fat asses

[JOE-BOO]

I am 21.??% at every tape test and normally have to go out of my way to pass the test. Yet, I consistantly scored 290 and above. Even ran 14:28 2-mile on a rehabbing knee. Of course I am not anywhere near 21% either.

The silver lining of this might be that....
1. They will finally start to use a method of body-fat measurement that has some sort of Science to it.

2. They will raise the physical standards to combat the fat-ass problem....so that fat-asses with thick necks don't pass as easily and athletes with large frames and regular necks are not labeled as fat-asses in their records.

Otherwise this is a fuck-up.

------------------
IT AIN'T THE
BARK...IT AIN'T THE
GROWL...ITS THE BITE THAT
HURTS
11ZULU

[Razor]

As much as it bothers me to see an overweight soldier in MY uniform, I don't really take much creedence in the bodyfat standards the Army uses. The height/weight tables are pretty strict, in my unscientific opinion. There are plenty of very good, physically fit soldiers that are carrying a greater percentage of body fat than what the standard deems appropriate.

IMO, the Army should be more concerned with performance on the APFT and how the solider's leaders perceive the solider's performance. Can he carry his share of the load? Can he do his job? There is a standardized fitness test that encompasses all branches and jobs. For branch/job specific fitness, NCOs/Os in the solider's CoC are the best judges for day-to-day performance. Worry less about if the soldier looks 'pudgy', and more about his ability to do his job and not be responsible for endangering his peers because he can't hang.

Joey, the Army uses the circumferential measurement test for the same reason it uses the current APFT format--its easy to measure, and uses very little equipment. Are either of these tests the most accurate method to measure bodyfat percentage or overall fitness? Of course not, but they can be done almost anywhere with very little resources, and produce 'reasonably' accurate results. How much time does it take to run a company through the height/weight screen, and then measure those who don't pass? Quite a while, right? Now imagine using the electrical impedence test, or the neutral bouyancy test. Can you even begin to fathom the time involved? More importantly, think of how much that would cost. Frankly, I'd rather use all that extra time and money to train the entire unit. Let my MFT take the soldier that didn't pass the bodyfat test and help him with trying to lose the weight (if we're going to worry about this) through additional, effective exercise and diet counseling one-on-one. Cheap solution, and takes almost no training time from the rest of the unit. No, this is not the very best solution possible for the individual, but it is a good solution, and the entire unit doesn't suffer even more training distractions.

My ranting is now complete. Please exit in an orderly fashion.

[This message has been edited by Razor (edited 11-04-2000).]

[Gary]

Zulu,

Studs will continue to get screwed in todays Army.

[abaustin]

Gary,

Outta curiousity, how do the Marines do it?

Andy

[Gunny Hicks]

The Marine Corps has a Ht/Wt chart. If you exceed your allowed weight for your height, you get tape measured. The maximum allowable body fat for a Male Marine is 18%. If you are over your allowable weight but measure in at less than 18%, you are good to go. If you are over your allowable body fat content, your are sent to a Medical officer who does a second measurement to confirm the accuracy of the first. If you are still over, you are placed on a weight control program. During this period, you can not be promoted. It is all documented, with numerous counselings, additional PT sessions, and measurements. If you fail to bring your body fat under the allowable amount before the end of the alloted time, you are discharged.
There is also the personal appearance program. Very similar, but it is used when you are within Ht/Wt and Body fat standards, but due to your body shape, you just look like a deush bag in uniform, you can be put on the personnal appearance program.

No consideration is given for your physical fitness performance. It all goes on body fat or the Commnading officers perception of how you look in your uniform.

[RogueExec]

Originally posted by Gunny Hicks:
[B]
There is also the personal appearance program. Very similar, but it is used when you are within Ht/Wt and Body fat standards, but due to your body shape, you just look like a deush bag in uniform, you can be put on the personnal appearance program.
B]

LMAO, Gunny!

[Gunny Hicks]

Funny...but true.

[Snake]

Personal Appearance Program? Details, Gunny?


Snake
25th ID(L)

[OOOnga]

The personal appearance program is pretty much what it says. REGARDLESS of your height, weight, bodyfat % or anything else, if you LOOK bad in uniform (for example, in your class "C" uniform your belly rolls over your belt) then you can be put on the personal appearance program. you then have a certain amount of time to correct the problem or pay the price.

[realpolypro]

Ht/Wt, Tape, Insurance Charts...Force XXI alright... A Tanita BF Scale costs $100 Bucks, Will do weight to within a 1/2 pound, and will do BF within a few %points...In less than 10 seconds. This is just a case of the Army (Military)being un-educated in, or too cheap to buy, modern methods/technology. I call it GPS Syndrome...You know the ancient boat anchors I'm talking about. "Well, these worked o.k. in the Gulf"... Zulu, you're probably at about 12-14% 'cuz I tape out at about 20 using the modern, highly scientific Singer sewing machine method...Then I go jump on my Tanita, while holding my Garmin GPSIII+ http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

Poly

[grrlcop74]

<looking behind her>

Hey, it's not a fatass..it's a shelf for my ALICE pack dammit.

Kristen

[WS-G]

Originally posted by Razor:
The height/weight tables are pretty strict, in my unscientific opinion. There are plenty of very good, physically fit soldiers that are carrying a greater percentage of body fat than what the standard deems appropriate.

I concur. People I've seen max the APFT have come in all shapes and sizes. As my old high-school geometry teacher used to say, "When you're solving a geometry problem, 'looks like' isn't the answer!".