Armed Forces News

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. leads a group of Airmen in pushups after an Air Force birthday 5K run Sept. 18, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jarrod Grammel) Airmen and guardians who do not meet body composition standards will first be required to take part in a non-punitive, 12-month improvement program.

Airmen and guardians will now have to meet a waste-to-height ratio (WHtR) standard in order to pass the Body Composition Assessment. The new plan replaces the tape-measure test, which measured abdominal circumference, that disappeared in 2020. The WHtR program took effect with the new year. Assessments will begin in April. The program is “separate and distinct” from the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Physical Fitness Assessment.

The WHtR measurement is calculated by dividing waist circumference by height, with the idea that more weight around the abdomen is a signal of increased health risk.

“The goal of the new program is to empower airmen to take charge of their health and fitness through lifestyle enhancement to optimize readiness,” said Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services. “Regardless of which risk category they fall in, everyone is encouraged to take advantage of the resources available to improve or maintain a healthy body composition.”

Airmen and guardians who do not meet body composition standards will first be required to take part in a non-punitive, 12-month improvement program. They then would be reassessed every 12 months or during their next body composition assessment, until they reach service standards.

Survey: Most TSP Participants do Not Have Outside Savings

5 Things the TSP Doesn’t Let You Do

Can You Be Charged Under the UCMJ After Discharge?

Foreign Contact Reporting Requirements for Security Clearance Holders

VA Handles Over 500K Claims Under PACT Act

Court Cites Limits on Eligibility for Reservist Differential Pay

Navy Cancels Fitness Separations, Announces Records Reset

Reapplying for a Security Clearance After a Denial or Revocation

Military Survivor Benefit Plan and Marriage / Divorce

How Divorce Impacts Your Military Benefits

PACT Act Passes for Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits, Agent Orange, and Radiation

Will ‘Outside Activities’ Lead to a Security Review?

Federal Manager’s Handbook, 7th Ed.