Posted on Jun 8, 2016
Should the Army's height/weight program be changed?
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Soldiers
Physical Training
Height and Weight
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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Yes, it should. I would still be in today if it wasn't for the strict standards of weight. I was able to ETS honorably, but had a bar to reenlistment because I couldn't pass tape. I scored a 300 on PT tests 4 times in my 5 years in, and even my first PT test ever in basic I scored a 250. I trained hard for those 300s, but I couldn't control my given genetics. The tape test is severely flawed, on one of the several times I failed a tape test, I paid to have a dunk tank test done, the results? I was well within Army standard for bodyfat percentage but the dunk tank test is unauthorized even though its dramatically more accurate than the tape test.
Sorry for the slight rant, I have always been a bit bitter about this because I wanted to be a lifer
Sorry for the slight rant, I have always been a bit bitter about this because I wanted to be a lifer
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Absolutely. There are soldiers who appear fit, and can't run, can't perform sit ups, or push ups, but they can do just enough to pass. Where as myself, I can run 13s, max push ups, max sit ups, but in order to not be taped I can only be 185lbs. I weigh 215. So when that test comes up I have to go through extreme measures to pass but I don't look fat. I don't jiggle I just have a slim neck.
That being said, if SSG fatass really is fat, he is good because he has a thick neck. It's fat. It's a fat neck. But it's ok because the algorithm says he's good to go
That being said, if SSG fatass really is fat, he is good because he has a thick neck. It's fat. It's a fat neck. But it's ok because the algorithm says he's good to go
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SPC (Join to see)
SGM Erik Marquez - that, as is the AR600-9 is a loaded topic.
I do agree that there needs to be some sort of distinction, if not the soldiers will just get fat and won't look militaristic. There was a study done in Hawaii that used water displacement to contradict the tape test, and the tape test was wrong every time. I don't know what the answer is, but the tape test is not it. It's an inaccurate, outdated method of determining body composition
I do agree that there needs to be some sort of distinction, if not the soldiers will just get fat and won't look militaristic. There was a study done in Hawaii that used water displacement to contradict the tape test, and the tape test was wrong every time. I don't know what the answer is, but the tape test is not it. It's an inaccurate, outdated method of determining body composition
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SGM Erik Marquez
SPC (Join to see) - Its not that I dont agree with you, it is that I was taught, And then taught my SM, my sons, never complain if you're not willing to suggest a solution.
As you pointed out there needs to be a standard and a method to test against the standard.
There are many more accurate tests than the tape test, thus far there is not a more accurate test, that is deployable to an entire military service world wide to the company level. Hence the retention not of the best system money can buy, but one that can be bought, trained, implemented on a service wide basis.
As you pointed out there needs to be a standard and a method to test against the standard.
There are many more accurate tests than the tape test, thus far there is not a more accurate test, that is deployable to an entire military service world wide to the company level. Hence the retention not of the best system money can buy, but one that can be bought, trained, implemented on a service wide basis.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Erik Marquez - "There are many more accurate tests than the tape test, thus far there is not a more accurate test, that is deployable to an entire military service world wide to the company level.". Nailed it.
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Lots of "Yes it should change" opinions, not a single basic suggestion, , never mind indepth recommendation of how it could be changed that would be realistically useable in the mission role of the US military, implemented down to the company level worldwide, in a scalable program fitting all Army units. Standards equitable to all servicemembers, testable with consistency, a system and tools available to all units down to the company level in all assigned geographic areas..
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MCPO Roger Collins
My first thought was that performance in the field should take precedence over physical appearance. If you look good and can't do the job as required, what have you gained. That is from a person that never weighed over 165 during his career.
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SGM Erik Marquez
MCPO Roger Collins - Ok Master Chief, I dont disagree.
So what is your suggestion and recommendation in how to quantifiably measure consistently, evenly across all commands the subjective nature of " performance in the field "
So what is your suggestion and recommendation in how to quantifiably measure consistently, evenly across all commands the subjective nature of " performance in the field "
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MCPO Roger Collins
SGM Erik Marquez - JMHO, but this should be taken care of during recruiting, then if someone gains weight in excess and can not perform the fitness tests, take action to restore their abilities. As to those that have been in the military for a full career, their evaluations should reflect their abilities to do the job and recommended actions. That would limit promotions and the up or out would resolve the issue. Sheer obesity isn't on the table here, that is another story. When you have extremely fit NFL players from 250-300 lbs, weight should not be sole criteria for keeping on in the military. JMHO, some may differ.
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SPC (Join to see)
So here's a solution I can present that the military should do you have good soldiers who pass APF t's ACF t's with high scores and then when it comes to the heighten and weight they have to be scaled scaled and if they are overweight by their standard they have to be have to be taped which If they fail it automatically fails there APFT even though they passed so the military needs to needs to change that to where if soldiers who passed the APFT or the ACF T do not need to be wieghed and check They're body fat percentage which means now we have more soldiers that are healthier even though they passed but we also need to remove that 60% mark because the 60% is no longer an average point it is an average point for the normal human being to not succeed succeed if we change the percentage to passing at 70% it makes soldiers work harder to reach that goal
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