The Marine Corps has officially replaced the old height and weight screening with a waist-to-height ratio standard, effective 1 January 2026. MARADMIN 066/26 is a change to the earlier advance notice (MARADMIN 613/25) and incorporates updated guidance from the Secretary of War. The new process applies to every Marine in the Total Force, including SMCR, IMA, and IRR. If your unit has already done height and weight screenings since 1 January 2026, those Marines need to be reevaluated under the new system.
★ Affects all reservists: Height and weight screening is replaced by a waist-to-height ratio check, and every Marine must be reevaluated under the new standard regardless of when their last screening was.
Who it affects
All Marines, all components. SMCR, IMA, IRR, and active duty. The WHtR standard is the same regardless of sex.
What you need to do
For individual Marines:
- Know your numbers. Find your height in the table below and check your maximum allowable waist measurement. Waist is measured at the navel, parallel to the deck, using a self-tensioning tape. The evaluator must be the same sex as you.
- If your waist exceeds the maximum for your height, you will go to body fat evaluation. You can choose either the multi-site tape test or BIA (bioelectrical impedance analysis) for the first measurement, if your unit has an approved BIA device. If you exceed the first method, you must also do the second. You only need to pass one.
- If you score 285 or higher on both your PFT and CFT (1st class, current period, no waivers), your body fat cap is 26% (male) or 36% (female).
- If you score 250 or higher on both your PFT and CFT (1st class, current period, no waivers), you get an additional 1% on top of your standard, not to exceed the 285-point cap above.
- If you exceed both the tape test and BIA body fat standards, you will be processed for the Body Composition Program (BCP).
For leaders and unit staff:
- Marines who did a height and weight screening between 1 January 2026 and the release of this MARADMIN must be reevaluated using WHtR. Operational waivers are possible but must go up the chain to the first General Officer, then to the Deputy Commandant for Training and Education, via Enterprise Task Management Software Solution (ETMS2), addressed to
USMC TECOM, no later than 1 May 2026. Unit waiver requests require a by-name roster with each Marine's EDIPI. - Marines currently in BCP assigned on or after 1 January 2026 must be reevaluated with WHtR. If they now pass WHtR, the BCP assignment is deleted as erroneous. BCP assignments signed before 1 January 2026 continue as-is.
- Do not enter body composition data into Marine Corps information systems yet. Systems are not updated. Document everything locally (waist, height, weight, and body fat) and upload to the relevant calendar event in the Marine Corps Training Information Management System (MCTIMS). Do not submit scoresheets through the MCTIMS Unit Training Module.
- On fitness reports, enter
000for height and weight in Section A, Items 8d and 8e. Leave body fat (8f) blank. Use the directed comment language from the MARADMIN based on the Marine's outcome. See paragraph 3.g. of the source message for the exact wording required in each case.
WHtR standard table (the standard is a waist-to-height ratio below 0.52, for all Marines regardless of sex):
| Height | Max Waist |
|---|---|
| 53.0" | 27.5" |
| 53.5" | 27.5" |
| 54.0" | 28.0" |
| 54.5" | 28.0" |
| 55.0" | 28.5" |
| 55.5" | 28.5" |
| 56.0" | 29.0" |
| 56.5" | 29.0" |
| 57.0" | 29.5" |
| 57.5" | 29.5" |
| 58.0" | 30.0" |
| 58.5" | 30.0" |
| 59.0" | 30.5" |
| 59.5" | 30.5" |
| 60.0" | 31.0" |
| 60.5" | 31.0" |
| 61.0" | 31.5" |
| 61.5" | 31.5" |
| 62.0" | 32.0" |
| 62.5" | 32.5" |
| 63.0" | 32.5" |
| 63.5" | 33.0" |
| 64.0" | 33.0" |
| 64.5" | 33.5" |
| 65.0" | 33.5" |
| 65.5" | 34.0" |
| 66.0" | 34.0" |
| 66.5" | 34.5" |
| 67.0" | 34.5" |
| 67.5" | 35.0" |
| 68.0" | 35.0" |
| 68.5" | 35.5" |
| 69.0" | 35.5" |
| 69.5" | 36.0" |
| 70.0" | 36.0" |
| 70.5" | 36.5" |
| 71.0" | 36.5" |
| 71.5" | 37.0" |
| 72.0" | 37.0" |
| 72.5" | 37.5" |
| 73.0" | 37.5" |
| 73.5" | 38.0" |
| 74.0" | 38.0" |
| 74.5" | 38.5" |
| 75.0" | (verify in source -- MARADMIN text was cut off) |
Note: The MARADMIN text was cut off at 75". Confirm the 75" entry at fitness.marines.mil or with your S-1.
Key dates
- 1 January 2026: WHtR standard effective. Height and weight screening replaced.
- 1 May 2026: Deadline to submit reevaluation waiver requests via ETMS2 to
USMC TECOMfor Marines or units that cannot be reevaluated due to operational constraints. - Throughout 2026: Units will continue to record weight for research and impact assessment, but weight will not be used for body composition evaluation.
- System updates TBD: Do not enter body composition data into Marine Corps information systems until further notice.
The official version
This is MARADMIN 066/26, released 26 February 2026. It amends MARADMIN 613/25. Referenced orders include MCO 6110.3A (Body Composition and Military Appearance Program) and MCBUL 6110 (BIA implementation guidance). Additional training materials and FAQs are at fitness.marines.mil. POC for fitness standards: TECOM.FORCEFITNESS@USMC.MIL, 703-432-2285. POC for performance evaluations: smb_hqmc_a-pes@usmc.mil, 703-432-0514.
This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.