Study guide
9.5 The Army Body Composition Program and the Waist-to-Height Standard (AD 2026-13)
Army Promotion Board SGT/SSG
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1 The Promotion Board Process, Eligibility, and Preparation
1.1 AR 600-8-19 Board Eligibility, TIS/TIG Zones, and PME Requirements 1.2 Board Proceedings, Protocol, Uniform Inspection, and Boardroom Bearing 1.3 Promotion Points, the AFT Conversion, IPPS-A, and Monthly Cutoff Scores 1.4 Board Preparation: Study Plan, Current Events, and World Affairs 1.5 Situational Questions, ICTL Proficiency, and Board Scenario Technique
2 Uniform Standards, Grooming, and Awards (AR 670-1, AD 2025-18, AR 600-8-22)
2.1 ASU and AGSU Configuration, Insignia, Badges, and Awards Placement 2.2 Hair, Cosmetics, Fingernails, and Jewelry Standards (AD 2025-18) 2.3 Wear of Combat Uniforms, Duty Accessories, and Body Modification & Tattoo Policies 2.4 Facial Hair, Medical Exceptions to Policy, and Religious Accommodation 2.5 The Army Awards and Decorations System (AR 600-8-22)
3 Army Leadership & Doctrine (ADP 6-22 & FM 6-22)
3.1 The Army Leadership Requirements Model: Attributes and Competencies 3.2 Leadership Levels, Dynamics, Command Climate, and the Warrior Ethos 3.3 The Counseling Process (ATP 6-22.1 & DA Form 4856) 3.4 The Evaluation Reporting System & NCOER (AR 623-3 & DA Form 2166-9 Series)
4 Customs, Courtesies, and Military Traditions (AR 600-25 & TC 3-21.5)
4.1 Saluting Protocols, Courtesies to Officers, and Hand Salute Standards 4.2 National Flag Etiquette, Colors, Reveille, Retreat, and Honors to the Nation 4.3 Drill and Ceremonies Fundamentals (TC 3-21.5) and Formations 4.4 Rank Structure, Chain of Command, the NCO Support Channel, and Unit Organization
5 Army History, Heritage, and Creeds
5.1 Army Birthday, Continental Army Foundations, and Historical Milestones 5.2 Evolution of the NCO Corps and the Sergeant Major of the Army 5.3 Major American Campaigns and Military Battle History 5.4 The Army Values, The Soldier's Creed, and The NCO Creed
6 Army Programs, Command Policy, and Soldier Readiness
6.1 SHARP Under AR 600-52: Reporting Options, Complaint Processing, and the OSTC 6.2 The Military Equal Opportunity and Harassment Prevention Program (AR 600-20, Chapter 6) 6.3 Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) and SUDCC (AR 600-85) 6.4 Soldier and Family Support Programs: AER, Red Cross, ACS, EFMP, and BOSS 6.5 Suicide Prevention, Behavioral Health, and Resilience 6.6 Prohibited Activities: Extremism, Retaliation, Prohibited Relationships, and Political Activity 6.7 Retention, Reenlistment, and the Career Counseling of Subordinates
7 Tactical Combat Casualty Care & First Aid (TC 4-02.1 & ATP 4-02.83)
7.1 TCCC Phases of Care: Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care, and TACEVAC 7.2 MARCH PAWS Assessment: Massive Hemorrhage and Airway Management 7.3 Respiration, Circulation, Shock, Burns, and Environmental Injuries 7.4 9-Line MEDEVAC Request Protocol and Tactical Evacuation Procedures
8 CBRN Defense & Force Protection (ATP 3-11.32 & AR 525-13)
8.1 CBRN Hazards, Chemical Agent Classifications, and Physiological Effects 8.2 MOPP Gear Levels, Protective Mask PMCS, and Decontamination 8.3 Antiterrorism, Physical Security, and Force Protection Conditions (AR 525-13)
9 Weapons, Land Navigation, and Physical Readiness
9.1 M4/M16 Rifle Characteristics, Clearing, Malfunctions, and Weapons Safety (TC 3-22.9) 9.2 Map Reading, Grid Coordinates, and Marginal Information (TC 3-25.26) 9.3 Land Navigation: Terrain Features, Azimuths, Intersection, and Resection 9.4 Holistic Health and Fitness, the Army Fitness Test, and the Combat Field Test 9.5 The Army Body Composition Program and the Waist-to-Height Standard (AD 2026-13) 9.6 Crew-Served Weapons, Sidearms, and Munitions
10 Military Justice, the Law of War, and Duty
10.1 The UCMJ, Article 15 Non-Judicial Punishment, and Courts-Martial 10.2 The Code of Conduct, the Law of War, and Rules of Engagement 10.3 Guard Duty, the Three General Orders, and Operations Security
11 Training Management and Unit Sustainment
11.1 Training Management: ICTL, the Digital Job Book, and Sergeant's Time Training 11.2 Maintenance, Supply Discipline, and Property Accountability
9.5 The Army Body Composition Program and the Waist-to-Height Standard (AD 2026-13)
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
Army Directive 2026-13, published 7 July 2026, makes the waist-to-height ratio the Army's sole authorized body composition assessment and discontinues the height and weight screening tables.
The standard is a waist-to-height ratio of less than and not equal to 0.55, recorded to three decimal places with no rounding, so 0.549 passes and 0.550 fails.
Waist circumference is measured at the navel in inches and divided by height in inches; every Soldier is screened at least twice per calendar year.
The circumference-based tape test, DXA, InBody, and every other supplemental body fat method are rescinded, and no Army Fitness Test score exempts a Soldier from the standard because AD 2025-17 is rescinded.
