Army Fitness & Policy Blog
AR 600-9 updates, body composition standards, tape test guidance, ACFT exemptions, and fitness tips for Soldiers.
The AR 600-9 One-Site Tape Test (Rescinded July 2026)
The one-site tape test was rescinded July 7, 2026 and replaced by waist-to-height ratio. This guide explains how the old method worked and what replaced it.
The ACFT/AFT 465 Body Fat Exemption Has Been Removed
The ACFT/AFT 465 body fat exemption described in earlier guidance no longer exists. Army Directive 2026-13 decoupled fitness test scores from body composition entirely. Here is what changed.
US Army Height and Weight Standards: What Changed July 7, 2026
The AR 600-9 height/weight screening tables and body fat limits were rescinded July 7, 2026. Here is what replaced them, plus the old tables for historical reference.
How to Meet the Army WHtR Standard (The Tape Test Is Gone)
The Army tape test was rescinded July 7, 2026. Here is how the current waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) standard works, how to measure correctly, and how to plan ahead: no cutting tricks.
What Changed in the Army Height and Weight Standards on July 7, 2026
Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded the height/weight tables and tape test on July 7, 2026. See exactly what changed, the full timeline back to 2023, and what to do before the 90-day recording deadline.
AR 600-9 Explained: The Army Body Composition Program (2026)
AR 600-9 governs the Army Body Composition Program. Here's what changed under Army Directive 2026-13 on July 7, 2026, what the regulation's chapters actually cover, and what's still required of every Soldier today.
Best Tape Measure for Waist Measurement (Army WHtR Standard)
What actually makes a tape measure accurate enough for the Army's 0.550 WHtR boundary, four tape types compared honestly, and the exact math showing how much a stretched tape can cost you.
How to Measure Your Waist Accurately (Alone or With Help)
Correct tape placement, breathing, and tension for an accurate Army WHtR measurement, done alone or with a battle buddy, plus the most common technique errors that quietly skew a result.
Army Weight Requirements for Recruits: What's True in 2026
MEPS still screens recruits with a height and weight table, separate from the WHtR standard used on active-duty Soldiers. Here's how each one actually works, and what happens if you're over the limit at either stage.
AFT Standards and Score Chart: How the Army Fitness Test Works
The Army Fitness Test (AFT) replaced the ACFT on June 1, 2025. Here's how its five events are scored, what the pass/fail structure requires, and how to read the official score chart for your age and category.
Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test (CFT): Events, Scoring, Standards
The CFT is the Marine Corps' functional fitness test, taken twice a year alongside the PFT. Here are its three events, how each is scored by age and sex, and how it differs from the PFT.
Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC): AFT Standards and How to Train It
The Sprint-Drag-Carry is the AFT's most technical event: five 50-meter shuttles combining a sprint, sled drag, lateral shuffle, loaded carry, and sprint. Here's how it's scored and how to train each phase.
Army 2-Mile Run: AFT Standards, Scoring, and Pacing
The 2-Mile Run closes out the AFT and carries the same weight as any other event. Here's how it's scored by age and category, and how to pace it instead of guessing.
ACFT Score Chart: What It Was, and What Replaced It in 2025
The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) was retired on June 1, 2025. Here's what its six events and scoring structure looked like, why it changed, and where to find your current score under the AFT.
Army PFT: What the Old Physical Fitness Test Involved
Before the ACFT and the AFT, the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) was the standard for nearly four decades. Here's what it tested, why it was replaced, and how it differs from today's Army Fitness Test.