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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.

Educational reference only. The numbers on this page summarize public service regulations for planning purposes. They are not official medical, recruiting, or administrative determinations. Always confirm your status with a recruiter, commanding officer, or hiring agency using the official assessment.

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.

Quick answers

Is the old multi-site tape test gone?
Yes — the multi-site neck/hip method was phased out. The 2026 screen is WHtR; the secondary evaluation uses the abdominal circumference / body-fat table or an approved supplemental scan.

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