Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about AR 600-9 and the current waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) standard, effective July 7, 2026.
Every answer below reflects Army Directive 2026-13, effective July 7, 2026, which rescinded the height and weight screening tables, the tape test in every version, and the supplemental body fat assessments. If you're researching how the retired standard used to work, the archived height and weight calculator keeps those old tables running in a clearly labeled historical mode.
Already enrolled in ABCP, or worried you might be? The ABCP Calculator walks through what enrollment actually means: the confirmation retest, the medical exam, how to get removed, and the 180-day review that pauses separations.
For the regulation itself, see AR 600-9 on the Army Publishing Directorate site, and army.mil for official announcements. Answers marked “Source: ABCP FAQ” below are drawn from the Army's official ABCP FAQ.
The New Standard
What changed on July 7, 2026?
Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded the height and weight screening tables, the tape test in every version, and the old body-fat assessment those forms used to record. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) became the sole authorized body composition standard under AR 600-9.
Why did the Army switch to WHtR?
The Army points to a few reasons: WHtR is a better long-term predictor of cardiovascular and metabolic health risk than the old tape-test formula, it holds up more fairly across different body types, a single calculation is simpler to administer than the old age/gender tables, and it supports the broader push toward standardized fitness metrics across the joint force.
What is the WHtR formula?
Waist circumference divided by height, both measured in inches. The result is truncated to three decimal places, and a value below 0.550 meets the standard.
Does age change the WHtR threshold?
No. The 0.550 threshold applies to every Soldier regardless of age. The age-based body fat percentage tables used under the prior standard were rescinded along with it.
Does gender change the WHtR threshold?
No. WHtR uses one threshold, 0.550, for every Soldier regardless of gender. The prior standard's separate male and female body fat percentage limits no longer apply.
Does my weight matter for this standard anymore?
Not for this calculation. WHtR only uses waist circumference and height; scale weight is not part of the formula or the pass/fail determination.
Is a WHtR of exactly 0.550 a pass or a fail?
A fail. The standard requires a result below 0.550. A result of exactly 0.550 does not meet it.
Is my WHtR result rounded or truncated?
Truncated, not rounded. A raw result of 0.5499 is recorded as 0.549, which passes; it is not rounded up to 0.550, which would fail.
Does the WHtR standard apply to Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve?
Yes. Army Directive 2026-13 applies the same WHtR standard, with the same 0.550 threshold, to the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve.
Does the WHtR standard apply to USMA and Senior ROTC cadets?
Yes. The standard extends to U.S. Military Academy cadets and Senior ROTC cadets.
How often are Soldiers screened for WHtR?
At least twice per calendar year. Commanders can also direct additional assessments outside that cycle.
Does this apply to recruits at MEPS?
Yes. Applicants are screened against current Army body composition standards during the accession process, which is now the WHtR standard under AR 600-9.
Where can I read Army Directive 2026-13 myself?
Start with the Army's official announcements at army.mil, and read the underlying regulation, AR 600-9, on the Army Publishing Directorate site. This calculator is not a substitute for either.
Is it Army Directive 2026-06 or 2026-13?
The correct directive number is 2026-13. Some Army-published material, including the cover page of the ABCP FAQ document, shows 2026-06. The directive filed with the Army Publishing Directorate is Army Directive 2026-13, and that is the number to reference.
Source: Army Directive 2026-13 (Army Publishing Directorate)
How to Measure
Where exactly do I measure my waist?
At the navel (belly button), around the abdomen, after a normal exhale. Don't measure at the narrowest point of your torso or over clothing that adds bulk.
How should I position the tape measure?
Keep it level and parallel to the floor all the way around, snug against the skin but not compressing it. A tape that's twisted, angled upward in back, or pulled tight enough to dent the skin will give you a wrong number.
What are the most common measuring mistakes?
Measuring over bulky clothing, sucking in instead of breathing normally, letting the tape ride up in the back, and taking a single reading instead of repeating the measurement to check consistency.
Should I measure myself, or does only a unit's measurement count?
Self-measuring with this calculator is useful for tracking your trend between assessments, but it is a self-assessment only. The measurement your unit records is the one that determines your standing.
Your Result
What happens after an initial WHtR measurement of 0.550 or higher?
If you fail the initial measurement, a confirmation measurement is conducted on the same duty day by a different team. If that also shows 0.550 or higher, you're enrolled in ABCP and flagged. The ABCP flag is non-transferable.
Is there a deadline for getting my first WHtR measurement recorded?
Yes. Every Soldier must have a WHtR screening recorded on DA Form 5500 and in the Army Training Information System (ATIS) within 90 days of the directive's publication date, July 7, 2026 (approximately October 5, 2026). Leaders record the result in ATIS using the Leader Tool.
Are there exemptions for pregnancy or postpartum Soldiers?
Yes. Existing medical exemptions for pregnant and postpartum Soldiers remain in effect.
Is there a required gap between my AFT/CFT and my WHtR screening?
Yes. Units must allow at least 7 days between a Soldier's AFT/CFT and their WHtR screening. Commanders may modify this for operational demands.
Can my commander order a WHtR assessment outside the normal cycle?
Yes. Commanders may direct a WHtR assessment at any time, not just during the twice-yearly cycle.
What Happens If You Don't Meet Standard
Separation protection: 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. Source: ABCP FAQ
What actually happens if I don't meet the WHtR standard?
A confirmed result at or above 0.550 enrolls you in the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP) for remedial monitoring and periodic remeasurement. It is a program you're enrolled in, not an automatic separation.
What is ABCP enrollment?
The Army Body Composition Program is the Army's remediation process for Soldiers who don't meet the body composition standard: it includes monitoring, remeasurement, and can include referral to medical or nutrition support.
What medical evaluation happens if I'm enrolled in ABCP?
Active Component and AGR Soldiers receive a commander-directed medical exam to rule out underlying medical conditions. Reserve Component Soldiers may request one at their own expense.
Is there a set timeline for ABCP enrollment, flagging, or separation?
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.
Does a high AFT/ACFT score exempt me from body composition standards?
No. The fitness-test exemption that used to apply under the old standard was removed. WHtR and the Army Fitness Test are fully separate. A high AFT score does not exempt a Soldier from a body composition check.
Is the old AFT 465 fitness-test exemption still in effect?
No. The AFT 465 exemption is rescinded, and Army Directive 2025-17, which created it, is inactive.
Don't use rapid dehydration, sweat suits, crash dieting, or diuretics to change your number before a measurement. They damage your health, hurt your performance, and the effect doesn't last. Military OneSource offers free, confidential health and wellness support to service members and their families.
Old Standards
Is the tape test really gone?
Yes. Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded the tape test (both the one-site and the older multi-site method) on July 7, 2026. No version of it is used to assess body composition anymore.
Are DA Forms 5500 and 5501 still used the same way?
DA Form 5501 is no longer used. DA Form 5500 remains in use: every Soldier's WHtR result is recorded on it and logged in the Army Training Information System (ATIS).
Do the old height and weight screening tables still apply to anyone?
No. The tables were rescinded for every component (Regular Army, National Guard, and Reserve) on July 7, 2026. There's no group still using them.
Is a unit required to appoint an ABCP administrator?
No. That requirement has been rescinded.
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Independent self-assessment tool. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Army or DoD. Your unit's official measurement is what counts.
Last reviewed: August 18, 2026.
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