Army & Air Force: Living Large!

[93henfan]

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/t ... -troubling

[GannonFan]

Eh, with the move towards drones and autonomous flight you just need the Air Force guys to be able to sit in a video game chair. The Army is the worrisome one - now you're just a bigger target.

[bandl]

Aren't there more women in the Army and Air Force?

[BDKJMU]

Well, those statistics are pretty worthless since the army is still using a tape measure to lab whether or not someone is overweight. When I was in the ANG as I recall (its been over 15 years since I got out) it was the same as for the active guys-we were weighed before our PT tests we were given twice a year, and if our weight was over the subscribed weight limit for the particular height we then had our waist and neck measured. And if waist divided by neck measurement was over some ratio you were labeled overweight or obese. That system was worthless as titties on a bull for guys who had either skinny necks or who were into bodybuilding or any of the strength sports. You had cases of guys who were bodybuilders or into the weights with single digit/near single digit body fat who were labeled overweight or obese. It was a joke..

"....In 2013, Military Times challenged the tape test by taping 10 active-duty troops stationed in the Pacific Northwest and then putting them in a hydrostatic “dunk tank,” considered among the gold standards for determining actual body fat composition.

The results showed not once did the taping match the dunk test results. The tape test was wrong every time, and in nine out of 10 cases, the tape method measured troops’ body fat percentages higher — the worst was a 66 percent difference between the scores. The closest was nearly 12 percent off....."
https://www.armytimes.com/story/militar ... /80027440/

To me it is mind boggling that the Army (not sure about the other services) still insist on sticking to a measurement program that has been KNOWN FOR DECADES to be HIGHLY INACCURATE.

[93henfan]

The Marine Corps uses a height/weight chart developed in the 1950s. Still.

At 5'9", my max weight was 186, and I was always close. The Corps does weigh-ins with each PFT as well as unannounced weigh-ins (and drug tests). You fail weigh-in and you immediately get put on remedial PT, which in the Marine Corps is not something you want to be in. The physical conditioning platoon (PCP, aka Pork Chop Platoon). Fail to get back to weight in a short time and you get a general discharge.

[Chizzang]

Aren't there more women in the Army and Air Force?

This ^ made me laugh hard...

[mrklean]

Does this go by total fat % or just body weight. When I was in the Army I was 5'11 219lbs. However, I was 9% body fat. By U.S. Army standards, I was over weight. However, During my 6 1/2 years in the U.S. Army, I scored 290 or better on all of my AFPT's.

[93henfan]

Does this go by total fat % or just body weight. When I was in the Army I was 5'11 219lbs. However, I was 9% body fat. By U.S. Army standards, I was over weight. However, During my 6 1/2 years in the U.S. Army, I scored 290 or better on all of my AFPT's.

I'm assuming that bodyfat waivers are not counted in this.

Does the Army do the bodyfat waiver like the Corps? If you were over your max weight but under the bodyfat percentage, you wouldn't be considered overweight. The Corp would tape your neck and waist, and the rough guide was if waist minus neck was under 20" you were good to go.

[mrklean]

Does this go by total fat % or just body weight. When I was in the Army I was 5'11 219lbs. However, I was 9% body fat. By U.S. Army standards, I was over weight. However, During my 6 1/2 years in the U.S. Army, I scored 290 or better on all of my AFPT's.

I'm assuming that body fat waivers are not counted in this.

Does the Army do the body fat waiver like the Corps? If you were over your max weight but under the body fat percentage, you wouldn't be considered overweight. The Corp would tape your neck and waist, and the rough guide was if waist minus neck was under 20" you were good to go.

When I entered boot-camp I was 228lbs. so I was considered overweight; however, they just keep track of your weight. We had to weight in Thursday. I'm build like a full back so I had a 18 in neck but my waist was a 34. As long as you can pass a AFPT test that's all that matters. As for the USMC, they have that image to protect. They like the skinny look.

[andy7171]

BMI works for most but not all.

My senior year at Towson I was 6'3" 275lbs with 15% body fat. I ran a 7 minute mile. But was classified as obese.

