The Army Body Composition Program (formerly the Weight Control Program - WCP) requires Army personnel to maintain a certain body weight and fat percentage. Having reasonable weight and fitness standards helps soldiers handle the demands of their work in the field and reduces injury rates during training cycles and deployments. 

Oftentimes body composition issues can affect the attitude and morale of the individual soldier and the unit to which he or she belongs.

Soldiers are weighed at least twice per year (usually in conjunction with the Army Physical Fitness Test, to ensure they meet Army standards for weight and fitness.

Exceeding Army Body Fat Standards

Soldiers who exceed the maximum weight shown on the charts below during an exam will be measured for body-fat content. If they exceed the Army's body fat standards, they'll be put on a weight management program, which provides guidance to lose weight at a healthy pace. 

Those who fail to make satisfactory progress while in the weight management program may be subject to involuntary discharge.

If you fall below the minimum weight shown in that column of the table, you will be referred by your commander for immediate medical evaluation. If possible, it's best to try to get into top physical shape before joining the Army or other branches of the U.S. military, making it easier to stay fit, rather than always trying to just meet the minimum standards.

The standards are different for men and women.​​

Male Weight to Height Table - Screening Table Weight

Height (inches)	Weight (pounds)	Age  17-20	Age 21-27	Age 28-39	Age 40+
58	91	-	-	-	-
59	94	-	-	-	-
60	97	132	136	139	141
61	100	136	140	144	146
62	104	141	144	148	150
63	107	145	149	153	155
64	110	150	154	158	160
65	114	155	159	163	165
66	117	160	163	168	170
67	121	165	169	174	176
68	125	170	174	179	181
69	128	175	179	184	186
70	132	180	185	189	192
71	136	185	189	194	197
72	140	190	195	200	203
73	144	195	200	205	208
74	148	201	206	211	214
75	152	206	212	217	220
76	156	212	217	223	226
77	160	218	223	229	232
78	164	223	229	235	238
79	168	229	235	241	244
80	173	234	240	247	250

For heights over 80 inches, add six pounds per inch for males.

Army Maximum Body Fat Standards for Men

Age 17-20 = 20 percent
Age 21-27 = 22 percent
Age 28-39 = 24 percent
Age 40+ = 26 percent

Female Weight to Height Table - Screening Table Weight

Weight (pounds) Height (inches) Age 17-20 Age 21-27 Age 28-39 Age 40 plus 58 91 119 121 122 123 59 94 124 125 126 128 60 97 128 129 131 133 61 100 132 134 135 137 62 104 136 138 140 142 63 107 141 143 144 146 64 110 145 147 149 151 65 114 150 152 154 156 66 117 155 156 158 161 67 121 159 161 163 166 68 125 164 166 168 171 69 128 169 171 173 176 70 132 174 176 178 181 71 136 179 181 183 186 72 140 184 186 188 191 73 144 189 191 194 197 74 148 194 197 199 202 75 152 200 202 204 208 76 156 205 207 210 213 77 160 210 213 215 219 78 164 216 218 221 225 79 168 221 224 227 230

For heights over 80 inches, add five pounds per inch for females.

Army Maximum Body Fat Standards for Women

Age 17-20 = 30 percent
Age 21-27 = 32 percent
Age 28-39 = 34 percent
Age 40+ = 36 percent

Staying Fit in the Army

Keeping within height and weight standards of the Army is mandatory for all active duty and reserve soldiers. For most Army jobs there's enough physical activity involved to ensure that a soldier's weight and body fat composition stays low, but for those assigned to desk duty, it's best to get into a regular physical fitness regimen to avoid putting on extra unwanted pounds.

The Army does not allow individual soldiers to have poor body composition for a prolonged period of time, as it may cause disruption to his unit. 

For the individual soldier who is overweight, performance declines and the risk of developing work-related injury increases. They're also at higher risk of long-term disease. 

Graduate rates from Basic are also tied into similar statistics also yielding a greater chance of injury and failure to complete training.