Department of the Air Force outlines new Body Composition Program for Airmen, Guardians > Air Education and Training Command > Article Display

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —
The Office of the Air Power is creating new Overall body Composition Method requirements for Airmen and Guardians soon after the stomach circumference was eradicated from the Air Pressure-specific Actual physical Health and fitness Evaluation in 2020.


Each the Air and House Forces introduced the new Waist-to-Height Ratio BCP coverage in January, with assessments to start April 2023. The Overall body Composition Evaluation is a separate and distinctive measurement that is not aspect of the DAF Bodily Physical fitness Evaluation.


WHtR measures extra body fat distribution in the belly area and is calculated by dividing midsection circumference by height. Excess body fat distribution in the abdominal region is linked with greater well being hazard.


“The target of the new method is to empower Airmen to choose demand of their overall health and fitness by way of life enhancement to improve readiness,” mentioned Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, deputy chief of team for Manpower, Personnel and Services. “Regardless of which hazard classification they drop in, everybody is inspired to acquire edge of the means obtainable to improve or retain a healthy system composition.”


Physique composition serves as an indicator of a member’s in general well being and bodily readiness. Division of Protection Instruction 1308.03, DoD Actual physical Health and fitness/Overall body Composition Plan, mandates the BCP as a necessity. Excess unwanted fat in the abdominal region impairs the body’s responsiveness to insulin. As a result, it contributes to improved wellness pitfalls these as cardiovascular conditions, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and musculoskeletal injuries, negatively impacting bodily readiness.
The DAF BCP defines the waistline as the midpoint in between the lowest rib and the prime of the hip bone, which is typically the narrowest portion of the abdomen. WHtR is expressed in the following risk groups and related criteria:


Airmen and Guardians will sustain a WHtR of < 0.55 to meet the BCP standards. Airmen will complete their assessments annually around their birth month, while Guardians will complete it within their birth quarter.
There are no mandatory actions for Airmen and Guardians meeting the BCP standards, however, members will have their WHtR reviewed during their annual medical Periodic Health Assessment. They will receive education or a referral based on their risk category and other health concerns if indicated.


Airmen and Guardians identified as not meeting the BCP standards will be enrolled into an informal, self-directed Body Composition Improvement Program for 12 months and referred to their medical treatment facility for a medical evaluation and assessment for additional risk factors.


Guardians will also be referred to Guardian Resilience Teams as they are established. GRTs will be comprised of human performance subject matter experts with different specialties who can provide a broad range of care for Guardians, including preventive care, performance optimization, skill-building, mental health care and spiritual assistance.


“Above all, our priority is to shift our Guardians’ mindset with regards to their health,” said Katharine Kelley, deputy chief of Space Operations for Human Capital. “We hope the new body composition program and associated holistic health educational resources will inspire our members to move away from an episodic fitness mentality to putting their health first every day.”


A collaborative and supportive approach will be used to assist Airmen and Guardians through providing tools, resources, and a tailored action plan to aid in making positive changes toward better health. Airmen and Guardians not meeting the BCP standard will reassess every 12 months at the next scheduled BCA or until they meet the BCP standard.


The initial results from WHtR are non-punitive during the 12-month informal self-directed BCIP. Failing to test on time, not scheduling or missing an appointment with the MTF team or becoming non-current may be cause for commander-driven administrative actions.


High risk results after the 12-month informal self-directed phase will be considered a failure to meet standards and will require enrollment in a formal self-directed BCIP that may result in consideration for administrative action, including separation for continued failures.


WHtR will be tracked via myBodyComp, a new application under the myFSS platform.


Additional information regarding implementation will be released at the installation level.



