Defense Primer: Military Physical Fitness Testing and Body Composition Program

Defense Primer: Military Physical Fitness Testing and Body Composition Program

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August 15, 2022
Defense Primer: Military Physical Fitness Testing and Body
Composition Program
Under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, Congress has
policy also states that these standards may be adjusted for
broad authority over the Armed Forces and, as such, has a
age and gender, or “gender-normed” (see Table 1 for
duty to maintain physically capable forces to conduct a
sample comparison). The services generally administer
range of military operations. Various statutes authorize the
physical fitness testing and measure body composition on at
Department of Defense (DOD) to determine physical
least an annual basis, with some waivers for health or
fitness and body composition standards for servicemembers
pregnancy-related conditions. Servicemembers who fail to
and individuals entering military service. The services also
meet the physical fitness and body composition standards
use physical fitness and body composition standards when
may be placed in remedial programs, denied reenlistment,
considering certain career assignments and advancement.
or subject to separation from the military.
These standards are intended to support good health,
physical readiness, and professional military appearance.
Table 1. Comparison of Upper Body Strength Fitness
Standards, by Service and Gender
The military is concerned with excess body fat due to its
Number needed to attain the minimum and maximum scores
relationship with obesity and comorbid medical conditions
for ages 17-21
such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain
types of cancer. Excess weight can cause joint pain and
Air
Marine
reduce cardiovascular capability, and can be detrimental to

