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PolicyAffects all reservists

PFT/Body Composition Update: WHtR Standard Clarified

MARADMIN 073/26·February 27, 2026·1 min read·Official source
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The Marine Corps just issued a small but important correction to the body composition changes announced in MARADMIN 066/26. One number changed: the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) pass standard is now officially set at 0.52 or below, and it applies the same way to every Marine regardless of sex. Everything else in MARADMIN 066/26 stays in effect.

★ Affects all reservists: The WHtR pass threshold is 0.52 or lower, for all Marines, no exceptions by sex.

Who it affects

Every Marine. SMCR, IMA, IRR, active, Reserve. If you're subject to body composition evaluation, this number applies to you.

What you need to do

Nothing complicated. Know the number: 0.52 or below passes. If you were tracking the previous version of MARADMIN 066/26 and saw different language around this standard, this message is the correction. Brief your Marines and update any unit training or prep materials accordingly.

Key dates

  • 27 Feb 2026: This message issued. Effective immediately upon release.

The official version

This is MARADMIN 073/26, which amends MARADMIN 066/26 (Change 1) and the original MARADMIN 613/25. The governing orders are MCO 6110.3A (Body Composition and Military Appearance Program) and MCBUL 6110 (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis implementation).

For questions, contact the POCs at TECOM Force Fitness (TECOM.FORCEFITNESS@USMC.MIL, 703-432-2285) or M&RA Performance Branch (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.

Resources & references

The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.

  • Advance Notification of PFT/BCE Changes (MARADMIN 613/25)MARADMIN

    This is the original message announcing changes to the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test and Body Composition Evaluation process. It forms the foundation that subsequent change messages, including this one, build upon.

  • Secretary of War Memorandum on Military Fitness StandardsReference

    This is additional guidance from the Secretary of War on military fitness standards. It provides higher-level authority behind the PFT and body composition changes being implemented.

  • Body Composition and Military Appearance Program order (MCO 6110.3A w/ Admin CH-4)Reference

    This is the Marine Corps Order governing the Body Composition and Military Appearance Program. Reservists subject to body composition standards need to know this is the governing directive.

  • Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Implementation bulletin (MCBUL 6110 w/ Admin CH-1)Reference

    This Marine Corps Bulletin covers the implementation of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in the body composition evaluation process. It is directly relevant to how body composition is now being measured.

  • Marine Corps Performance Evaluations System Manual (MCO 1610.7B/2022)Reference

    This is the governing manual for the Marine Corps performance evaluation system. It is referenced here because PFT and body composition results can affect fitness reports and evaluations.

  • Change 1 to PFT/BCE Advance Notification (MARADMIN 066/26)MARADMIN

    This is the immediate predecessor message that this MARADMIN updates. Reservists should read it alongside this message, as all instructions in it except the paragraph being corrected here remain in effect.

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PFT/Body Composition Update: WHtR Standard Clarified — Reservable