[houndawg]

I'm assuming that body fat waivers are not counted in this.

Does the Army do the body fat waiver like the Corps? If you were over your max weight but under the body fat percentage, you wouldn't be considered overweight. The Corp would tape your neck and waist, and the rough guide was if waist minus neck was under 20" you were good to go.

When I entered boot-camp I was 228lbs. so I was considered overweight; however, they just keep track of your weight. We had to weight in Thursday. I'm build like a full back so I had a 18 in neck but my waist was a 34. As long as you can pass a AFPT test that's all that matters. As for the USMC, they have that image to protect. They like the skinny look.

TV adds 15 lbs. and they make a lot of commercials.

[93henfan]

I'm assuming that body fat waivers are not counted in this.

Does the Army do the body fat waiver like the Corps? If you were over your max weight but under the body fat percentage, you wouldn't be considered overweight. The Corp would tape your neck and waist, and the rough guide was if waist minus neck was under 20" you were good to go.

When I entered boot-camp I was 228lbs. so I was considered overweight; however, they just keep track of your weight. We had to weight in Thursday. I'm build like a full back so I had a 18 in neck but my waist was a 34. As long as you can pass a AFPT test that's all that matters. As for the USMC, they have that image to protect. They like the skinny look.

There's some truth to that. I ran off the bus at Parris Island weighing 180 and left weighing 155 after the twelve weeks with a 29" waist on my final uniform fitting. Nobody beside the others here who did the same (Polson and Bobbythekid) are likely to believe that, but it's the truth. Marine Boot Camp is a schedule followed to the second, and the time to move a platoon through the chow hall is around 15-20 minutes. Platoons are sorted by height, so the short bastards like me at 5'9" got maybe 5 mins tops to eat by the time you went through all the shenanigans involved in forming a line, side stepping with your tray, and sitting down. Anything that didn't need a fork or spoon to eat was prized. You could pop the lid off yogurt and simply squeeze it into your mouth and gulp it in a couple of swallows. Mashed potatoes could be shoveled in. Chewing was a luxury that was skipped if possible.

Another fun fact was forced hydration for summer platoons like mine. After returning to the squad bay, the DIs would have everyone stand on line and attempt to drink two full canteens. Most of us could do it, but there were always the same two or three guys who would vomit each time. It was like clockwork, about halfway through the second canteen. You couldn't cheat because they felt the full canteens and then you had to hold the empty canteens upside down over your head when finished.

[mrklean]

When I entered boot-camp I was 228lbs. so I was considered overweight; however, they just keep track of your weight. We had to weight in Thursday. I'm build like a full back so I had a 18 in neck but my waist was a 34. As long as you can pass a AFPT test that's all that matters. As for the USMC, they have that image to protect. They like the skinny look.

There's some truth to that. I ran off the bus at Parris Island weighing 180 and left weighing 155 after the twelve weeks with a 29" waist on my final uniform fitting. Nobody beside the others here who did the same (Polson and Bobbythekid) are likely to believe that, but it's the truth. Marine Boot Camp is a schedule followed to the second, and the time to move a platoon through the chow hall is around 15-20 minutes. Platoons are sorted by height, so the short bastards like me at 5'9" got maybe 5 mins tops to eat by the time you went through all the shenanigans involved in forming a line, side stepping with your tray, and sitting down. Anything that didn't need a fork or spoon to eat was prized. You could pop the lid off yogurt and simply squeeze it into your mouth and gulp it in a couple of swallows. Mashed potatoes could be shoveled in. Chewing was a luxury that was skipped if possible.

Another fun fact was forced hydration for summer platoons like mine. After returning to the squad bay, the DIs would have everyone stand on line and attempt to drink two full canteens. Most of us could do it, but there were always the same two or three guys who would vomit each time. It was like clockwork, about halfway through the second canteen. You couldn't cheat because they felt the full canteens and then you had to hold the empty canteens upside down over your head when finished.

Most of this sounds like what I went through at Ft. Knox. I remembering having to drink a whole canteen of water right in-front of my Drill Sgt.