Should the Height and Weight standards matter if they pass the physical fitness test??

H/W is not a good measurement and should become OBE in the military. Taping is the only way to know for sure. I'm 6'1 and weigh 200 lbs. by USMC standards I can max at 208 lbs. If do gain 8lbs I don't believe that I'm going to be obese.

Well I can say that when some of us get older it is more difficult to be in standards and some of our jobs require common sense and years of skill. I agree that if a person passes then let them be. I have seen people who believe a 300 on a PT test equals life experience and knowledge.

Yes, they absolutely should matter. The wear of the uniform is just as important. It irks me to see a pregnant looking man in uniform as he emphasized that he can pass the APFT.

I don't think so, it's ridiculous especially when you've demonstrated you passed the APFT. When I was a young SGT, I had a PSG (E-7) that would smoke the whole platoon in the APFT, yet couldn't pass the height and weight. This is obviously another exception to the rule that was not accounted for.

Let us assume that the issue here is "field fitness" and not a military beauty pageant.

I do not know if the USMC PFT Is still Pull-ups, Sit-ups, and a 3-mile run. While PFT score was a good indicator of "field fitness". It was not accurate in all cases. Nor were the Height Weight charts or percent body fat waivers.

During extended foot mobile operations, (2-3 weeks), with daily tactical or administrative foot marches of 10-25 miles, preparation of fighting positions, night patrols etc. etc. etc. I do believe that the aforementioned standards had a strong correlation to performance. However, I saw cases where Marines who were outside of the aforementioned standards performed well. I also saw cases where Marines that were solidly within standards failed miserably.

Unfortunately, I do not have a clear, concise, and reasonable alternate to propose.

I think it shows a portion of a persons disapline because it means they can look at themselves and know if they need to change, if they don't but need to and don't make an effort how can you assign them a task just as simple. And how is someone subordinate supposed to look up to that and say oh it's ok. Yes, it should be about military appearance, I don't want to see a ball with legs walking around in dress blues. I do believe the tape should be traded in for the pinch test but other than that it should stay the way it is.

So, the guy in the photo, who looks like he can take out an MRAP, gets axed for failing some arbitrary H & W standards, and a 100-pound female passes, but collapses under the weight of her full combat pack. Yep, smart, sound policy.

MSG Shawn Eaton - Height/Weight v. PT. It's one (1) barometer of leadership. I was into body-building for the second half of my time. And spent WAY too much time either securing or renewing my waiver. 20 pull-ups, 80 sit-ups, 17:35 3-mile run. I finally was released from this inconvenience when I finished a PFT, then returned to the running masses to find my S-3 Officer, and encouraged (well, more like "taunted') him to finish as I ran alongside him. The BnCO called me into his office after the PFT. He told me: 1.) I had the highest maintenance and personnel readiness; 2.) My section had the lowest incident (law enforcement) reports; 3.) to limit my "encouragement" to those that needed it; and 4.) I was immediately released from Weight Control. That last message was personally relayed to the S-3. Yes, PT is only one barometer of leadership.

Both are required, and I do not think either is really asking much. In a way, the Army is simply requiring something that is probably in your best interest, even as a civilian.

let me say this usmc 87 passed marine corps pt with flying colors, but weight to high for standards, 5' 8", 210, body fat 10% well with in the standard for bodyfat, if you are gonna be a big boy than you need to roll with the punches, as long as you pass the pt and bf standards, then no problem, from this pic, i can olny surmise bf nogo, so where do we go now, you not only need to perform to standards, but should also give the appearence of being within the standards