Are you considering joining the Navy? There are over 346,000 personnel on active duty currently serving in the United States Navy.
However, don’t worry, because there are plenty of spots available for new applicants every year.
In fact, on average, the U.S. Navy recruits over 37,000 new members into its ranks every year.
Navy Height and Weight Standards Chart
The U.S. Navy no longer uses a traditional height and weight chart as the primary screening tool.
While minimum and maximum height requirements for enlistment still exist, body composition is now primarily evaluated using a Maximum Waist for Height Screening Table.
Below is the Navy’s Maximum Waist for Height Screening Table, which applies to both male and female applicants for Active Duty and Reserve service.
This table establishes the maximum allowable waist circumference based on an applicant’s height.
| Height (inches) | Max Waist Allowed (inches) | Resulting Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | 26 | 0.5417 |
| 48.5 | 26.5 | 0.5464 |
| 49 | 26.5 | 0.5408 |
| 49.5 | 27 | 0.5455 |
| 50 | 27 | 0.54 |
| 50.5 | 27.5 | 0.5446 |
| 51 | 28 | 0.549 |
| 51.5 | 28 | 0.5437 |
| 52 | 28.5 | 0.5481 |
| 52.5 | 28.5 | 0.5429 |
| 53 | 29 | 0.5472 |
| 53.5 | 29 | 0.5421 |
| 54 | 29.5 | 0.5463 |
| 54.5 | 29.5 | 0.5413 |
| 55 | 30 | 0.5455 |
| 55.5 | 30.5 | 0.5495 |
| 56 | 30.5 | 0.5446 |
| 56.5 | 31 | 0.5487 |
| 57 | 31 | 0.5439 |
| 57.5 | 31.5 | 0.5478 |
| 58 | 31.5 | 0.5431 |
| 58.5 | 32 | 0.547 |
| 59 | 32 | 0.5424 |
| 59.5 | 32.5 | 0.5462 |
| 60 | 32.5 | 0.5417 |
| 60.5 | 33 | 0.5455 |
| 61 | 33.5 | 0.5492 |
| 61.5 | 33.5 | 0.5447 |
| 62 | 34 | 0.5484 |
| 62.5 | 34 | 0.544 |
| 63 | 34.5 | 0.5476 |
| 63.5 | 34.5 | 0.5433 |
| 64 | 35 | 0.5469 |
| 64.5 | 35 | 0.5426 |
| 65 | 35.5 | 0.5462 |
| 65.5 | 36 | 0.5496 |
| 66 | 36 | 0.5455 |
| 66.5 | 36.5 | 0.5489 |
| 67 | 36.5 | 0.5448 |
| 67.5 | 37 | 0.5481 |
| 68 | 37 | 0.5441 |
| 68.5 | 37.5 | 0.5474 |
| 69 | 37.5 | 0.5435 |
| 69.5 | 38 | 0.5468 |
| 70 | 38 | 0.5429 |
| 70.5 | 38.5 | 0.5461 |
| 71 | 39 | 0.5493 |
| 71.5 | 39 | 0.5455 |
| 72 | 39.5 | 0.5486 |
| 72.5 | 39.5 | 0.5448 |
| 73 | 40 | 0.5479 |
| 73.5 | 40 | 0.5442 |
| 74 | 40.5 | 0.5473 |
| 74.5 | 40.5 | 0.5436 |
| 75 | 41 | 0.5467 |
| 75.5 | 41.5 | 0.5497 |
| 76 | 41.5 | 0.5461 |
| 76.5 | 42 | 0.549 |
| 77 | 42 | 0.5455 |
| 77.5 | 42.5 | 0.5484 |
| 78 | 42.5 | 0.5449 |
| 78.5 | 43 | 0.5478 |
| 79 | 43 | 0.5443 |
| 79.5 | 43.5 | 0.5472 |
| 80 | 43.5 | 0.5438 |
| 80.5 | 44 | 0.5466 |
| 81 | 44.5 | 0.5494 |
| 81.5 | 44.5 | 0.546 |
| 82 | 45 | 0.5488 |
| 82.5 | 45 | 0.5455 |
| 83 | 45.5 | 0.5482 |
| 83.5 | 45.5 | 0.5449 |
More About The Navy and These Standards
The Navy is called upon when there is a threat at sea or coming from the sea. They apply maritime powers in their offensive operations when countering enemies and in their defensive operations to protect U.S. territory and trade.
