https://crsreports.congress.gov
August 15, 2022
Defense Primer: Military Physical Fitness Testing and Body
Composition Program
Under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, Congress has
broad authority over the Armed Forces and, as such, has a
duty to maintain physically capable forces to conduct a
range of military operations. Various statutes authorize the
Department of Defense (DOD) to determine physical
fitness and body composition standards for servicemembers
and individuals entering military service. The services also
use physical fitness and body composition standards when
considering certain career assignments and advancement.
These standards are intended to support good health,
physical readiness, and professional military appearance.
The military is concerned with excess body fat due to its
relationship with obesity and comorbid medical conditions
such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain
types of cancer. Excess weight can cause joint pain and
reduce cardiovascular capability, and can be detrimental to
people and equipment in space-limited situations (e.g.,
military aircraft and vehicles). A higher risk of comorbid
conditions for servicemembers and veterans also has
longer-term health care cost implications.
The standards have become a subject of debate in Congress
and among other observers and military leaders. Some have
expressed concern that current standards are outdated,
unscientific, or unsuited to current military job
requirements, and may not predict performance in combat
conditions. They have also argued that there is potential for
gender-bias in existing standards, or have concerns that
these standards may incentivize harmful behaviors (e.g.,
eating disorders). Some military leaders have highlighted
recruiting challenges, in part related to ineligibility of some
civilian youth under existing height and weight standards.
Proponents of the standards argue that reducing or waiving
standards could weaken the military’s combat capabilities.
Background and Authorities
Title 10, Section 113 of the U.S. Code delegates authority,
direction, and control of the DOD to the Secretary of
Defense (SECDEF). In addition, 10 U.S.C. §§505 and 532
provide for the enlistment or appointment of “able-bodied”
and “physically qualified” recruits. Under these authorities,
the SECDEF has established policies on minimum physical
fitness and body composition standards. The services then
set their own standards based on these parameters.
DOD Instruction 1308.03, DoD Physical Fitness/Body
Composition Program, establishes allowable body mass
index (BMI) and body fat (BF) percentages for
servicemembers by gender. The policy requires each
service to develop science-based physical fitness tests that
measure individual cardiorespiratory endurance (typically a
timed run) and muscular strength and endurance (e.g., sit-
ups, pull-ups/push-ups) for all service occupations. DOD
policy also states that these standards may be adjusted for
age and gender, or “gender-normed” (see Table 1 for
sample comparison). The services generally administer
physical fitness testing and measure body composition on at
least an annual basis, with some waivers for health or
pregnancy-related conditions. Servicemembers who fail to
meet the physical fitness and body composition standards
may be placed in remedial programs, denied reenlistment,
or subject to separation from the military.
Table 1. Comparison of Upper Body Strength Fitness
Standards, by Service and Gender
Number needed to attain the minimum and maximum scores
for ages 17-21
Source: 2022 fitness tests of record for each service.
Note: The Space Force has an alternate fitness assessment protocol.
Gender-Normed vs. Gender-Neutral Standards
Separate from the gender-normed fitness standards, DOD
policy requires gender-neutral occupational-specific
standards for physically demanding career fields in
accordance with statutory requirements (10 U.S.C §113
note). Congress first required these gender-neutral
standards as part of the FY1994 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA, P.L. 103-160§543). Congress
amended the law in the FY2014 and FY2015 NDAAs (P.L.
113-291 §524 and P.L. 114-92 §525) to require that gender-
neutral occupational standards (1) accurately predict
performance of actual, regular, and recurring duties of a
military occupation; (2) are applied equitably to measure
individual capabilities; and (3) measure the combat
readiness of combat units, including special operations
forces. In general, while gender-neutral standards measure
an individual’s ability to successfully complete an
occupational-specific task (e.g., infantry maneuver under
fire), fitness standards assess overall health and fitness for
general duty conditions.
Several studies have found that, on average, men have
greater muscle mass, cardiovascular capacity, and load-
bearing capabilities than women. The services account for
these physiological differences through gender-normed
fitness standards. (These standards are also scaled for age.)