A Soldier at 0.55 or greater receives a same-duty-day confirmation measurement by a different team, then is flagged with non-transferable flag code K and enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program; the results are recorded on DA Form 5500 and in the Army Training Information System, and DA Form 5501 is rescinded.
Last updated: September 2026
The Army Body Composition Program and the Waist-to-Height Standard (AD 2026-13)
Core Doctrine: On 7 July 2026 the Secretary of the Army published Army Directive 2026-13 (Army Body Composition Program and Standards) , which replaced the height and weight screening tables, the circumference-based tape test, and every supplemental body fat assessment with a single measurement: the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) . The directive was effective immediately and is controlling wherever it conflicts with other Army directives or regulations. Every study guide that teaches the screening tables and the tape test — including tables that were current one year ago — is now wrong.
1. The Standard
WHtR is the sole authorized ABCP measurement for all Soldiers. The use of height and weight screening tables is discontinued .
The standard is a WHtR of less than and not equal to 0.55.
The ratio is recorded to a precision of three decimal places , and it is not rounded — digits after the third decimal place are disregarded. 0.549 passes. 0.550 fails.
No secondary or supplemental body composition method — tape test, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, InBody, or anything else — is authorized to challenge a WHtR result.
All Soldiers are measured at least twice per calendar year.
No AFT score exempts a Soldier from the standard. Army Directive 2025-17, which granted an exemption for a 465-point AFT, is rescinded .
How it is measured
Waist circumference at the navel, in inches, divided by height in inches. That is the whole calculation.
- Waist (in.) Height (in.) WHtR Result
- 34.0 70 0.485 Pass
- 38.4 70 0.548 Pass
- 38.5 70 0.550 Fail
- 36.0 65 0.553 Fail
Commanders and supervisors must allow a minimum of 7 days between the AFT or Combat Field Test and the WHtR measurement , so that the test does not distort the measurement. Commanders may deviate for urgent operational needs.
Commanders may direct a WHtR assessment at any time if they are concerned a Soldier does not meet the standard.
2. Confirmation, Flagging, and Enrollment
If the initial WHtR does not meet the standard , a confirmation measurement is conducted on the same duty day by a team other than the one that took the initial measurement. This must occur before the commander takes any action .
A Soldier whose confirmed WHtR is 0.55 or greater is flagged and enrolled in the ABCP .
Flag code K (Noncompliance with the Army Body Composition Program) is non-transferable , and AR 600-8-2 was amended to rescind all ABCP transfer provisions . The general flagging instructions in AR 600-8-2, paragraph 2-2 continue to apply.
Regular Army and Active Guard Reserve: following enrollment, the commander requests a medical examination to verify that no underlying medical condition is causing the weight gain or the inability to meet the standard.
ARNG, ARNGUS, and USAR: the Soldier may request a medical examination; for Soldiers not on active duty, that exam is at the Soldier's own expense .
Existing medical exemptions for pregnant and postpartum Soldiers remain in effect .
What was rescinded
Progression requirements and mandatory monthly assessments while enrolled in the ABCP are rescinded . Commanders and supervisors decide when to reassess and administratively remove the Soldier as soon as the Soldier meets the standard .
The requirement for commanders to designate a noncommissioned officer to administer the ABCP is rescinded . Commanders are directly responsible for oversight, quality control, and execution.
Everything else — enrollment, disenrollment, counseling, and administrative actions — proceeds under AR 600-9 .
3. Forms, Systems, and Timelines
- Item Requirement
- Recording form DA Form 5500 (Army Body Composition Screening and Assessment Worksheet)
- System of record Army Training Information System (ATIS) , entered using the Leader Tool
- Rescinded form DA Form 5501
Initial compliance All Soldiers must have a WHtR completed and recorded in ATIS no later than 90 days from the date of the directive
Separation Units may initiate separation actions for a Soldier flagged for ABCP failure, but no Soldier will be separated until an 180-day assessment is completed by HQDA and further guidance is issued
The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 will incorporate the directive into AR 600-8-2 and AR 600-9 within two years, and the G-3/5/7 will incorporate the relevant provisions into AR 350-1 . Until then, the directive controls and AR 600-9 supplies the surrounding administrative procedure.
4. Applicability
The directive applies to all Soldiers of the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve; all cadets of the United States Military Academy and Senior ROTC; all retention actions ; and all military schools and institutional training courses . It is not retroactive .
5. Why the Army Changed
The Army stated the rationale plainly when it announced the change: body composition assessment should be a medically validated health measure aligned across the joint force. A scale cannot distinguish muscle from fat, and the height and weight tables routinely flagged Soldiers carrying lean mass alongside Soldiers genuinely out of standard. Waist circumference measures central adiposity directly, which is the fat distribution most strongly associated with health risk. The change followed Under Secretary of War (Personnel and Readiness) guidance dated 18 December 2025 and superseded Army Directives 2025-18 (in part) , 2025-17 , 2023-11 , and 2023-08 .
6. What the NCO Owns
Measure correctly. The measurement is at the navel, in inches, with the Soldier relaxed. A sloppy tape placement can cost a Soldier a flag.
Protect the 7-day separation from the AFT or CFT.
Insist on the confirmation measurement. A Soldier who fails the initial screening is entitled to a same-day re-measure by a different team before the commander acts.
Do not offer a tape test as an appeal. There is no secondary method any longer.
Get the exam scheduled. For Regular Army and AGR Soldiers, the commander-directed medical examination is mandatory after enrollment.
Remove the Soldier promptly. Once the Soldier meets the standard, the commander removes them from the program and lifts the flag; there is no waiting period and no monthly progression requirement.