ARMY DIR 2026-13 - ARMY BODY COMPOSITION PROGRAM AND STANDARDS
Pulling out some notable sections.
Effective immediately, the following policy governs the ABCP. This policy is not retroactive, and where it conflicts with other Army directives or regulations, this directive is controlling. These provisions apply to all Soldiers, all cadets of the United States Military Academy and Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, all retention actions, and all military schools and institutional training courses (see reference 1h for graduation requirements)
WHtR is the Only Authorized ABCP Standard. The WHtR is adopted as the sole measurement for all Soldiers. The use of height and weight screening tables is discontinued.
(1) No secondary or supplemental body composition methods (such as the circumference-based tape test or other body fat assessments) are authorized for the purpose of challenging the results of the WHtR.
(2)All Soldiers will have their WHtR measured at least twice per calendar year.
(3)The standard is a WHtR of less than and not equal to 0.55.
Additional passages of note:
No AFT score exempts a Soldier from meeting the WHtR standard. AD 2025-17 is hereby rescinded.
(Grinston era PT Score Exemption is officially dead)
The requirement for commanders to designate a non-commissioned officer for ABCP administration is hereby rescinded. Commanders are directly responsible for the oversight, quality control, and execution of the body composition program within their unit.
Progression requirements and mandatory monthly assessments while enrolled in theABCP are hereby rescinded. Commanders and supervisors will determine when to assess Soldiers and will administratively remove a Soldier from the ABCP as soon as the Soldier meets the WHtR standard.
Some Commentary;
- For a 5' 10" man or woman, you must have a waist below 38.5.
- There are no progression requirements. This seems to be...at the discretion of the Commander in its entirety.
- Unclear how you now 'fail' in order to initiate separation - the next 180 days, no separations allow until the Army assesses the impact of this policy.
- No more dexa/bodpod evaluations or AFT exemption.
- You must have a completed worksheet done and recorded in ATIS within 90 days.
New 5500 is also live
https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/1uq1lor/da_form_5500_new_body_composition_screening_and/
I want to highlight what u/Medieval_Pheasant mentioned in that thread - yes, this does have some conflict with the January OSW memo.
OSW Memo said height and waist should round down - our form has waist down, and height rounded up.
OSW memo is also more specific on tape site selection.
Height -> Waist Max
(Height, in inches, times 0.55)
60" -> 33
61" -> 33.55
62" -> 34.1
63" -> 34.65
64" -> 35.2
65" -> 35.75
66" -> 36.3
67" -> 36.85
68" -> 37.4
69" -> 37.95
70" -> 38.5
71" -> 39.05
72" -> 39.6
73" -> 40.15
74" -> 40.7
75" -> 41.25
76" -> 41.8
77" -> 42.35