Before you join this military service, there are several requirements you need to fulfill ranging from height and weight guidelines to age and passing physical fitness tests.
In this post, we will discuss the Navy’s current body composition standards. Meeting the required waist-to-height and body fat standards takes effort and determination.
Once you join the Navy, you are required to meet body composition and Physical Readiness Test (PRT) standards on a recurring basis.
These requirements get more challenging as you get older because they are always strict.
Therefore, you have to eat right and keep fit all the time.
All officers and enlisted personnel, including those serving on Active Duty or in the Reserves, must meet Navy body composition standards based on waist circumference relative to height.
Waist circumference measurement is now the primary screening method used to determine whether an applicant meets Navy body composition requirements.
Navy Body Composition Screening
The Navy now uses a waist-to-height screening process as the initial method to evaluate body composition. Applicants who exceed the maximum allowable waist measurement for their height are subject to further body fat assessment.
While the Navy no longer uses minimum weight charts for general screening, Body Mass Index (BMI) is still used by medical personnel to identify applicants who may be underweight.
If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of below 19, the Chief Medical Office at the respective Military Entrance Processing Station will conduct further screenings on you.
These assessments are meant to determine if you have any psychiatric or medical condition that is making you underweight.
The physician conducts a thorough body examination and checks your medical history.
Related Article: Can You Join The Military With ADHD?
You can proceed and qualify to serve with a BMI of 17.5 as long as you don’t have any underlying problems. However, you may be provisionally disqualified if you are below 17.5 BMI as long you are physically fit with a good appetite. You will have to wait for 4 days for each pound increment.
Another thing
Before attending the Navy’s boot camp, you need to pass the Navy Physical Fitness Test or PRT test while in the Delayed Entry Program before you join the rest of the enlisted applicants. This is to ensure that you are physically fit for the challenges awaiting you at boot camp.
If you fail to meet body composition standards during screening, further evaluation may be required before you can ship to boot camp.
Abdominal Circumference Measurement (ACM)
Waist circumference measurement is the Navy’s primary body composition screening method.
Maximum allowable waist measurements vary by height. However, general screening thresholds are approximately 39 inches for men and 35.5 inches for women.
Body Fat Measurement
Applicants who exceed the maximum waist measurement for their height are evaluated using Navy body fat standards.
If you fail to meet the height/weight standards as well as abdominal circumference measurement, then you will undergo further screening to determine your body fat percentage.
For men, you need to not exceed 26% body fat. This figure is arrived at after taking abdomen measurements and neck measurements.
For women, they need not exceed 36% body fat, which is determined by taking hip, waist, and neck measurements.
As of March 2023, Navy applicants with a higher AFQT score of 50 may be waived to join. This program includes men who don’t exceed 32% body fat and women who don’t exceed 42%.
This new FSCP program gives new recruits three weeks of physical and dietary training at Great Lakes to help them meet the standards to enter boot camp.
And if you don’t manage to meet the standards after three weeks, the Navy allows you three more training periods to qualify.
Bottom Line
Joining the U.S. Navy requires determination and physical toughness. You not only need to meet and exceed the listed requirements; but you must also be willing to push your body to the limits.
We hope to have answered all the questions you had regarding the Navy’s height and weight measurements. However, in case you have any questions, you can engage us in our comment box.
Resources
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References
1. https://www.navy.com/joining-the-navy/requirements-to-join
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