Why did the height and weight standard stay the same on the ACFT?

2022-09-16T04:12:01-04:00

I did the ACFT with a new private last month, and scored very high for each event, but when it came to the hieght and wieght, I wasn't the standard which was 185, which annoyed me, as a guy who's Deadlift max is 525 lbs, and had to get taped, which put me at 19% BF. Why do I have to get taped, even though I passed the ACFT with high scores.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2022 4:51 AM

2022-09-16T04:51:33-04:00

I'll explain Height and Weight here.
The first table that you didn't meet is not the weight standard. That is a common misconception. It's a screening table based on body mass index. It means, if you are under this weight at this height, you are statistically almost certain to meet the body fat allowance and do not need to have you body fat calculated. It does not mean you don't meet the BF% standards.

Everyone is required to meet the BF% standards, the screening table just allows commanders to save time by skipping over taping people below a certain BMI.

Don't think of it as you had to be taped, think of it as everyone gets taped unless they're so skinny it isn't worth the time to check

Response by CPL Marcellus Jordan made Sep 16 at 2022 10:03 AM

2022-09-16T10:03:37-04:00

Unfortunately at the risk of sounding politically incorrect... those standards were designed and crafted a long time ago & based on the demographics of a single ethnic group as a baseline for comparison. You for example are a beefed up, strong person I on the other hand am a person of color, have a natural large frame with wide shoulders and was VERY lean at the time. I was 6'0 230 waist 27inches and 7% body fat and was taped every weigh in. My platoon and section sergeants all would say in awe what the??? Because it was VERY apparent that I was far from over weight and by looking at me it was apparent that I had zero fat to give up & taping me only verified that. Many things in the military are slow to change and at some point I Pray that many changes occur & at the same time (I am a dinosaur) I do feel that too much change is also a bad thing because the honor, integrity and what made me proud to Dawn my uniform each day are changing and not all for the best in my opinion. Don't let it bother you keep pressing forward, stay positive and just show that the standards need to be changed by excelling in all that you do! ~Forever Forward!

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Sep 16 at 2022 11:25 AM

2022-09-16T11:25:20-04:00

You know I think that the entire program is outdated and in an Army where it is OK to have people enlist that are confused as to which genitalia they should have, maybe a guy that is over the BMI that can dead lift a quarter of a ton and can max his run is not a bad thing. If you got a Soldier that can bench press a Deuce and a Half who cares if he has a BMI that is over somebody's chart. If you can do you job then that factor should not matter. But then I want the Army to design equipment that is half the size we have now and packs the same firepower, and then recruit midgets to man it. The First Battalion (Midget) 3 Armored Regiment. Think of all the savings there.