Army WHtR Standard (2026)
AR 600-9 — Army Body Composition Program — The Army uses a one-site abdominal circumference tape test at the navel (adopted 2023) scored against an age/sex body-fat table.
The Army gate
| Initial screen | Threshold | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) | must be < 0.55 | Below passes with no tape test; at or above → secondary body-fat evaluation |
Note: ACFT 540+ (80 pts/event) exempts the tape test. Accession (enlistment) standards are ~4 points more lenient for men.
Calculate your WHtR for Army
Your measurements
U.S. customary units. Measure the waist at the navel with a flexible tape, relaxed, after a normal exhale.
Your WHtR
0.486
Joint-force screen: must be < 0.55 (Marine Corps: < 0.52)
Verdict by branch (2026)
| Branch | WHtR gate | Your ratio | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | < 0.55 | 0.486 | PASS |
A PASS clears the initial WHtR screen. At or above the gate, the service runs a secondary body-fat evaluation (DoD Instruction 1308.03 corridor: 18–26% men / 26–36% women depending on branch and age). Estimates are educational — confirm with your command.
Secondary body-fat evaluation
If your WHtR is at or above 0.55, the service runs a body-fat evaluation. Maximum allowable body fat for U.S. Army:
| Age | Men (max %) | Women (max %) |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40+ | 26% | 36% |