if you can achieve a 270 with a 90 in each event you shouldn't have to worry if you have too small of a neck for your waistline. I'm interested to see how others feel about this.
APFT
Standards
Height and Weight
Fitness
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 177
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I think if you score at least a 270 you shouldn't need to do height and weight. However, what needs to be done is actually making those higher ranking, way out of shape individuals take a PT test and do height and weight. Don't preach "the standard" to me if you are CLEARLY not within that standard.
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I think as long as they can pass the PT test to standards then why fail them for maybe being a couple percent over body fat percentage. My old medic a few years ago was a big guy but had no issues passing PT but kept getting barred from promotion just because he couldn't pass height and weight and because of that he also had gotten barred from re enlistment. I think this is ridiculous, he knew his job better than most and got screwed over
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I'd go so far as to say "no height/weight" if you pass your APFT. Having said that, that would also require an APFT that accurately measures combat fitness.
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H/W, waist measurement etc should be moved to your PHA. You either can pass or fail the actual physical fitness portion. Let the PHA determine if you are healthly
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
LTC Jason Mackay, there are a number of peer reviewed studies that indicate an abdominal circumference of greater than 40 inches is an indicator for things like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, among other things.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/risk.htm
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/risk.htm
Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk
Assessment of weight and health risk involves using three key measures: Body mass index (BMI), Waist circumference, and Risk factors.
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LTC Jason Mackay
There is a vast difference between 4'11" with a 40 inch waist and 6'4" with a 40 inch waist ie me vs Danny Devito.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
LTC Jason Mackay, absolutely! The data is an average, thus why I said to use it in the physical health assessment. Oh your 6'9" and look healthy? Cool GTG!
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I think if you can get an average of 80 or better in each event or a 240 total, the weight allowance shouldn't matter.
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I wish there was a fourth option. I believe that the Army's way of calculating is flawed. I have seen individuals that score a 300 that are in better shape than most. However, they fail to meet weight standards because they have a small neck. I don't think that is right at all. But if 270 and above no needed Ht/Wt.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I tried to find the it, but what are the rules about hydrostatic body fast testing? It is certainly the most accurate and I would think it both fair and sensible to send anyone that looks like the should pass to get that test before flagging him.
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PO3 Ryan MartinFurlong
I've not met nor spoken to a service member that was allowed to do a hydrostatic test.
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No Height and Weight above 270 or 290... so long as you look good/sharp (don't look fat).
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LTC (Join to see)
Thank you, Sir for expressing your true opinion. Few seniors give their true opinion on such matters.
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COL Charles Williams
I thought this was all about opinion vs. the party line. LTC (Join to see). I have seen plenty of fat Soldiers (many senior ranking) who look like crap in uniform, but allegedly pass tape... and the APFT...
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LTC (Join to see)
Sir, I concur. I have seen this also and heard these fat bodies tow the party line and call for a removal of others.
I like it because you are saying what you truly believe.
I like it because you are saying what you truly believe.
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I agree with your assessment because I have issues with the Ht/Wt system and my size. At 6'3, 225lbs the Army has my WT at 217lbs max. I score a consistent 290 and above on my APFT. I pass HT/WT under the current system, but still have to be taped. I do believe the current system will be changed in a few years, but only after the Army has done its reduction in the force. This will be one of the first places higher looks at in order to cut the force down.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
Like my grandfather would say, "There is the right way. There is the wrong way. And there is the Army way."
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If and only your appearance does not conflict with the wear or look of the uniform. As it says a commander can weigh a soldier based on looks. So if you bust tape by a few percentage points but smoke the test, throw it out. But we all have to agree, the ACU does make you look fat.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
No one will ever look sharp in the ACU. I remember when I first saw it in 2004-2005, in Army Times I think, the model looked like a rag- bag.
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I would average around a 270 on my PT test and would have to get taped almost every time for 29 years. If you have three NCOs tape the same Soldier you get three different results. I agree with the idea that if you score over 270 you are exempt from the HT/WT. nobody is happy with the current system and no one has come up with a practical replacement that can be done in a unit orderly room.
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SPC Joseph Vega
I agree. I remember McCartney big football player from Michigan flying through PT test but getting questioned and taped because the size of his neck threw him off the chart. I agree with you Sgt. A.
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SSG Robert Spina
I AGREE WE HAD A BODY BUILDER IN MY UNIT THAT WAS IN UNBELIEVABLE SHAPE AND WAS DISCHARGED DUE TO HIS WEIGHT THERE WASNT A ONCE OF FAT ON HIM SOMETIMES COMMON SENSE HAS TO KICK IN IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SCORE HIGH ON YOUR PT TEST THAT IS TELLING ME THAT YOU ARE IN GOOD SHAPE REGUARDLESS WHAT YOUR HIEGHT AND WEIGHT RESULTS ARE
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