Posted on Dec 10, 2015
Should the Army Height and Weight Standards be revised?
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Height and Weight
AR 600-9
Height and Weight AR 600-9
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 75
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I believe the standard height/weight requirements should be looked at. While serving on active duty, I never made weight per the scale but always 10% lower then the max allowed of body fat. At that time, I was given the pinch test for body fat%. It was very frustrating and if they still do the tape measure test is a joke
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I think the body fat test should move to technology vs. the tape test. But I absolutely think that we need stricter. As they get past 40 years old allowing Male (26%) and Female (36%) is way to high for the demands of combat. I will reiterate as I have on other posts. IF we are going to draw down than we have to pick the best of the best to stay. There are so many programs available to help soldiers maintain fitness. With very few exceptions there are world class fitness facilities. Physical fitness is one of the anchors to leadership that hold our Army in place. The height and weight are general guidelines, there are soldiers who make weight that are not in compliance, I think the commander/1SG should body composition test that soldier and hold them to body fat vs. weight. The bottom line is we need to be a more lean in every way to continue to be the most effective fighting force ever made:)
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CW5 Ivan Murdock
It is though - Total fitness is Aerobic Fitness - evaluated by a the 2 mile run (which isn't long enough- I would suggest a 3 mile run to test over 20 minutes), Anaerobic Fitness (strength) by Pushups, and core by situps. The body fat - height/weight standards are to evaluate the composition of the body- it is not a fitness measurement but a measurement of overall health. As someone now in their mid 50's :) if you carry that extra weight you will struggle with joint problems and other physical issues. We should want tougher standards - as America's guardians we need to be the best of the best. Sometimes there will be soldiers who this should not apply but overall it is a good test. It isn't a trick- from day one at basic training the standards are available to everyone and as someone struggles there are countless programs to help. As LTC Carter posts below - it is more enforced during peacetime than during war. As an Army who has now been at war for 14+years it seems as though it is suddenly important. I was fortunate to serve in Special Operations Aviation for my last 20+ years and we recognized that you have to maintain that level of fitness/body composition to be able to do it for 20 years. It is an investment in ourselves. Soldiers are more important than hardware.
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Passing the PT test and all of the other qualifiers is and should be the most important. Of course we don't want anyone to be overtly obese but again if a soldier can run, shoot, and fight (hand to hand) then at least give them high consideration.
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The military needs a way to get the fat bodies out and keep them from coming in. If the current tape method doesn't work, then they should incorporate a body fat type measurement. I knew many Marines that lifted a lot and would not "pass" the height and weight charts. They were never harassed. Those in charge of the measurement process simply made a note. There was also the appearance thing. You could pass the height and weight chart and look like crap in dress uniform. You could get nailed for "appearance" issue too regardless of the weight/height test.
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I don't know what its like today. I know when I served in the 70's and 80's, it was a joke. When I was stationed in West Germany, I scored so high on my PT test, I was exempt from PT, I also weighed 210 pounds and was 5'10", and was on the fat mans program. The irony was pretty funny. Then I joined the PANG in the 80's, I always was one of the first 3 to finish the run during our two week drill. I ran 10k twice a week, and 5m three other days. I weighed 212 pounds. They wanted me to go full time with my unit, it was shot down because I was 40 pounds heavier than what it said I should be. It was so frustrating to see the guys walking around with pot bellies who could not walk to their car without being out of breath, and I was rejected even though you could bounce quarters off mine. I am fat now, blew a knee out in the late 80's and my running days ended. But the standard has always been a joke to me.
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Why revise something that has been in AR 600-9 regulation for nearly 25 years?? Unless regulation takes into consideration Older AGR Soldiers there is no reason to change.
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As long as a soldier can pass the APFT, then i would say fine, but they must be able to pass and be able to perform there job, if BOTH those criteria are met, then ok, if not then no
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There was an Army Times article a while back that showed how extremely inaccurate the tape test was. Sure, it is a screening tool but when it comes to flagging Soldiers and separation a more accurate test should be used. The consequences are too great. It also can work the other way. I see a lot of Soldiers who look obese but can pass the tape test. I'm not sure if it's true or was just a rumor but I heard that the Marines could be put out if they looked overweight. Being pretty much "average" in height and weight I am just under the screening weight for my height but as I get older it gets harder to stay there.
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Now they want to revise it? After the Army told me No being 6'5' and 129lbs when I tried to join! Good thing the Navy Waivered me since I served for 21 years! LOL!
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Actually, they are reviewed when recruiting gets low or a major conflict occurs. In the meantime, the DOD can be very discriminatory with regard to standards. Makes it easier to downsize to what the top brass and civilian leadership views as the perfect military member.
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