Military H&W CalculatorAR 600-9 Explained
Army Regulation 600-9 governs the Army Body Composition Program. Most of what people quote from it about tape tests and weight tables was superseded in July 2026. Here is what still stands.
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What AR 600-9 Is
AR 600-9 is the regulation that sets body composition standards for every Soldier in the Regular Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.
It was known as the Army Weight Control Program when it was first published in 1986, and was renamed the Army Body Composition Program in a later revision. Its stated purpose has not changed much across those decades: ensure Soldiers are physically capable of their duties, present a professional military appearance, and maintain health.
What changed is the measurement. On 7 July 2026, Army Directive 2026-13 superseded the parts of AR 600-9 that described how body composition is assessed, while leaving the program itself in place.
What Was Superseded
| Element | Before (rescinded) | Now (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Screening step | Weight-for-height table, Table B-1 | None — WHtR is measured for everyone |
| Body fat method | Circumference tape test → estimated body fat % | None — no body fat percentage is calculated |
| Age brackets | Four bands, each with its own limit | None — one universal threshold |
| Sex difference | Separate, higher limits for women | None — identical for all Soldiers |
| Fitness exemption | High fitness test score exempted you from taping | Removed — assessed independently |
| Supplemental scans | DXA, InBody, Bod Pod could be used | Barred from challenging a result |
| Forms | DA Form 5500 (male), DA Form 5501 (female) | DA Form 5500, recorded in ATIS |
| Frequency | Tied to the record fitness test cycle | Twice per calendar year |
If you are reading an older copy of AR 600-9 — and many unit copies and study guides still circulate — Appendix B is the part to treat with care. Table B-1 (the weight-for-height screening table), Table B-2 (maximum allowable body fat), and the circumference procedures in B-2 through B-6 no longer govern serving Soldiers.
They are not useless, though
Those same tables still describe the accession standard that applicants face at MEPS under DoDI 6130.03. That is why this site keeps them live rather than archiving them. See MEPS height and weight requirements.
How Measurements Are Taken and Recorded
- Height is measured in stocking feet, wearing the authorised physical fitness uniform, standing on a flat surface with the head horizontal and the chin parallel to the floor.
- Waist is measured at the navel, parallel to the floor, at the end of a normal relaxed exhalation, against the skin or a thin layer.
- Frequency is twice per calendar year, with commanders able to direct an assessment at any time.
- Confirmation of any failing reading is carried out the same duty day by a different team, before a commander takes action.
- Recording is on DA Form 5500, entered into the Army Training Information System by leaders. DA Form 5501 was discontinued.
Scales used for weight measurement are verified for accuracy annually, and the regulation is unusually specific about tape material: non-stretchable, preferably fibreglass, a quarter to half an inch wide. Cloth tapes stretch with use and steel tapes do not conform to the body.
Flagging and Enrolment
A Soldier whose confirmed ratio is 0.550 or greater is flagged under AR 600-8-2 and enrolled in the ABCP. The flag suspends favourable personnel actions, which in practice means promotions, schools and certain assignments. Enrolment continues until the Soldier meets the standard.
During the Army's 180-day review of the new standard, no Soldier is being separated for a waist-to-height failure. The full enrolment walkthrough is on the ABCP calculator page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AR 600-9 still in effect?
Yes. The regulation still governs the Army Body Composition Program. Army Directive 2026-13 superseded the parts that describe how body composition is measured, replacing the tables and the tape test with the waist-to-height ratio.
What does AR 600-9 Appendix B say now?
The appendix as published describes the weight-for-height table, the body fat limits and the circumference procedures. Those were rescinded for serving Soldiers in July 2026, though the same figures still describe the accession standard applicants face at MEPS.
What is the difference between AR 600-9 and the ABCP?
AR 600-9 is the regulation; the Army Body Composition Program is the program it establishes. In everyday use the two names are often treated as interchangeable.
Sources & References
Official and primary sources
- AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program — Tables B-1 and B-2 and the circumference formulas
- Army Directive 2026-13, Army Body Composition Program and Standards — Army Publishing Directorate
- Army modifies body composition program, adopts waist-to-height ratio — Army Public Affairs, 7 July 2026
- DoD Instruction 6130.03 — medical standards for military service, accession
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.
The regulation, applied
This page explains what AR 600-9 still governs. The army height and weight calculator built on this regulation applies it to your own measurements.