Expert: Rod Powers - 10/10/2009

Question
Sir,

Your info on multiple military websites has been a huge help to me! I am currently in a situation in which I could greatly use your assistance!

I am scheduled to leave for BMT in 2 weeks, however I just found out that I am over my Max weight (I’m -71inchs @ 207lbs). My question is, if I cant get the extra weight down in time, will I be permanently kicked out of the Military, or Air Force DEP?  Or, Will I get pulled from my job, and recycled into another career field leaving at a later date??? I’m am very concerned about this, I’ve wanted to join the Air Force my entire life, and I would hate to be kick out for something ridicules like weight.  I’ve currently been in the Air Force DEP for 5 Months.

Thank you very much for your assistance with this!

Answer
Hi Matt,

To the military, weight is not "ridicules." It is not only used as one measure of physical fitness, but also an indicator of self-discipline and military appearance and "bearing."

Once you join the Air Force, under the Air Force's new physical fitness program (which takes effect January 1, 2010 -- see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforce/a/fitnesschanges.htm), your waist will be measured twice every year. If your waist measurement exceeds 39 inches (for males of any age), you fail the entire fitness test, period. Repeated failure of the fitness test means possible demotion in rank, denial of military schools, denial of promotion, assignment restrictions, and even possible discharge!

Now, to answer your question, you will be weighed when you return to MEPS on your basic training shipping date. If you weigh more than the Air Force's accession weight chart (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/a/afmaxweight.htm), you will then be measured for "body fat" (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/bodyfat.htm).

The Air Force accession standards for "body-fat" is no more than 20 percent for males under age 30, 24 percent for males age 30 or over, 28 percent for females under age 30, and 32 percent for females age 30 or over.

If you fall within the body-fat standards you are allowed to enlist and ship to basic training. If you fail the body-fat standards, you will be discharged from the Air Force DEP.

If you are discharged from the DEP, you *might* be able to do the process all over again, and enlist again in the AF DEP, once you meet the standards, but it's going to require a waiver from the Air Force Recruiting Squadron commanding officer. The Air Force currently gets more applicants than they can use, so waiver approval is far from a sure thing. In most cases (assuming the commander is a "nice guy," and approves the waiver), you can expect him/her to require you to accept any job/aptitude program which has a quick shipping date.  After all, he/she isn't going to want to take the chance that it will happen again.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck!

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com