The AR 600-9 One-Site Tape Test (Rescinded July 2026)

From June 2023 until July 7, 2026, the Army used a one-site circumference-based tape test as part of its body composition assessment. This article explains how that method worked and why it existed, for anyone researching prior policy; it does not describe a current Army requirement. If you need to know where you stand today, use the Army WHtR Calculator.

Why the One-Site Method Was Introduced

The one-site tape test itself replaced an older multi-site method. With Army Directive 2023-11, the Army moved from a multi-site circumference assessment (neck and waist for men; neck, waist, and hips for women) to a single measurement at the navel. The change was based on research from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), which found that a single abdominal measurement was a more consistent predictor of body fat across a diverse population than the multi-site formula, while reducing measurement error and administrative time during unit weigh-ins. The one-site method became the only authorized circumference method Army-wide starting June 8, 2024.

How the One-Site Tape Test Worked

For reference, the measurement procedure was as follows:

1. The Navel Site: The tape was placed horizontally around the abdomen at the level of the navel (belly button).
2. Body Alignment: The Soldier stood upright with arms at their side, looking straight ahead.
3. Rounding Rules: The measurement was taken to the nearest 1/2 inch.
4. The Average: The NCO performing the test took three separate measurements and used the average for the final calculation.

The resulting waist measurement was combined with the Soldier's height and weight in a formula to produce an estimated body fat percentage, which was then compared against age- and gender-based limits under AR 600-9.

What Happened to Supplemental Assessments

Under the old policy, a Soldier who failed the tape test could request a supplemental body fat assessment (a DEXA scan, Bod Pod, or InBody bioelectrical impedance test) as a more precise alternative. Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded these supplemental methods along with the tape test itself. None of them are part of the current Army Body Composition Program.

A DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) body fat scan at Fort Bragg, N.C., Oct. 2021. DEXA was one of the supplemental methods rescinded on July 7, 2026. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Lilliana Fraser (DVIDS, public domain).

What Replaced It: Waist-to-Height Ratio

Army Directive 2026-13, effective July 7, 2026, rescinded the tape test, the height/weight screening tables, and every supplemental body fat method, replacing all of them with waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as the Army's sole body composition standard. WHtR is calculated as waist circumference (still measured at the navel) divided by height, both in inches. A result below 0.550 meets the standard: with no age adjustment, no gender adjustment, and no separate weight-screening step. The measurement location didn't change; what changed is that the waist number is now compared directly to height, not converted into an estimated body fat percentage against an age/gender table.

There is also no fitness-test exemption under the current standard. A high Army Fitness Test (AFT) score does not exempt a Soldier from a WHtR check.

Check your current WHtR result here: it takes just your height and waist measurement, with no signup required.

Sources

• Army modifies body composition program, adopts waist-to-height ratio (Army.mil)
• Official AR 600-9 Publication (historical)
• USARIEM Body Composition Research

If you're navigating a body composition concern under the current standard, Military OneSource offers free, confidential fitness and nutrition coaching for service members and families, 24/7, or call 800-342-9647.