1. Implement the Army Body Composition Program
SSI Noncommissioned Officer Academy Senior Leaders Course
Implement the Army Body Composition Program

2. Concrete Experience Break up in groups.
GROUP 1: Identify 5 things that are right with the Army Body Composition Program.
GROUP 2: Identify 5 things that are wrong with the Army Body Composition Program.

3. Learning Objective Action: Implement the Army Body Composition Program
Condition: Senior FM Leaders in a classroom environment working individually and as a member of a small group, using doctrinal and administrative publications, personal experience, and discussion.
Standard:
Describe the Army’s body composition objectives and responsibilities.
Interpret the policies and procedures of the Army Body Composition Program.
Physical fitness not only includes physical training, but proper weight maintenance.
The Army has always fostered a neat and trim appearance for its members. It is an
essential function of day-to-day effectiveness and combat readiness that all
personnel are healthy and physically fit. Commanders, supervisors, and individuals
are responsible for maintaining and enforcing proper weight and appearance
standards. This lesson provides you with the doctrinal knowledge and hands-on
proficiency to accomplish your responsibilities in analyzing the unit weight control
program. This lesson consists of a before class reading assignment, a classroom
discussion, and a practical exercise.

4. Army Body Composition Program
Primary Objective
To ensure that all Soldiers achieve and maintain optimal well-being and performance under all conditions.
Commanders’/Supervisors’ Responsibilities
Implement the ABCP.
Ensure continued evaluation of all Soldiers.
Review monthly Suspension of Favorable Personnel Actions Report for all Soldiers who are flagged or have been flagged in the past 36 months for failing to meet body fat standards.
Forward a complete ABCP file to gaining unit for Soldiers who PCS and is flagged for noncompliance with body fat standards.

5. Army Body Composition Program
Related Actions, Counseling, and Evaluation
Action, counseling, and/or
evaluation
Who
Rqmt
Timing
AC and RC on active duty
RC not on active duty
Flagging action
(DA Form 268)
Commander
Mandatory
3 working days (after Soldier determined to exceed body fat
standard)
Before end of MUTA in which Soldier is determined to exceed body fat
Notification counseling
2 working days from when DA Form 268 is initiated
No later than the next MUTA after Soldier is determined to exceed body fat
Soldier acknowledgment in ABCP
Soldier
2 working days (after Soldier receives notification counseling)
No later than the next MUTA after the notification counseling
Read USAPHC TG 358 and complete Army MOVE!23 Questionnaire
14 days (after Soldier receives notification counseling)

6. Army Body Composition Program Action, counseling, and/or
Continued…
Action, counseling, and/or
evaluation
Who
Rqmt
Timing
AC and RC on active duty
RC not on active duty
Soldier weight and body fat assessment
Commander/
Designee
Mandatory
Monthly
Soldier Action Plan
Soldier
14 days (after Soldier receives notification counseling)
No later than the next MUTA after the notification counseling
Nutrition counseling memorandum
Dietitian
(AC and RC on AD only)
Within first 30 days (after Soldier receives notification counseling)
Not applicable
Medical evaluation memorandum
Medical
Professional
Optional
Upon enrollment in ABCP (Soldier or commander may request )
Upon enrollment in ABCP (Soldier may request it) at Soldier’s own expense
Mandatory (AC
only)
Soldier is pregnant
Prior to bar to reenlistment or separation actions
(commander must request it)
Soldier is pregnant (provides documentation from health care
provider)

7. ABCP Process NO NO YES NO YES NO YES YES Meets Height/Weight Table?
Screening
Body Composition Actions NO
Meets Body Fat Standard?
1. Enter ABCP
2. Flag
3. Nutrition Counseling
4. Medical Evaluation NO
YES
Appearance Satisfactory? NO
Medical Problem?
YES NO
ABCP
YES
No Action Required
No Action Required
YES
**Medical Treatment
** Identified during evaluation.

8. ABCP Actions YES YES YES NO NO NO YES NO YES NO NO YES
Weight loss in any 2 consecutive months?
**Satisfactory Progress in 6 months?
Meets Body Fat Standard?
YES
YES
YES
1. Remove from ABCP
2. Lift Flag
ABCP NO NO
Medical Problem?
ABCP
Medical Treatment NO
YES
**Satisfactory progress is loss of 3 to 8 pounds or 1% body fat per month.
Personnel will remain in the ABCP after the initial 6-month period if they-
Still exceed the body fat standard.
Made satisfactory progress toward their weight loss or are at or below the screening table weight. NO
Meets Body Fat Standard?
YES NO
Below HT/WT Table? NO
YES
Consider for Bar / Separation
ABCP

9. Failure to Meet Body Composition Standards
Unsatisfactory Progress after any two consecutive monthly ABCP assessments.
May be referred by the commander or supervisor to health care personnel for evaluation or re-evaluation.
If unable to determine a medical reason for lack of progress, commander or supervisor will inform the individual that-
Progress is unsatisfactory.
Individual is subject to separation.
Unsatisfactory Progress after 6 Months
After a period of dieting and/or exercise for 6 months Soldiers who have not made satisfactory progress (where there is no medical reason to cause body composition condition) will be subject to Bar to Reenlistment or separation from service.
Nonpromotable
Not assigned to command, CSM or 1SG positions
Not authorized to attend professional military or institutional training courses
Denied enrollment to professional military schools if arriving overweight
Formally enrolled in the ABCP
Suspension of Favorable Personnel Actions (Flagged)

