Can you be fat and join the military?

Applicants who qualify through the ARMS test get a free pass on being overweight, but they do have to get themselves in shape within a year of entering active duty. Early research suggests that recruits who get ARMS waivers have attrition rates similar to enlistees who enter the Army without a waiver.
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How fat is too fat to join the military?

Current policy requires service members to maintain body fat levels below a key threshold: 28 percent for men and 36 percent for women. If they fail, they must undergo a "tape test" to estimate their body fat percentage. Critics have long argued that tape test is flawed.
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Is there a weight limit for Army?

These requirements are on a scale based on age, gender, and height. For example, an 18-year old male Army recruit who is 5'5 must weigh no more than 163 lbs. A 25-year old male Army recruit who is the same height can weigh no more than 165, and a 30-year old male Army recruit who is 5'5 can weigh no more than 168.
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Can a fat person join the Navy?

If you are considering military service, but currently overweight, do not think you cannot serve. I have seen many people drop 50, 75, 100, even 150 pounds to meet the standards to serve.
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Will the military help you lose weight?

While you may lose 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in a week on the military diet, not everyone will. Plus, most of this would be water weight rather than fat, which you'll regain when you start eating as you normally do.
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Military weighs in: Recruits turned away due to obesity



Can I join the military if I'm out of shape?

You don't have to be extremely fit to join the army. You do need to be within the normal weight range for someone your height and should be able to pass a diagnostic Army Physical Fitness Test, but beyond that, Basic Combat Training will prepare you for the physical fitness standards of the big army.
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What is the fattest military branch?

The Navy is the US military's fattest service branch, with an obesity rate of 22%, a new Department of Defense report found.
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Can you be drafted if you're obese?

Currently, 19% of U.S. adults ages 18-24 would not meet standards for accession to the U.S. military due to obesity. Those who do not meet body fat standards can join the armed forces if they reduce their body fat through diet and exercise.
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What happens if you fail weight in the Army?

In most cases, failing to pass the Army's minimum weight or body-fat percentage standards will make you ineligible for promotion, transfer, reenlistment or opportunities to attend professional schools.
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How can I lose weight for joining the military?

How Losing Weight Can Make You Fit to Serve
  1. Focus on non-​​impact aerobics while this heavy. ...
  2. When you are not doing cardio, add resistance training to build your muscles, which will help you burn more fat over time. ...
  3. Eat better. ...
  4. Arrange your cardio days and build up over time to 45-60 minutes a day for 5-6 days a week.
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What happens if I'm overweight at MEPS?

Medical Check

If you exceed the weight standards, you'll undergo a body-fat-measurement. If you exceed the body-fat requirements of the specific serving that you're joining, your processing stops, and you'll be returned home.
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What happens if you get fat in the military?

If a soldier is above the maximum body-fat percentage (PDF) for his age, he must take part in a “weight control” program that includes a workout regimen and nutritional counseling. While under an “overweight flag,” soldiers can't attend a professional military school, be promoted, or even re-enlist.
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How do you lose body fat?

12 Ways to Promote Long-Term Fat Loss
  1. Start strength training. ...
  2. Follow a high protein diet. ...
  3. Get more sleep. ...
  4. Eat more healthy fats. ...
  5. Drink unsweetened beverages. ...
  6. Fill up on fiber. ...
  7. Choose whole grains instead of refined carbs. ...
  8. Increase your cardio.
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How do female soldiers tape?

The Soldier taking the measurement will view the person being measured from the side. Place the tape around the hips so that it passes over the greatest protrusion of the gluteal muscles (buttocks) keeping the tape in a horizontal plane (parallel to the floor).
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Are there fat Marines?

The other branches reported the following frequency of obesity: Air Force: 18 percent. Army: 17 percent. Marine Corps: 8.3 percent.
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What do Marines call fat people?

Fat-body – Overweight recruit or servicemember. FEBA – Forward Edge of the Battle Area, the line of departure where a unit enters enemy territory. Felony Creek – Slang for the French Creek area of Camp Lejeune. French Creek is the home for the Marine units that are service and support.
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Which US military branch has the highest death rate?

The Marine Corps experienced the highest fatality rates per 100,000 for all causes (122.5), unintentional injury (77.1), suicide (14.0), and homicide (7.4) of all the services. The Army had the highest disease and illness-related fatality rate (20.2 per 100,000) of all the services.
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What is the BMI for the Air Force?

What is this? If your BMI is higher than 25, you will be considered “overweight” or “obese”, and may need to lose some weight before joining the Air Force. Keep in mind that these are the requirements for everyone joining the Air Force, whether you're officer or enlisted.
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What happens if you fail boot camp?

If a recruit has been recycled and still cannot pass the assessment, then they will be given an Entry-Level Separation (ELS). An ELS is given at the leadership's discretion. Processing an ELS can take weeks or months, and those awaiting processing are usually given some form of manual labor to pass the time.
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Whats the easiest military branch?

  • The US Air Force is considered the easiest military branch overall. ...
  • The US Army is considered the easiest military branch to get into, Image: Wikimedia.org.
  • Air Force basic training is considered the easiest out of all of the military branches. ...
  • The US Air Force is considered the easiest branch for women.
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How many calories do soldiers eat?

But how many calories does the average soldier need? Most MREs, or meals ready to eat, contain about 1,300 calories; three a day are recommended. Supplemented with energy bars and drinks, they give soldiers the 4,500 to 5,000 calories they need for an active day of patrols or on the front line.
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What burns fat the fastest?

High-intensity interval training (HIIT): It is probably one of the fastest and most efficient ways to lose stomach fat and reduce the overall body fat percentage. HIIT is a high-intensity short period of exercise that usually doesn't exceed 30 minutes, with short breaks of recovery periods of 30-60 seconds.
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What burns the most fat?

Running is the winner for most calories burned per hour. Stationary bicycling, jogging, and swimming are excellent options as well. HIIT exercises are also great for burning calories.
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What color is urine when burning fat?

Under normal circumstances, the color of urine ranges between yellowish-pale and a clear hue. However, if your body is going through a fat-burning process, the color often changes to bright or darker colors, which can also be associated with dehydration.
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How many soldiers are obese?

But the problem has only worsened. In 2011, 6.4 percent of the Army, 9 percent of the Air Force and 2.3 percent of the Marine Corps was obese, according to Defense Department health data. In less than a decade, the rates in those branches have more than doubled — and in the Navy, obesity has risen sixfold.
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