THE ARMY BODY COMPOSITION PROGRAM
AR 600-9
The primary objective of the ABCP is to ensure all Soldiers achieve and maintain optimal well-being and performance under all conditions.
Secondary objectives of the ABCP are to:
(1) Assist in establishing and maintaining Operational readiness, Physical fitness, Health, and a professional military appearance in accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 670–1.
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ABCP STANDARDS
Soldiers are required to meet the prescribed body fat standard every 6 months, at a minimum, to ensure compliance with AR 600-9.
SCREENING TABLE WEIGHT:
If Soldiers do not exceed the authorized screening table weight for their age and measured height, no body fat assessment is required. If Soldiers exceed the authorized screening table weight for their age and measured height, a body fat assessment is required
COMMAND DIRECTED BODY FAT ASSESSMENT:
Commanders have the authority to direct a body fat assessment on any Soldier that they determine does not present a Soldierly appearance, regardless of whether or not the Soldier exceeds the screening table weight for his or her measured height.
METHOD OF ESTIMATING BODY FAT:
The only authorized method of estimating body fat is the circumference-based tape method.
SOLDIERS EXCEEDING THE BODY FAT STANDARD:
Soldiers identified as exceeding the body fat standard will be flagged in accordance with AR 600–8–2 and enrolled in the ABCP.
ENROLLMENT IN THE ABCP
AR 600-9, Chapter 3
Active Army and RC Soldiers who exceed body fat standards will be enrolled in the unit ABCP. Initial entry Soldiers who exceed body fat standards after 180 days from date of entry to active service will be entered in the ABCP and flagged under the provisions of AR 600–8–2 by the unit commander.
FLAG START DATE:
The FLAG start date will be the date the Soldier failed to meet the standards outline in AR 600-9. IAW AR 600–8–2, the commander has 3 working days to Flag the Soldier using DA Form 268 (Report to Suspend Favorable Personnel Actions (FLAG)).
ABCP ENROLLMENT DATE:
The Commander has 2 working days from initiation of DA Form 268 to counsel and/or notify and enroll the Soldier in the ABCP. The day that the Soldier is notified by the unit commander (or designee) that he or she has been entered in the program (see para 3–6 for guidance on notification counseling) is the official ABCP enrollment date.
SOLDIERS RESPONSIBILITIES
WHILE ENROLLED IN THE ABCP
✅ Must acknowledge enrollment in the ABCP by memorandum to the commander (see fig 3–3) within 2 working days of notification of enrollment.
✅ Read the online U.S. Army Public Health Command (USAPHC) Technical Guide (TG) 358 within 14 days of enrollment and schedule an appointment with a dietitian, if available, or health care provider.
✅ Must complete and return their Soldier Action Plan to the commander within 14 days of the notification counseling. As a part of the Soldier Action Plan, the Soldier must complete the Army MOVE!23 (http://usaphcapps. amedd.army.mil/move23/register.asp) interactive questionnaire, review the survey results, and record the retrieval code. During the nutrition counseling, the Soldier should provide this retrieval code to the dietitian or health care provider to enable him or her to review the Soldier’s responses and provide feedback.
✅ Are required to meet with a dietitian or health care provider within 30 days of enrollment in the ABCP, bring a copy of the commander’s request for nutrition counseling (fig 3–2) and their Soldier Action Plan to the dietitian for review, and provide the commander a memorandum signed by the dietitian (or health care provider if a dietitian is not available) verifying that the nutritional counseling took place.
✅ Must participate in unit monthly ABCP assessments to document their progress.
✅ Must demonstrate satisfactory progress, as defined in paragraph 3–9b, while enrolled in the ABCP and understand that failure to do so will result in bar to reenlistment or initiation of separation proceedings.
The Soldier may request a medical examination if there is reason to believe that there is an underlying medical condition that may be the direct cause of weight gain or the direct cause of the inability to lose weight or body fat.
ABCP FILE CONTENT REQUIREMENTS
✅ DA Form 268 initiating the flagging action
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MONITORING SOLDIER PROGRESS IN THE ABCP
o Monthly ABCP Assessments every 30-days to measure satisfactory progress
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MEDICAL EVALUATION IS REQUIRED WHEN:
1) Requested by the unit commander
2) Requested by the Soldier (at own expense for RC Soldier not on active duty) Soldier is being considered for separation for failure to make satisfactory progress in the ABCP (applies to AC and RC on active duty only)
3) Soldier is within 6 months of expiration term of service after the initiation of a reenlistment bar for failure to make satisfactory progress in the ABCP
ABCP PROGRAM FAILURE
A Soldier enrolled in the ABCP is considered to be failing the program if:
❌ He or she exhibits less than satisfactory progress on two consecutive monthly ABCP assessments
❌ After 6 months in the ABCP he or she still exceeds body fat standards, and exhibits less than satisfactory progress for three or more (nonconsecutive) monthly ABCP assessments.
❌ After 6 months in the ABCP he or she still exceeds body fat standards, and exhibits less than satisfactory progress for three or more (nonconsecutive) monthly ABCP assessments.
ABCP PROGRAM FAILURE PROCEDURES:
1) Medical evaluation request by the Commander
If the medical evaluation finds no underlying medical condition, then the commander will initiate
separation action, bar to reenlistment, or involuntary transfer to the IRR for RC Soldiers in accordance
with AR 140–10.2)
2) If the medical evaluation finds no underlying medical condition, then the commander will initiate
separation action, bar to reenlistment, or involuntary transfer to the IRR for RC Soldiers in accordance
with AR 140–10.
RELEASE FROM THE ABCP
Commanders and supervisors will remove individuals administratively from the ABCP as soon as the body fat standard is achieved.
NOTE: Soldiers that meet the screening table weight must remain in the ABCP program until they no longer exceed the required body fat standard.
The Commander will remove the DA Form 268 actions and counsel the Soldier on the importance of maintaining body composition and potential consequences if re-enrolled in the program within 36 months.
NOTE: Soldiers that meet the screening table weight must remain in the ABCP program until they no longer exceed the required body fat standard.
The Commander will remove the DA Form 268 actions and counsel the Soldier on the importance of maintaining body composition and potential consequences if re-enrolled in the program within 36 months.
BODY FAT ASSESSMENT FAILURE WITHIN 36-MONTHS OF ABCP RELEASE
If a Soldier again exceeds the body fat standard within 12 months after release from the ABCP, the following actions will take place:
❌ DA Form 268 (FLAG) will be initiated on the Soldier
❌ The Soldier will undergo a medical evaluation (at own expense for RC not on active duty)
If the medical evaluation finds no underlying medical condition, then the commander will initiate
separation action, bar to reenlistment, or involuntary transfer to the IRR for RC Soldiers in accordance
with AR 140–10.2)
If, after 12 months but less than 36 months from the date of release from the ABCP, it is determined that a Soldier again exceeds the body fat standard, the following actions will take place:
❌ DA Form 268 (FLAG) will be initiated on the Soldier
❌ The Soldier will undergo a medical evaluation (at own expense for RC not on active duty)
If the medical evaluation finds no underlying medical condition, the commander will re-enroll the Soldier
in the ABCP. The Soldier will have 90 days to meet the standards. Soldiers who meet the body fat
standard at the 90-day point will be released from the ABCP. Soldiers who do not meet the ABCP body fat
standard at the 90-day point are considered ABCP failures.
❌ Commanders will initiate separation action, bar to reenlistment, or transfer to the IRR per paragraph 3–12d for all Soldiers who fail to meet the body fat standard at the 90-day point.
ABCP RESOURCES
The Army Wellness Center
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