Military H&W CalculatorABCP Calculator
The Army Body Composition Program is what happens after a failed measurement. Check your ratio below, then read exactly what enrolment involves and how Soldiers get removed from it.
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Waist-to-Height Ratio
Measured in stocking feet, head level.
At the belly button, after a normal exhale. Tape level, snug, not compressing.
What the ABCP Is
The ABCP is not a punishment and it is not a separation action. It is a flagged, monitored status that a Soldier stays in until they meet the standard.
Under AR 600-9 as amended by Army Directive 2026-13, there is now a single trigger for it: a waist-to-height ratio of 0.550 or greater, confirmed. Everything that used to feed into enrolment — the screening table, the tape test, the supplemental scans — was rescinded.
The Sequence, Step by Step
- Initial measurementEvery Soldier is measured twice per calendar year. A commander may also direct a measurement at any time if there is a concern about compliance.
- Confirmation testA reading of 0.550 or above is followed by a confirmation measurement on the same duty day, carried out by a different team. This has to happen before a commander takes any action.
- Flag and enrolmentIf the confirmation also reads 0.550 or above, the Soldier is flagged under AR 600-8-2 and enrolled in the ABCP.
- While enrolledThe flag affects favourable personnel actions — promotions, schools and assignments are the practical consequences most Soldiers feel first.
- RemovalA Soldier remains enrolled until they meet the standard. Meeting it means a recorded measurement below 0.550.
The 180-Day Review
No separations during the review window
The Army announced a 180-day assessment of the new standard to validate its accuracy and decide whether adjustments are needed. During that window, no Soldier is being separated for a waist-to-height failure. Counting from the 7 July 2026 effective date, the review runs into early January 2027. Flagging and enrolment still apply in full — only the separation clock is paused.
What happens after the review closes has not been announced. Follow it on the Army Directive 2026-13 page, which is updated when the policy moves.
Forms and Records
Results are recorded on DA Form 5500 and entered into the Army Training Information System (ATIS) by leaders. DA Form 5501, the separate female form used under the old circumference method, was discontinued along with the tape test it served.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gets you enrolled in the ABCP?
A confirmed waist-to-height ratio of 0.550 or greater. The initial reading has to be confirmed the same duty day by a different team before a commander acts on it.
How do I get removed from the ABCP?
By meeting the standard — a recorded measurement below 0.550. A Soldier remains enrolled and flagged until that happens.
Can I be separated for failing the ABCP standard?
Not during the Army's 180-day review of the new standard, which runs from 7 July 2026. Flagging and enrolment still apply, and what follows the review has not yet been announced.
Does my fitness test score help me get out of the ABCP?
No. Army Directive 2026-13 decoupled fitness from body composition entirely. The two are assessed independently and a strong Army Fitness Test score gives no credit toward the body composition standard.
Sources & References
Official and primary sources
- Army modifies body composition program, adopts waist-to-height ratio — Army Public Affairs, 7 July 2026
- Army Directive 2026-13, Army Body Composition Program and Standards — Army Publishing Directorate
- AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program — Tables B-1 and B-2 and the circumference formulas
- Military OneSource — free fitness and nutrition coaching for service members
Standards change. Confirm anything career-affecting with your chain of command, your recruiter, or the current publication on Army Publishing Directorate before acting on it.
Before your next assessment
Enrolment starts with a measurement, so the useful time to check is now. You can check your standard in one step and see exactly how much margin you have.