10. Why is the Tape Test Used?
Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) , DOD Physical Fitness and Body Fat Programs Procedures (5 Nov 02), provides physical and body fat procedures to ensure the Services’ weight control programs are consistent and scientifically current.
The DODI established percent body fat standards using the circumference- based method (body fat calculation equations, measurement sites, and measurement techniques).
These equations rely heavily on assessment of abdominal fat, the region of greatest interest to public health experts.
The purpose of the body fat calculation is to ensure those with extra weight due to lean muscle mass are not unfairly required to leave the military.
Lean body mass is critical to successfully perform military-unique jobs that require combat readiness.
Acceptable tape measures are made of non-stretchable (fiberglass) material

11. Are “love handles” measured when you obtain abdominal circumference?
Tape Test
Are “love handles” measured when you obtain abdominal circumference?
NO. AR describes the abdominal circumference site as being at the level of the “belly button”
Consistency in measurement is an important aspect of doing the tape test correctly.
Body circumference measurements must always be done exactly as described in AR to ensure consistency and fairness each time a Soldier is measured.
The locations to measure the various body circumferences are based on standard body sites determined by scientists who studied how to best measure body fat in males and females.
Moving the tape up or down when measuring the waist to ensure the tape includes the “love handles” is not a good practice as this clearly deviates from the scientific recommendations.

12. Underlying Medical Conditions
If a Soldier has an underlying medical condition and is being treated by a healthcare provider for that condition, is he/she exempt from AR 600-9?
A Soldier found to have a temporary underlying medical condition by a healthcare provider which directly causes weight gain or prohibits weight loss (e.g., a metabolic condition such as thyroid disease, not currently under control) may be temporarily exempt from enrollment into the ABCP. The flag will remain in place.
The Soldier is expected to be in compliance with AR effective the ending date of that prescribed period. If not, he/she will be enrolled in the ABCP.
Use of certain medications that may cause weight gain, “dead man’s” profile, and recovery from surgery / injury are not considered “underlying medical conditions” and should not be used to temporarily exempt a Soldier from enrollment in the ABCP.

13. Hospitalization
Personnel who meet AR standards and are hospitalized for 30 continuous days or more will be exempt from the standards for the duration of the hospitalization and the recovery period as specified by their profile, not to exceed 90 days from discharge from the hospital. If at the end of the specified recovery period the Soldier exceeds the allowable body fat standard, a DA Form 268 will be initiated on the Soldier and he or she will be enrolled in the ABCP.

14. Pregnant Soldiers
When and for how long is a pregnant Soldier exempt from AR 600-9?
Pregnant Soldiers are exempt from the standards of AR for the duration of pregnancy plus six months.
When initially informed of the pregnancy, the Soldier shall continue her physical fitness program under the supervision of medical authority.
The U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) has developed a scientifically based program that has proven useful. Information about the program may be found at:

15. Flagging Actions When will a Soldier be flagged for being overweight?
Effective date of flag and enrollment in the ABCP is the date on which the Soldier is found to be noncompliant.
Prior to or shortly after enrollment in the ABCP, Soldier will be provided dietary education or nutrition counseling by healthcare personnel, exercise guidance, and assistance in behavior modification (as appropriate) to help him/her meet Army standards
Are medical evaluations required before a Soldier is flagged?
NO. However, a medical evaluation will be completed when the Soldier has a medical limitation, is pregnant, or when requested by the unit commander.
A medical evaluation is also required for Soldiers being considered for separation for failing to make satisfactory progress in the ABCP or who are within six months of exiting the Service.
It is recommended that all Soldiers who are enrolled in the ABCP receive a medical evaluation; however, a medical evaluation does not exclude the Soldier from meeting body fat standards outlined in AR

16. Exemptions / Waivers
Can the commander or attending physician approve exceptions to AR 600-9?
NO. The Army G-1 is the proponent for the ABCP and approval authority for all waivers.
Commanders must provide counseling to Soldiers to establish a personal weight goal and implement the ABCP.
Healthcare personnel assist commanders and supervisors by providing weight reduction counseling, identification of pathological conditions that require medical treatment, and evaluating Soldiers with medical limitations.
Physical Profiles will not be used to excuse Soldiers from the provisions of AR
AR contains a standard memorandum for completion by a physician if there is an underlying or associated disease process that is the cause of the overweight condition.
Break up in groups.
GROUP 1: Identify 5 things that are right with the Army Body Composition Program.
GROUP 2: Identify 5 things that are wrong with the Army Body Composition Program.

17. Instructor Notes: Now that you have gone over the Army ABCP have the learners watch this video and identify the similarities and the differences between the Navy and the Army.
If video link does not work copy and paste this link:
Video is under 9 minutes.

18. Learning Objective Action: Implement the Army Body Composition Program
Condition: Senior FM Leaders in a classroom environment working individually and as a member of a small group, using doctrinal and administrative publications, personal experience, and discussion.
Standard:
Describe the Army’s body composition objectives and responsibilities.
Interpret the policies and procedures of the Army Body Composition Program.
Physical fitness not only includes physical training, but proper weight maintenance.
The Army has always fostered a neat and trim appearance for its members. It is an
essential function of day-to-day effectiveness and combat readiness that all
personnel are healthy and physically fit. Commanders, supervisors, and individuals
are responsible for maintaining and enforcing proper weight and appearance
standards. This lesson provides you with the doctrinal knowledge and hands-on
proficiency to accomplish your responsibilities in analyzing the unit weight control
program. This lesson consists of a before class reading assignment, a classroom
discussion, and a practical exercise.