The Army Body Composition Program
AR 600-9 establishes the Army Body Composition Program: screening weight, body fat assessment, enrollment, and the consequences of failing to make progress. The regulation itself dates from July 2019, but the assessment method and body fat standards have been changed by Army directives since then. Use the current directives with the regulation.
Open the official record- Type
- AR
- Edition verified
- July 2019
- Used in
- FitnessBoard Prep
What to take from it
- Soldiers are screened against height and weight tables; exceeding screening weight triggers a body fat assessment.
- Soldiers who exceed body fat standards are enrolled in the ABCP and flagged for adverse actions.
- Commanders are responsible for enrollment, monitoring, and separation actions for non-progress.
- The tape method and body fat standards have been modified by Army directives since 2019 -- check current policy.
These points are our summary, written for recall. They are not a substitute for the publication and they will not cover everything a board can ask. Read the source.
Board questions from this publication
What is the Army Body Composition Program and what regulation governs it?
The Army Body Composition Program, or ABCP, is the program that ensures Soldiers maintain the military appearance and body composition the Army requires and are able to meet the physical demands of duty. AR 600-9 governs it. The regulation is dated July 2019, and the assessment method has been changed by Army directive since then, so use the current directive with the regulation.
AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program
Walk me through the screening process under the Army Body Composition Program.
The Soldier is weighed and measured for height and compared against the screening table weight for their height, age, and sex. A Soldier at or under the screening weight passes and no further assessment is required. A Soldier over the screening weight receives a body fat assessment. If the body fat result exceeds the standard for their age and sex, the Soldier is enrolled in the program and flagged.
AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program
What are the maximum allowable body fat percentages by age group in AR 600-9?
For males: 20 percent for ages 17 to 20, 22 percent for 21 to 27, 24 percent for 28 to 39, and 26 percent for 40 and older. For females: 30 percent for 17 to 20, 32 percent for 21 to 27, 34 percent for 28 to 39, and 36 percent for 40 and older.
AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program
What happens to a Soldier enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program?
The Soldier is flagged, which suspends favorable personnel actions including promotion, schooling, and reenlistment. The Soldier is referred for nutrition counseling and a medical evaluation, weighed and assessed monthly to measure progress, and counseled in writing. Failure to make satisfactory progress, or repeated enrollment, can lead to separation.
AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program
What counts as satisfactory progress once a Soldier is enrolled in the ABCP?
AR 600-9 sets progress as a loss of three to eight pounds per month, or a reduction of about one percent body fat per month. A Soldier who is losing weight at that rate is making progress even if they are still over the standard. A Soldier who is not is subject to separation processing.
AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program