MARADMIN 066/26 - Change 1 to the Advance Notification of Changes to the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test and Body Composition Evaluation Process

Scope

MARADMIN 066/26 announces Change 1 to MARADMIN 613/25, the advance notification of changes to the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test and Body Composition Evaluation process. The change implements Secretary of War (SECWAR) additional guidance on body composition evaluations and standards. Effective 2026-01-01, the semiannual height and weight requirement is replaced with a waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) methodology and a subsequent body fat evaluation for any Marine exceeding the WHtR. During calendar year 2026 the Service continues to weigh Marines to assess the change. Weight is not used for body composition evaluation. Applicability is the Marine Corps Total Force.

Audience

• Marines. Receive the WHtR evaluation. Receive the body fat evaluation when exceeding WHtR.
• Body composition evaluators. Apply the same-sex evaluator rule. Measure the waist at the navel parallel to the deck using a self-tensioning taping device. Measure twice. Take the lower measurement. Round down to the nearest 1/2 inch.
• Unit commanders. Run the WHtR semiannual evaluation. Approve BCP assignments. Submit reevaluation waivers through the chain.
• Reporting officials (RS and RO). Apply the new directed comments on the FITREP. Enter 000 in Section A Item 8.d (height) and 8.e (weight). Leave Item 8.f (body fat) blank.
• General officers. Endorse waiver requests as the first General Officer in the chain before forwarding to DC Training and Education.
• DC Training and Education. Adjudicates waiver requests submitted via ETMS2 to USMC TECOM no later than 2026-05-01.
• S-1 staff and adjutants. Document waist, height, weight (in 2026), and body fat in MCTIMS at the respective calendar event. Retain at the unit level pending information system updates.

Body composition rules

• WHtR standard. Less than 0.52, regardless of sex.
• WHtR computation. Waist measurement divided by height measurement.
• WHtR is a health risk assessment. Not a direct body fat measurement.
• WHtR table. Maximum waist measurement per height, accounting for rounding. Heights from 53 inches to 84 inches in 1/2 inch increments. Use the rounded recorded values.
• Marines exceeding the WHtR undergo a body fat evaluation under MCO 6110.3A.

Body fat evaluation methods

• Multi-site tape test. Continues under MCO 6110.3A.
• Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Replaces the tape test once Marine Corps wide device fielding completes.
• Marines select either method for the initial body fat calculation when an approved BIA device is readily accessible.
• Marines who exceed the initial method must be evaluated using the alternative method.
• Marines exceeding both methods enter the Body Composition Program (BCP).

Physical performance considerations

• 285 or higher on the PFT and CFT. Up to 26 percent body fat for males and 36 percent body fat for females. Marines exceeding these process for BCP regardless of PFT or CFT performance.
• 250 or higher on the PFT and CFT. Plus 1 percent body fat to the respective maximum, not to exceed the values in paragraph 2.c.1 of the MARADMIN.
• Eligibility. Applies only to Marines with a 1st class (class 1) PFT and CFT in the current semiannual period. No medical (class 5), partial (class 8), or deployment waiver (class 9). When WHtR or body fat evaluation occurs before the fitness test or before recording a waiver or exemption, the prior calendar year score applies if it meets the 1st class requirement.

Administrative guidance

• WHtR evaluations are semiannual for both active and reserve components.
• Marines who completed a height and weight evaluation between 2026-01-01 and the release of this MARADMIN reevaluate using the revised process.
• Reevaluation waivers. Individual or unit. Endorsed by the first General Officer. Forwarded to DC Training and Education through ETMS2 to USMC TECOM. Unit waivers include a by-name roster with EDIPI. Deadline 2026-05-01.
• Marines currently assigned to BCP. Reevaluate under the revised process. BCP assignments on or after 2026-01-01 reevaluate using WHtR. Marines within WHtR have the BCP assignment deleted as erroneous. Marines outside WHtR continue on the existing BCP timeline under MCO 6110.3A.
• BCP assignments signed before 2026-01-01 continue on the existing timeline. No restart. No erroneous deletion.

Measurement procedure

1. Waist measurement. At the navel, parallel to the deck, self-tensioning taping device. Evaluator the same sex as the Marine. Measure twice. Select the lower of the two measurements. Round down to the nearest 1/2 inch. Record the result.
2. Height measurement. Under MCO 6110.3A. Round down to the nearest 1/2 inch. Record.
3. Multi-site tape test. Continue under MCO 6110.3A.

FITREP guidance

• Section A Item 8.d (height). Enter 000.
• Section A Item 8.e (weight). Enter 000.
• Section A Item 8.f (body fat). Leave blank.
• Within WHtR standard. Directed Comment Sect A Item 8e. The MRO current body composition evaluation is within standards.
• Exceeds WHtR but within body fat standards. Directed Comment Sect A Item 8f. The MRO current body composition evaluation is within standards.
• Exceeds WHtR and the maximum allowable body fat with no BCP waiver. Adverse report. Directed Comment Sect A Item 8e and 8f. Includes height, waist, body fat percentage by tape and by BIA, and statement the MRO is not within standards.
• Reevaluation waiver or exemption granted. Directed Comment Sect A Item 8d-f. MRO has been granted a body composition evaluation exemption or waiver per this MARADMIN or MCO 6110.3A.
• BCP assignment waiver granted. Directed Comment Sect A Item 8e and 8f. Includes the measurement values stating the MRO is outside standards but has a waiver.
• BIA assessment required and not completed by end of reporting occasion. Body composition evaluation is incomplete. Reporting officials provide a directed comment based on the last reported official body composition evaluation.
• EXMP cases unchanged.

Retention guidance

Guidance for documenting WHtR in retention requests will update through a Total Force Retention System (TFRS) message.

Action items

1. Brief Marines on the WHtR standard before the next semiannual evaluation.
2. Train evaluators on the same-sex rule and the round-down protocol.
3. Confirm a self-tensioning taping device is on hand at each evaluation site.
4. Reevaluate every Marine who completed a height and weight evaluation between 2026-01-01 and release of this MARADMIN.
5. Audit BCP assignments. Reevaluate BCP assignments dated on or after 2026-01-01 using WHtR. Delete BCP assignments where the Marine is within WHtR as erroneous.
6. Document all measurements in MCTIMS at the respective calendar event. Retain at unit level. No body composition scoresheets submit through the MCTIMS Unit Training Module until systems update.
7. Pull training materials and FAQs at https://www.fitness.marines.mil.

Connection to higher policy

• SECWAR Memorandum dated 2025-12-18. Additional guidance on military fitness standards.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MARADMIN 613/25. Advance notification of changes to the Marine Corps PFT and BCE process. The base message Change 1 amends.
• MCO 6110.3A w/Admin CH-4. Marine Corps Body Composition and Military Appearance Program.
• MCBul 6110 w/Admin CH-1. Marine Corps Bulletin on the implementation of BIA to the body composition evaluation process.
• MCO 1610.7B. Performance Evaluation System Manual. Drives the FITREP directed comments.
• IGMC FAC 6110 Body Composition and Military Appearance Program. Inspection program drawing evidence on this change.

Status

Released 2026-02-26, DTG R 261400Z FEB 26. Originator CMC Washington DC TE. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson, Deputy Commandant for Training and Education. Applicability is the Marine Corps Total Force. POCs Human Performance Branch at TECOM and Performance Branch at M&RA. WHtR effective 2026-01-01. Reevaluation waiver window closes 2026-05-01.