The Army WHtR Standard Explained (AD 2026-13)
Everything a Soldier needs to know about the new Army waist-to-height screen: the 0.55 line, the 540 exemption, supplemental assessments, and the ABCP path.
By The VivMetric Editorial Team · independent editorial research project
The gate
Under Army Directive 2026-13 (July 7, 2026) the Army Body Composition Program uses WHtR < 0.55 as the entry gate. A 70-inch Soldier with a 38.5-inch waist sits exactly at 0.55.
Passing paths
Pass the WHtR screen → done. Fail it → secondary body-fat evaluation (abdominal circumference / age-sex table or a supplemental DXA / Bod Pod / InBody 770). Score 540+ on the record ACFT with 80+ per event → exempt from the assessment entirely.
If you enter ABCP
Day-1 flag (Action Code K), counseling by Day 3, dietitian meeting by Day 30, and monthly progress of 3–8 lbs or ~1% body fat. Two consecutive months without satisfactory progress can lead to administrative separation.
What to confirm before you rely on this
The screen is applied under a directive that is still bedding in across units, so the single most useful thing you can do is confirm the current implementation with your command rather than assuming the version you read about applies on your installation. Ask which measurement protocol is in use, whether the supplemental scan option is available locally, and how the result is recorded. Those three answers determine what a passing result actually requires of you this cycle.
Quick answers
Related pages
- Standards detail → /standards/army
- Standards detail → /standards/army/acft
- Standards detail → /standards/army/abcp
- WHtR detail → /whtr/army