Military H&W CalculatorArmy Directive 2026-13
Signed 1 July 2026, effective 7 July 2026. It rescinded the height and weight tables, the tape test in every version, and every supplemental body fat method, replacing all of it with a single ratio.
Last reviewed:
What It Did
Three things at once: it retired the screening tables, it retired every version of the tape test, and it removed the fitness-test exemption a lot of Soldiers were relying on.
In their place it established the waist-to-height ratio as the sole authorised body composition assessment under the Army Body Composition Program, for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.
| Element | Before (rescinded) | Now (current) |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 |
The practical effect is simple to state and worth internalising: your fitness test score, your age and your sex no longer factor into your body composition result in any way. Your waist and your height are the only two numbers that matter.
Timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 30 Sep 2025 | Changes to military fitness standards ordered at the Department level, including the use of waist-to-height ratio. |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Department-wide guidance takes effect: WHtR adopted across the Joint Force, target below 0.55, assessed twice a year. |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Army Directive 2026-13 signed by the Secretary of the Army. |
| 7 Jul 2026 | Directive takes effect. The Army goes further than the other services and makes WHtR the sole method. |
| Early Jan 2027 | The Army's 180-day assessment of the new standard concludes. No separations for WHtR failures until then. |
The 180-Day Review
The Army stated it would conduct a 180-day assessment of the new standard to validate its accuracy and determine whether adjustments are needed. Two things follow from that:
- No separations in the meantime. A Soldier who fails is flagged and enrolled in the ABCP, but is not separated for the failure during the review window.
- The threshold could move. The review exists precisely because the Army left open the possibility of adjusting the standard. Nothing has been announced.
This page is updated when the policy moves
If the review produces a change, it will be reflected here and on the standards page. Until then, 0.550 is the number, and the height and weight calculator reflects it.
Why the Army Made This Change
The Army's stated reasoning was alignment with medically validated practice. Abdominal fat is the fat most strongly associated with cardiovascular and metabolic risk, and a waist-to-height ratio in the region of 0.5 to 0.55 is one of the more consistently validated screening thresholds in civilian medicine.
There were practical motivations too. The circumference method was widely criticised as imprecise for very muscular and very lean Soldiers, and the neck measurement in the male formula created a well-known incentive to train the neck rather than reduce abdominal fat. Removing the neck from the calculation removes that incentive entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Army Directive 2026-13 take effect?
It was signed on 1 July 2026 by the Secretary of the Army and took effect on 7 July 2026.
What did Army Directive 2026-13 rescind?
The height and weight screening tables, the circumference-based tape test in every version, and supplemental body fat assessments including DXA, InBody and Bod Pod. It also removed the fitness-test exemption from body fat assessment.
Does Army Directive 2026-13 apply to recruits?
No. It governs serving Soldiers. Accession screening at MEPS falls under DoD Instruction 6130.03 and was not changed.
Will the 0.55 threshold change after the review?
Nothing has been announced. The Army said the 180-day assessment would validate the standard's accuracy and determine whether adjustments are needed, which leaves the possibility open without committing to it.
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
- 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.