Body Mass Index (BMI)

Weight divided by height squared. Still used for general screening and in some enlistment height-weight tables, though the military now screens body composition with WHtR.

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.

Formula

BMI = weight (lb) × 703 ÷ height (in)²

Healthy range

Underweight < 18.5 · Normal 18.5–24.9 · Overweight 25–29.9 · Obese ≥ 30.

Military & first-responder angle

The military retired BMI-style height-and-weight tables as the body-composition entry screen on 2026-01-01, but height-weight screening still precedes the WHtR check in most services. BMI is used in NFPA 1580 baseline fitness testing for firefighters.

Calculator

Body Mass Index with the accession context. The Air Force screens roughly BMI 17.5–27.5; the Coast Guard uses 19.0–27.5.

Result

BMI 25.8 — Overweight
BMI25.8
CategoryOverweight
BMI is a first-screen proxy only; the 2026 services use Waist-to-Height Ratio, not BMI, for in-service composition. Confirm accession BMI ranges with a recruiter.

Quick answers

Do the military still use BMI?
Height-weight tables (a BMI proxy) still open the screen in most services, but the body-composition verdict now comes from WHtR and, if needed, a body-fat evaluation.
Why is BMI criticized for athletes?
BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat, so muscular service members often read as “overweight” — a key reason the DoD moved to WHtR.

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