DOW Provides Additional Guidance On Body Composition Fitness Standards

January 13, 2026

On September 30, 2025, the Secretary of War ordered changes to Military Fitness Standards to further his mission of restoring the warrior ethos. One of those changes is the use of the waist to height ratio (WHtR) to evaluate body composition.

This memorandum serves to provide additional guidance on implementing the WHtR beginning January I, 2026. Height and weight tables will no longer be utilized to evaluate body composition. Body
Composition evaluation will align with medically validated, streamlined approaches, using WHtR to promote consistency and fairness across the Joint Force.

Body composition is a vital component for the warrior ethos and foundational to lethality and readiness. The upper limit for allowable WHtR for Military Service body composition policies shall be less than 0.55. With consideration to the warrior ethos, lethality, readiness, and cardiovascular health, each Military Department will evaluate Service members body composition twice per year.

See memo below:

ADDITIONAL-GUIDANCE-ON-MILITARY-FITNESS-STANDARDS Download

Staff Writer

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