R 261400Z FEB 26
MARADMIN 066/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC TE//
SUBJ/CHANGE 1 TO THE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO THE MARINE
CORPS PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST AND BODY COMPOSITION EVALUATION PROCESS//
REF/A/MSGID/MSG/CMC/181400ZDEC 25//
REF/B/DOC/SECWAR MEMORANDUM/20251218//
REF/C/DOC/MCO 6110.3A W ADMIN CH-4/20160117//
REF/D/DOC/MCBUL 6110 W ADMIN CH-1/20241220//
REF/E/DOC/MCO 1610.7B/2022/20230605//
NARR/REF (A) IS MARADMIN 613/25 ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO
THE MARINE CORPS PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST AND BODY COMPOSITION
EVALUATION PROCESS. REF (B) IS ADDITIONAL SECWAR GUIDANCE ON MILITARY
FITNESS STANDARDS. REF (C) IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER FOR THE BODY
COMPOSITION AND MILITARY APPEARANCE PROGRAM. REF (D) IS THE MARINE
CORPS BULLETIN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE
ANALYSIS TO THE BODY COMPOSITION EVALUATION PROCESS. REF (E) IS
THE MARINE CORPS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS SYSTEM MANUAL//
POC/HUMAN PERFORMANCE BRANCH/T&E/QUANTICO/TEL: 703-432-2285/E-MAIL:
TECOM.FORCEFITNESS@USMC.MIL/PERFORMANCE BRANCH/M&RA/QUANTICO/TEL:
703-432-0514/E-MAIL: smb_hqmc_a-pes@usmc.mil//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. This MARADMIN announces changes to
reference (a) in accordance with the Secretary of War’s (SECWAR)
additional guidance on body composition evaluations and standards.
Except for the changes listed below, all details, instructions,
and guidance contained in reference (a) remain in effect.
2. Body Composition. Effective 1 January 2026, the current
semiannual height and weight requirement will be replaced with a
waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) methodology. The body composition
evaluation process will consist of WHtR and subsequent body fat
evaluation for those who exceed the WHtR. Physical performance
remains a consideration during body fat evaluation.
During calendar year 2026, the Service will continue to weigh
Marines to assess the impacts of these changes. In accordance
with reference (b), weight will not be used for body composition
evaluation.
2.a. Waist-to-Height Ratio. WHtR is a health risk assessment and
not a direct measurement of body fat percentage. WHtR is computed by
dividing an individual’s waist measurement by their height
measurement (i.e., waist / height = WHtR). Paragraph 6 establishes
the USMC WHtR standard and provides a height and maximum waist
measurement table. Any Marine exceeding their maximum waist
measurement, and therefore the WHtR standard, will undergo a body
composition evaluation in accordance with reference (c).
2.b. Body Fat Evaluation. The two authorized methods to measure
body fat percentage continue to be the current multi-site tape test
and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The Marine Corps body
fat standards remain unchanged. Marines who require body fat
evaluation must meet body fat standards by at least one method
regardless of the order in which they are administered. When the
unit has an approved BIA device readily accessible, the Marine may
select either method for initial calculation of body fat percentage.
Marines who exceed the initial method must be evaluated using the
alternative method. Marines who exceed body fat standards by both
the tape test and BIA shall be processed for the Marine Corps Body
Composition Program (BCP).
2.b.1. BIA devices will fully replace the tape test for measuring
body fat percentage once Marine Corps-wide device fielding has been
achieved.
2.b.2. Physical Performance Considerations.
2.b.2.a. Marines who score 285 points or higher on the PFT and CFT
are allowed up to 26 percent body fat for males and 36 percent body
fat for females in accordance with reference (b). Marines who
exceed these respective body fat percentages will be processed for
BCP regardless of PFT / CFT performance.
2.b.2.b. Marines who score 250 points or higher on the PFT and CFT
are allowed an additional 1 percent body fat to their respective
maximum standard, not to exceed the maximums listed in paragraph
2.c.1.
2.b.2.c. Physical performance considerations are only applicable
for Marines who have a 1st class [class 1] PFT and CFT in the current
semiannual period (i.e., no medical [class 5], partial [class 8], or
deployment waiver [class 9]). If a Marine executes WHtR / body fat
evaluation prior to the conduct of their fitness test or recording of
a waiver / exemption for the semiannual period, the prior calendar
year’s score shall be used, as long as it meets the 1st class
requirement defined above.
3. Administrative Guidance.
3.a. WHtR evaluations are a semiannual requirement for both active
and reserve components.
3.b. Marines who completed a height / weight evaluation between
1 January 2026 and the release of this MARADMIN are required to be
reevaluated using the revised evaluation process. Reevaluation
waiver requests for individual Marines or units may be considered due
to operational constraints. These waiver requests must be routed
through the chain of command for endorsement by the first General
Officer before being forwarded to the Deputy Commandant, Training and
Education, for consideration. Unit waiver requests must include a
by-name roster with each Marine’s name and EDIPI. All waiver
requests must be submitted via Enterprise Task Management Software
Solution (ETMS2) to the following ETMS2 addressee, “USMC TECOM”, no
later than 1 May 2026.
3.c. Marines currently assigned to, or being processed for, BCP will
conduct the body composition evaluation process in accordance with
paragraph 2 of this MARADMIN. Any Marine that was assigned to BCP
on or after 1 January 2026 will be reevaluated at the unit’s earliest
convenience using WHtR. If the Marine is within the WHtR standard,
their BCP assignment will be deleted as erroneous. If the Marine is
outside of the WHtR standard, their assignment will continue
according to the timelines outlined in reference (c).
3.c.1. All BCP assignments that were signed prior to 1 January 2026
will continue according to the timelines outlined in reference (c)
and will not be restarted or deleted as erroneous.
