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So I've seen people pass a PT test but fail height and weight. Some people are too skinny or has too much muscle. People even get chaptered out due to failing the tape test. So what's the purpose?
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Physical Training
Height and Weight
Physical Training Height and Weight
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
SPC (Join to see) the answer you seek is in AR 600-9 http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_9.pdf
APFT is a general measure of one's overall physical fitness.
Army Body Composition Program is a general measure of body comp or how much body fat you have in comparison to the rest of the body's components.
3–2. Standard
a. Soldiers are required to meet the prescribed body fat standard, as indicated in appendix B. Soldiers will be screened every 6 months, at a minimum, to ensure compliance with this regulation.
This is normally done against the suggestion of the reg, at the same time as the required APFT and results are required on the same form.
b. In order to ensure the ABCP does not interfere with Soldier performance on the APFT, commanders and supervisors are encouraged to allow a minimum of 7 days between APFT and weigh-in, if feasible.
If the SM does not meet the screen table limits, they are then administered a Tape Test to determine body fat levels. Additionally d. Commanders have the authority to direct a body fat assessment on any Soldier that they determine does not present a Soldierly appearance, regardless of whether or not the Soldier exceeds the screening table weight for his orher measured height.
APFT is a general measure of one's overall physical fitness.
Army Body Composition Program is a general measure of body comp or how much body fat you have in comparison to the rest of the body's components.
3–2. Standard
a. Soldiers are required to meet the prescribed body fat standard, as indicated in appendix B. Soldiers will be screened every 6 months, at a minimum, to ensure compliance with this regulation.
This is normally done against the suggestion of the reg, at the same time as the required APFT and results are required on the same form.
b. In order to ensure the ABCP does not interfere with Soldier performance on the APFT, commanders and supervisors are encouraged to allow a minimum of 7 days between APFT and weigh-in, if feasible.
If the SM does not meet the screen table limits, they are then administered a Tape Test to determine body fat levels. Additionally d. Commanders have the authority to direct a body fat assessment on any Soldier that they determine does not present a Soldierly appearance, regardless of whether or not the Soldier exceeds the screening table weight for his orher measured height.
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The purpose of the tape test is to determine a person's body composition. Now I have busted up taping Mafia rings. I had one SGM tell me he broke up one where the Soldiers had been charging. Money to falsify DA Forms 5500/01s. The side effect of the tape test is it is easy to cheat and produce a false DA Form to male it appear that you are in compliance. OK an over 40 year old female is 64" tall and weighs 176 lbs just one month after her liposuction surgery. Her DA Form 5501 said she was 25% body composition. And she scored really high on the pretend APFT she took the same day. I was 63" and 123lbs. and my body composition came out 26%. Can you even imagine that a woman weighed 53lbs. more than I did and we were with I'm less than I'm inch in height. I outed their fraud and the people that helped her.
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MAJ (Join to see)
CSM (Join to see) Determining body composition is what the tape test does (allegedly), but the purpose of the tape test, as written in AR 600-9, paragraph 2-1, is to ensure Soldiers, their units, and the Army reap the general health benefits that come with a healthy body composition.
"2–1. General: Soldiers must maintain a high level of physical readiness in order to meet mission requirements. Body composition is one indicator of physical readiness that is associated with an individual’s fitness, endurance, and overall health. Individuals with desirable body fat percentages generally exhibit increased muscular strength and endurance, are less likely to sustain injury from weight bearing activity, and are more likely to perform at an optimal level. Soldiers will meet Army body composition standards, as prescribed in this regulation, for the individual and collective benefit to themselves, their unit, and the entire Army."
Also, it is entirely possible for people of similar height but of vastly different weights to have similar body fat percentage, especially if measured with a wildly inaccurate technique like the tape test.
"2–1. General: Soldiers must maintain a high level of physical readiness in order to meet mission requirements. Body composition is one indicator of physical readiness that is associated with an individual’s fitness, endurance, and overall health. Individuals with desirable body fat percentages generally exhibit increased muscular strength and endurance, are less likely to sustain injury from weight bearing activity, and are more likely to perform at an optimal level. Soldiers will meet Army body composition standards, as prescribed in this regulation, for the individual and collective benefit to themselves, their unit, and the entire Army."
Also, it is entirely possible for people of similar height but of vastly different weights to have similar body fat percentage, especially if measured with a wildly inaccurate technique like the tape test.
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SFC (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) - I agree with you sir. It is completely inaccurate. I personally have to worry about tape every single APFT. AR 600-9 wants me skinny, well I'm not. 6' 1" 225lbs. I always pass, but sometimes it gets VERY close to failing. I don't look over weight at all. I'm proportionate.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SGT(P) Robert Labaut - per today's Army Times, AR 600-9'is under review. Per,the article, the tape test can be up to 66% inaccurate (ie, if you had 10% body fat, the tape might measure you at 76% body fat).
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Check out this article from Army Times:
Army advances tape test review triggered by SMA and soldier complaints
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2016/04/28/army-advances-tape-test-review-triggered-sma-and-soldier-complaints/83666578/
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Check out this article from Army Times:
Army advances tape test review triggered by SMA and soldier complaints
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2016/04/28/army-advances-tape-test-review-triggered-sma-and-soldier-complaints/83666578/
Army advances tape test review triggered by SMA and soldier complaints
The Army is putting together a working group to review the tape test to determine if the method is a fair measurement of a soldier’s physical fitness.
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CSM (Join to see)
SGT Robert Labaut -The Army Wellness Center results said I was 27% and the Taping calculated I am 26%. For me it was pretty accurate, but for some people it is not.
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right or wrong, the Army has a specific goal for standards of appearance. PT test is a measure of fitness level, tape test is a measure of meeting standard of appearance. Yes, there is some overlap in how they relate, but they are considered separate metrics.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Per Army regulation, appearance is but a small part of the ABCP. AR 600-9 paragraph 2 explains the purpose of the program: "2–1. General: Soldiers must maintain a high level of physical readiness in order to meet mission requirements. Body composition is one indicator of physical readiness that is associated with an individual’s fitness, endurance, and overall health. Individuals with desirable body fat percentages generally exhibit increased muscular strength and endurance, are less likely to sustain injury from weight bearing activity, and are more likely to perform at an optimal level. Soldiers will meet Army body composition standards, as prescribed in this regulation, for the individual and collective benefit to themselves, their unit, and the entire Army." Note "appearance" doesn't appear here, although I acknowledge it does appear a total of three times in the reg.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SGT(P) Robert Labaut - I think so. I think the Army will do the sensible thing and ditch the tape test in favor of a valid measurement technique, like the bod pod.
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