The US Air Force has recently announced that it will be easing its body fat restrictions for new recruits, as part of measures aimed at expanding the pool of potential applicants in the face of an ongoing recruiting crisis. This move will allow more people to qualify for service than before, thereby boosting the number of new recruits.
Previously, the body fat percentage of male and female recruits was required to be 20% and 28%, respectively, to be eligible for service. The new benchmark for men is now 26%, while for women it is 36%, according to Air Force Recruiting Service spokesperson Leslie Brown.
This change was made based on the recommendation of a team led by Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, which was initially formed to look at recruitment challenges. The team anticipates that it will result in 50 to 100 more people joining the Air Force each month.
The American Council on Exercise categorizes people with a body fat percentage of over 25% for men and 32% for women as being obese. The old Air Force benchmark, however, fell within the range of “acceptable” fat, according to the organization. The change reflects an effort to adapt to the national obesity crisis that has hindered military recruitment compared to previous, leaner decades.
A study from Johns Hopkins University published in 2021 and updated in February found that more than half of Americans aged 18-25 are overweight or obese, based on their body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measure of body composition calculated by dividing a person’s weight by their height. The proportion of Americans in that age range with a BMI indicating normal weight fell from about 70% to 34% between 1976 and 2018, the study found.
Despite the body fat easing, weight is not the only factor holding the Air Force back from meeting its active-duty recruiting target by about 4,100 people. According to Air Force Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, the strong civilian job market and a lack of interest in the military have become major roadblocks among young Americans.
Moreover, the Pentagon still has dozens of other health restrictions, ranging from eczema to diabetes to the use of antidepressants, that can disqualify applicants. In addition, regardless of their body composition when they join, new airmen will be subjected to the same annual fitness tests and standards as everyone else.
This month, the Air Force begins its new body composition test that relies on a person’s height-to-waist ratio, rather than measuring their abdominal circumference, to assess their health. The service warns that excess abdominal fat can increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and musculoskeletal injuries.
Service members are instructed to wrap a tape measure around the narrowest point on the abdomen – “the midpoint between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone,” the Air Force said. Divide that number by the height in inches. People meet the new standard if it is less than 0.55, or are considered “high risk” if they exceed 0.55. While people won’t be punished for at least a year if they fail, commanders can still reprimand troops for missing subsequent tests or meetings. And if an Airman isn’t in better shape after 12 months, the service will send them to a formal training program and consider administrative action, including separation.
In conclusion, the Air Force’s decision to ease body fat restrictions highlights the need to adapt to changing recruitment challenges and the national obesity crisis. As long as applicants meet the new standard, they will be able to join the Air Force and undergo the same rigorous tests and standards as their peers. By doing so, the Air Force will be able to attract and retain high-quality recruits and overcome recruitment challenges in the years to come.
