Last updated: August 18, 2026
What Is the ABCP?
The Army Body Composition Program (ABCP) is the Army's remediation program for a Soldier who doesn't meet the current body-composition standard. It's governed by AR 600-9. Being enrolled doesn't mean you've been separated or that separation is automatic; it means the Army has a defined, regulated process for what happens next, and that process is what this page walks through. For a broader explanation of the regulation itself, see our ABCP guide and the site's FAQ.
How Enrollment Works
- Initial measurement. Waist circumference at the navel, divided by height, both in inches, gives your WHtR.
- 0.550 or higher. That result is followed by a confirmation measurement, conducted on the same duty day by a different team, before your commander takes any action.
- Confirmed 0.550 or higher. You're flagged (flag code K) and enrolled in the ABCP.
- Ongoing screening. Every Soldier is measured at least twice per calendar year going forward; a commander can also direct a WHtR assessment at any time outside that cycle.
Your unit's official measurement is what counts; this page and the Army WHtR Calculator are self-assessment tools, not the record. Source: ABCP FAQ (army.mil).
What Happens While Enrolled
Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded the requirement for mandatory monthly progression assessments. There is no fixed monthly weigh-in written into current policy. Instead, commanders and supervisors decide when to reassess a Soldier enrolled in the program.
- Reassessment timing is set by your commander or supervisor, not a fixed monthly calendar.
- A medical evaluation is available: Regular Army and Active Guard Reserve Soldiers get a commander-requested exam to check for an underlying medical condition; National Guard and Reserve Soldiers not on active duty can request one themselves, at their own expense.
- The flag (flag code K) is non-transferable: it doesn't move with a transfer the way some administrative flags do.
- You remain enrolled until you meet the WHtR standard.
Source: Army Directive 2026-13 (Army Publishing Directorate).
How to Get Removed From the Program
Commanders and supervisors administratively remove a Soldier from the ABCP as soon as that Soldier meets the WHtR standard. There's no separate application or waiting period once your measurement is below 0.550. This is the same release principle AR 600-9 has used for the body-composition standard generally, now applied with WHtR as the measurement. Source: AR 600-9 (Army Publishing Directorate) and Army Directive 2026-13.
No separations for WHtR failure, right now
The Army is conducting a 180-day review of the WHtR standard. No Soldier will be separated for a WHtR failure until that review is complete and further guidance is issued. Units may begin separation paperwork for an ABCP failure, but the separation itself does not happen until the review is finished. Source: ABCP FAQ (army.mil).
A Healthy Approach
There's no fast way to safely change a body-composition measurement in the days before an assessment, and attempting one is more likely to hurt you than help. Avoid rapid weight-cutting methods: fasting, dehydration, sweat suits, diuretics, or any other last-minute technique aimed at a single measurement. What actually moves your WHtR over time is the same thing that improves your health generally: consistent strength training, adequate protein, regular sleep, and measuring under the same conditions so you can track a real trend.
Military OneSource offers free, confidential fitness and nutrition coaching for service members and families, 24/7, or call 800-342-9647.
FAQ
Will I be separated for failing the WHtR standard?+
Not right now. The Army is conducting a 180-day review of the WHtR standard, and no Soldier will be separated for a WHtR failure until that review is complete and further guidance is issued. Units can begin separation paperwork for an ABCP failure, but the separation itself does not happen until the review finishes.
What happens right after a failing WHtR measurement?+
A confirmation measurement, conducted on the same duty day by a different team than the one that took your first measurement, before your commander takes any action. If that second measurement also meets or exceeds 0.550, you're flagged and enrolled in the ABCP.
Do I get monthly weigh-ins while I'm enrolled in ABCP?+
Not automatically. Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded the requirement for mandatory monthly progression assessments. Commanders and supervisors now decide when to reassess a Soldier enrolled in the program. There's no fixed monthly cycle written into the current policy.
How do I get removed from ABCP?+
You're administratively removed as soon as your WHtR meets the standard (below 0.550); commanders and supervisors handle this administratively, the same release principle AR 600-9 has always used for the body-composition standard, now applied to WHtR.
Does the ABCP flag transfer with me if I move to a new unit?+
No. Flag code K, used for ABCP noncompliance, is non-transferable under Army Directive 2026-13.
Can I request a medical evaluation while enrolled?+
It depends on your component. Regular Army and Active Guard Reserve Soldiers get a commander-requested medical exam after enrollment, to check for an underlying medical condition. National Guard and Reserve Soldiers not on active duty can request one themselves, at their own expense.
Sources
- Army Directive 2026-13, full text (PDF), Army Publishing Directorate
- AR 600-9, full text (PDF), Army Publishing Directorate
- Army Body Composition Program FAQ, Army.mil
Read more in our ABCP guide, check your number on the Army WHtR Calculator, or browse the full FAQ.