Army
Force
Navy
Corps
people and equipment in space-limited situations (e.g.,
Event
Hand-
Hand-
Push-ups
Pul -ups
military aircraft and vehicles). A higher risk of comorbid
release
release
conditions for servicemembers and veterans also has
push-ups
push-ups
longer-term health care cost implications.
Male
min: 10
min:15
min: 46
min: 9
The standards have become a subject of debate in Congress
max: 57
max: 40
max: 92
max: 20
and among other observers and military leaders. Some have
Female
min: 10
min: 6
min: 20
min: 1
expressed concern that current standards are outdated,
max: 53
max: 31
max: 51
max: 7
unscientific, or unsuited to current military job
Source: 2022 fitness tests of record for each service.
requirements, and may not predict performance in combat
Note: The Space Force has an alternate fitness assessment protocol.
conditions. They have also argued that there is potential for
gender-bias in existing standards, or have concerns that
Gender-Normed vs. Gender-Neutral Standards
these standards may incentivize harmful behaviors (e.g.,
Separate from the gender-normed fitness standards, DOD
eating disorders). Some military leaders have highlighted
policy requires gender-neutral occupational-specific
recruiting challenges, in part related to ineligibility of some
standards for physically demanding career fields in
civilian youth under existing height and weight standards.
accordance with statutory requirements (10 U.S.C §113
Proponents of the standards argue that reducing or waiving
note). Congress first required these gender-neutral
standards could weaken the military’s combat capabilities.
standards as part of the FY1994 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA, P.L. 103-160§543). Congress
Background and Authorities
amended the law in the FY2014 and FY2015 NDAAs (P.L.
Title 10, Section 113 of the U.S. Code delegates authority,
113-291 §524 and P.L. 114-92 §525) to require that gender-
direction, and control of the DOD to the Secretary of
neutral occupational standards (1) accurately predict
Defense (SECDEF). In addition, 10 U.S.C. §§505 and 532
performance of actual, regular, and recurring duties of a
provide for the enlistment or appointment of “able-bodied”
military occupation; (2) are applied equitably to measure
and “physically qualified” recruits. Under these authorities,
individual capabilities; and (3) measure the combat
the SECDEF has established policies on minimum physical
readiness of combat units, including special operations
fitness and body composition standards. The services then
forces. In general, while gender-neutral standards measure
set their own standards based on these parameters.
an individual’s ability to successfully complete an
DOD Instruction 1308.03, DoD Physical Fitness/Body
occupational-specific task (e.g., infantry maneuver under
Composition Program, establishes allowable body mass
fire), fitness standards assess overall health and fitness for
index (BMI) and body fat (BF) percentages for
general duty conditions.
servicemembers by gender. The policy requires each
service to develop science-based physical fitness tests that
Several studies have found that, on average, men have
measure individual cardiorespiratory endurance (typically a
greater muscle mass, cardiovascular capacity, and load-
timed run) and muscular strength and endurance (e.g., sit-
bearing capabilities than women. The services account for
ups, pull-ups/push-ups) for all service occupations. DOD
these physiological differences through gender-normed
fitness standards. (These standards are also scaled for age.)
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link to page 2 Defense Primer: Military Physical Fitness Testing and Body Composition Program
Likewise, average body fat percentages vary by gender,
halted implementation in the FY2021 NDAA (P.L. 116-283
with women having proportionally more fat mass and men
§598) pending the results of an independent study. The
having more muscle mass. According to the American
resulting RAND study of the ACFT found disparate
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for people aged 20 to 39,
impacts in pass rates by gender, age, military occupational
women should aim for 21%-32% of body fat and men
specialty, and component (with Reserve Component
should aim for 8%-19%. These are generally considered
members having lower pass rates). The Army transitioned
“healthy body fat percentages.” Some health experts have
to age and gender-normed scoring in 2022.
found that women and men store fat differently in their
bodies; women tend to store fat in their thigh area, while
The Space Force is reportedly piloting wearable fitness
men store fat in their abdominal areas. These differences
devices in an attempt to potentially remove a physical
are a factor in how the military measures body fat for men
fitness test requirement entirely and better monitor
and women (sometimes referred to as “tape-testing”). For
servicemembers’ overall health, including sleep patterns.
instance, body fat for a man is measured by comparing the
Some studies have found associations between physical
circumferences of the neck and waist, while body fat for a
fitness testing periods and negative behaviors among
woman is measured by comparing the circumferences of the
military personnel to quickly lose weight (e.g., self-induced
neck, smallest point of the waist, and largest point of the
vomiting, use of diuretics or laxatives). More frequent
hips. Table 2 lists allowable DOD body fat limits.
fitness monitoring through the use of wearables (vice
annual testing) could incentivize healthier eating and
Table 2. DOD Body Fat Limits by Gender
exercise habits; however, privacy concerns and scalability
Gender
DOD-allowable limits
of this approach may limit broader application.
Men
18%-26%
Accommodations for Pregnant and Post-Partum
Servicemembers. Adherence to body composition and
Women
26%-36%
fitness standards may be more challenging for pregnant,
Source: DODI 1308.03.
post-partum, and nursing servicemembers due to
Note: DOD policy restricts the services from establishing body fat
anatomical and physiological changes—some of which can
percentage limits below or above the al owable parameters. These
be long-lasting beyond the post-partum period (e.g., hip-
standards do not vary by age.
widening, diminished abdominal strength). Failure to meet
military standards could have a disparate impact on
Considerations for Congress
promotion, assignments, and retention for post-partum
Congress may consider legislation or oversight activities to
servicemembers. The services have policies that provide
address certain perceived issues with military fitness and
exemptions from testing for a specified period of time. In
body composition standards.
the FY2022 NDAA (P.L. 117-81), Congress included a
provision (§621) allowing those who give birth to be
Reliability of Standards and Alternative Testing
exempt from testing for 12 months following the birth. The
Protocols. Some researchers have argued that current
law requires the services to implement this policy by
physical fitness and body composition standards and
December 27, 2022. Congress may continue to monitor
measurement protocols fail to take into account variations
implementation of this policy and any implications for
in body type by race and gender. The Senate Armed
individual career progression and military readiness.
Services Committee report S.Rept. 117-39 accompanying
the FY2022 NDAA (P.L. 117-81) noted that current body
Recruiting. One original function of body composition
composition standards are “based on archaic, homogeneous
standards was to exclude underweight individuals from
data and standards that can be discriminatory,” and
military service due to inability to handle weight-bearing
commends a study by the Army Research Institute of
and physically demanding activities. In recent decades,
Environmental Medicine and the Marine Corps’ Human
more applicants for military service have been disqualified
Performance Branch using modern technology (e.g., body
for being overweight than underweight. According to July
scans) and assumptions to update military body
19, 2022, testimony by the Army Vice Chief of Staff, only
composition standards.
23% of the service-eligible civilian adult population meets
the physical and mental fitness and academic proficiency
In terms of measurement tools and protocols, some experts
standards set by the military without a waiver. Some of the
deem the tape-testing technique to be less accurate than
other techniques such as the “
options to address these challenges may be to lower
BodPod,” which measures
accession/retention standards—particularly for less-
pressure changes within a closed chamber to determine
physically demanding military career paths, enhance entry-
muscle and body fat volume. While the Army and Air
level training programs, or adopt broader national public
Force have this system available at several installations,
health initiatives to improve youth fitness and nutrition.
there may be cost and access barriers to implementing
(For more background, see CRS In Focus IF11708, Obesity
advanced body fat measuring systems across the services.
in the United States and Effects on Military Recruiting.)
Certain services have piloted or implemented alternative
testing programs. For example, in 2019 the Army began
Elena Spielmann contributed research and analysis to this
implementing the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) to
report.
better assess servicemembers’ physical preparedness for
combat-related tasks (e.g., carrying ammunition cans). The
Kristy N. Kamarck, Specialist in Military Manpower
Army intended to replace its legacy gender and age-neutral
IF12192
fitness test and scoring with the ACFT. However, Congress
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Defense Primer: Military Physical Fitness Testing and Body Composition Program

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