3.d. WHtR Measurements.
3.d.1. Male and female waist circumference will be measured at the
navel, parallel to the deck, using a self-tensioning taping device
in accordance with reference (c). The evaluator conducting the
measurement will be the same sex as the Marine being evaluated.
Evaluators will measure twice to ensure accuracy, select the lower of
the two measurements, round down to the nearest 1/2 inch, and record
the result.
3.d.2. Height will continue to be measured in accordance with
reference (c), with the exception that measurements will be rounded
down and recorded to the nearest 1/2 inch.
3.e. For the multi-site tape test, measurements will continue to be
conducted in accordance with reference (c).
3.f. Records and Documentation. No body composition measurements
will be entered in Marine Corps information systems until system
updates are complete. Additional notification and guidance will be
published once systems are online.
3.f.1. Units will continue documenting waist, height, weight
(in 2026), and body fat in accordance with references (c) and (d).
This documentation will be uploaded to the respective calendar event
in the Marine Corps Training Information Management System (MCTIMS)
and retained at the unit-level until Marine Corps information systems
are fully updated and capable of recording the documented
measurements. No body composition scoresheets will be submitted
through the MCTIMS Unit Training Module.
3.g. Fitness Report Guidance. Reporting officials submitting
performance evaluations will enter “000” in Section A, Item 8.d.
(height) and 8.e. (weight). Section A, Item 8.f. (body fat) will
remain blank for all Marines. The following directed comments will
be used to address body composition evaluation results:
3.g.1. When the MRO is within the WHtR standard, the Reporting
Senior will enter the following directed comment in Section I,
“Directed Comment. Sect A, Item 8e: The MRO’s current body
composition evaluation is within standards.”
3.g.2. When the MRO exceeds WHtR but is within body fat standards
through the BIA or multi-site tape test, with the inclusion of
physical performance considerations, the directed comment will read,
“Directed Comment. Sect A, Item 8f: The MRO’s current body
composition evaluation is within standards.”
3.g.3. When the MRO exceeds WHtR and the maximum allowable body fat
standard and has not been granted a BCP assignment waiver, the report
shall be rendered adverse and the directed comment will read,
“Directed Comment. Sect A, Item 8e and 8f: The MRO completed a body
composition evaluation with a height measurement of XX.X inches and
waist measurement of XX.X inches. The MRO’s body fat percentage was
XX percent using the multi-site tape test and XX.X percent using BIA.
MRO is not within body composition standards.”
3.g.4. When the MRO has been granted a reevaluation waiver or
exemption from conducting a body composition evaluation, the directed
comment will read, “Directed Comment Sect A, Item 8d-f: The MRO has
been granted a body composition evaluation exemption / waiver in
accordance with [this MARADMIN] or [MCO 6110.3A].”
3.g.5. When the MRO has been granted a BCP assignment waiver, the
directed comment will read, “Directed Comment. Sect A, Item 8e and
8f: The MRO completed a body composition evaluation with a height
measurement of XX.X inches and waist measurement of XX.X inches.
The MRO’s body fat percentage was XX percent using the multi-site
tape test and XX.X percent using BIA. The MRO is outside of
standards but has been granted a waiver.”
3.g.6. When a BIA assessment is required and the unit has not
completed the requirement prior to the end of the reporting occasion,
the body composition evaluation is considered incomplete and may not
be used on the fitness report. In those cases, Reporting officials
shall provide a directed comment based on the last reported official
body composition evaluation.
3.g.7. For fitness report purposes, EXMP cases remain unchanged.
3.h. Retention Guidance. Guidance for documenting WHtR in retention
requests will be updated in a forthcoming Total Force Retention
System (TFRS) message.
4. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force.
5. Detailed instructions, training materials, and frequently asked
questions are located at:
https:(slash)(slash)www.fitness.marines.mil.
6. WHtR Standard. The Marine Corps WHtR standard is <0.52,
regardless of sex. The following table represents this standard and
accounts for the rounding down of WHtR measurements. Marines shall
use the rounded and recorded height and waist values, per paragraph
3.d.1. and 3.d.2., when determining if a Marine is within standards.
Height: Max Waist:
53" 27.5”
53.5" 27.5”
54" 28.0”
54.5" 28.0”
55" 28.5”
55.5" 28.5”
56" 29.0”
56.5" 29.0”
57" 29.5”
57.5" 29.5”
58" 30.0”
58.5" 30.0”
59" 30.5”
59.5" 30.5”
60" 31.0”
60.5" 31.0”
61" 31.5”
61.5" 31.5”
62" 32.0”
62.5" 32.5”
63" 32.5”
63.5" 33.0”
64" 33.0”
64.5" 33.5”
65" 33.5”
65.5" 34.0”
66" 34.0”
66.5" 34.5”
67" 34.5”
67.5" 35.0”
68" 35.0”
68.5" 35.5”
69" 35.5”
69.5" 36.0”
70" 36.0”
70.5" 36.5”
71" 36.5”
71.5" 37.0”
72" 37.0”
72.5" 37.5”
73" 37.5”
73.5" 38.0”
74" 38.0”
74.5" 38.5”
75" 39.0”
75.5" 39.0”
76" 39.5”
76.5" 39.5”
77" 40.0”
77.5" 40.0”
78" 40.5”
78.5" 40.5”
79" 41.0”
79.5" 41.0”
80" 41.5”
80.5" 41.5”
81" 42.0”
81.5" 42.0”
82" 42.5”
82.5" 42.5”
83" 43.0”
83.5" 43.0”
84" 43.5”
7. Release authorized by LtGen Benjamin T. Watson, Deputy Commandant
for Training and Education.//