How fat is too fat for 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.
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What is too overweight for the military?

If you are overweight and want to join the military, you face some challenges. In order to recruit for the Armed Forces, the military has weight standards when checking a person's height and weight. You can't meet these requirements if your body fat percentage is above 32%.
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Can you be fat and be in the military?

You can still serve the U.S. Armed Forces if you are obese by receiving a medical waiver. Approximately 20% of new recruits need a waiver for their weight to attend boot camp. However, those that receive a waiver must lose weight and reach minimum requirements prior to the end of boot camp to continue training.
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What is the max body fat for Army?

Army Body Fat Assessment

Army Regulation 600-9 states that Males are allowed the following Body Fat Standards. However, all personnel are encouraged to achieve the more stringent DOD goals which is 18 % body fat for males and 26 % body fat for females.
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How much body fat can you have to join the Army?

The maximum allowable percentage of body fat for men ranges from 18 to 26 percent depending on service and age, while for women it ranges from 26 to 34 percent (See Table 2-3). Each of the services screens active duty personnel either annually or semiannually for fitness and compliance with weight-for-height standards.
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Too fat for the military



Which military branch is the fattest?

The Navy is the US military's fattest service branch, with an obesity rate of 22%, a new Department of Defense report found. The Navy isn't the only service getting fat — obesity is on the rise across multiple services.
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Can you be drafted if overweight?

Even if you are a male of age to be drafted, there's a big chance you'll never have to go fight overseas. In 2017 Pentagon data showed that 71 percent of American between the ages of 17 and 24 were actually ineligible to serve in the military due to being too overweight and other disqualifying factors.
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Does the Army have a fat camp?

Fat camp plans

The school opened in August, and gives recruits who didn't graduate from high school the chance to earn a GED before starting their nine weeks of basic training. "We are looking at the Army Prep School as a place where we might send some (recruits) that have weight issues," the two-star general said.
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Can you get kicked out of the Army for being overweight?

The Army dismissed thousands of soldiers for being overweight after Desert Storm ended in 1991. The following year, it discharged more than 3,000, the highest number removed on those grounds since 1984. The practice dropped dramatically as the Iraq war raged.
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What is the fastest way to lose weight for the military?

The military diet, also called the 3-day diet, is a short-term, rapid weight loss diet that claims to help you lose up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in a week. The diet plan involves a 3-day, calorie-restricted meal plan followed by 4 days off.
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Is there a weight waiver for the Army?

Although there is a weight waiver provided that allows overweight people to enlist and lose weight while in basic training, height requirement remains unchanged.
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Is the Army getting rid of height and weight?

After 30 Years, the U.S. Army Is Changing Its Height and Weight Standards. The Army expects that it will be six to nine months before they can recommend changes to the Army leadership.
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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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What is considered morbidly obese?

Individuals are usually considered morbidly obese if their weight is more than 80 to 100 pounds above their ideal body weight. A more widely accepted and more exact way to define morbid obesity is with the body mass index (BMI).
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What disqualifies you for the military?

To enlist, you must be qualified under current federal laws and regulations or have an appropriate waiver. There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military.
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What military branch accepts fat people?

That could be one just one of many conclusions drawn by a recent Department of Defense study that found the Navy earned the dubious honor of surpassing all other branches in its rate of obese personnel.
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Are there any fat Marines?

Marine Body Fat Standards

Male Marines are not to exceed 18 percent body fat, and female Marines may not exceed 26 percent body fat. These figures apply to entry-level Marine recruits and extend through their first few years of service.
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Can you be fat in the Navy?

Below are the Navy's height and weight allowances for recruits to enlist. The maximum allowable body fat limits are 23% for men and 34% for women.
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How much body fat can a person have?

The amount of essential fat differs between men and women, and is typically around 2-5% in men, and 10-13% in women. The healthy range of body fat for men is typically defined as 8-19%, while the healthy range for women is 21-33%.
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Do Army Recruiters help you get in shape?

Army Recruiters Help Overweight Applicants Lose Pounds : Shots - Health News A decade ago, Army recruiters started coaching individuals to help them lose weight so they could enlist. It's not an official Army program, but it has become necessary to recruitment, many say.
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Is the Army tape test accurate?

The tape test was wrong every time — and in nine out of 10 cases, the tape method measured troops' body fat percentages higher. The worst was a 66 percent difference between the scores. The closest was still nearly 12 percent off.
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How do I get a weight waiver for the military?

If your weight exceeds the maximum limit for your gender, height and age group, the Army may grant a weight waiver if you can pass the Assessment of Recruit Motivation and Strength, or ARMS, test.
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