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Crackdown on body fat, appearance launched

There’s no more room in the Corps for Marines carrying a few extra pounds or for those who don’t look squared-away.

That’s the message from Commandant Gen. James Conway as he launches the new body composition and military appearance programs. And there’s not much time to get in line; the changes are effective immediately.

“This is not a surprise to the Marine Corps,” said Col. Brian McGuire, physical readiness programs officer at Training and Education Command in Quantico, Va., referring to a letter Conway published in November alerting Marines of the upcoming change in policy standards. “I think the commandant was pretty clear. He wants uniformed compliance with this.”

The body composition and military appearance programs are designed to ensure Marines live up to their image as the fighting elite.

“Tendencies toward increased weight have become a dangerous trend over the last decade in our American society,” Conway said in his announcement of the programs in an Aug. 8 All-Marine message, 033/08. “But Marines are different. Even during a period of conflict, we hold ourselves to a higher standard and we must, all of us, maintain that standard. In the end it has to do with combat efficiency.”

The two programs essentially sever the link between physical fitness test scores and personal appearance and insert a commander’s assessment into the personal appearance evaluation.

Body fat requirements will slide based on age, with most Marines — generally men, between the ages of 17 and 26 — forced to hit the 18 percent mark. McGuire acknowledged that the percentage is on the lower end of the scale for healthy young men.

“The research is a bit unsettled on what the best number is,” he said. “Eighteen is challenging but attainable.”

McGuire acknowledged that for some otherwise-fit Marines, hitting the 18 percent mark may be difficult due to metabolism and body composition. Therefore, a waiver program has been instituted for some Marines.

However, Conway contends that rigid enforcement is essential.

An “inspector general of the Marine Corps review of body composition programs indicates we still have Marines that fail to meet body composition standards who are not assigned to a [body composition program],” he wrote. “This impacts combat efficiency and effectiveness and, unfortunately, is a clear indicator of some commanders’ failure to enforce standards.”

Marines who fail to meet the standards will first be enrolled in an informal program conducted by either an executive officer or a senior enlisted adviser.

The first part of the informal program will be a notification period in which Marines will be issued an informal letter of concern and provided a 60-day action plan. No service record book or unit diary will be kept during the initial period.

If a Marine fails to meet the standards following the notification period, a letter of warning will be issued cautioning the Marine that if he fails to make the standard in the next 60 days, assignment to a formal unit program is inevitable.

No service record book or unit diary entries will be made during the cautionary period.

A Marine who fails to meet the standards following the notification and cautionary periods will be immediately assigned to a formal body composition program. A counseling entry will be made in the Marine’s service record book.

A commander will review the weight loss or reapportionment program that the Marine has been following during the previous 120 days for effectiveness and to suggest necessary adjustments, and make available every resource to help the Marine return to a suitable level of fitness, according to the AlMar.

“Finally, he will ensure the Marine understands the negative connotation associated with being assigned the program and that lack of progress could result in loss of re-enlistment options, promotion opportunities and even discharge,” Conway wrote in the message.

On the MAP

The military appearance program provides commanders with more leeway for individual discretion.

Even if a Marine is within body composition standards and height-weight standards, a commander can assign the individual to the military appearance program, normally geared toward weight redistribution, quitting smoking or adhering to a better diet. These Marines will be given the benefits of an informal program similar to the BCP.

However, a commander also has the power to determine that a Marine who falls outside the height-weight and body composition standards, but looks good in uniform, is in line with the appearance of a “squared-away Marine,” Conway wrote. McGuire said the Corps expects commanders to exercise reasonable judgment in the appearance program.

“There is a great deal of special trust we put in our commanders to be firm, fair and impartial,” he said. “We are not going to go haywire.”

But just in case, Marines assigned to the appearance program will have the right to appeal their status to the next higher officer in the chain of command to ensure fairness.

The programs, especially the military appearance portions, are bound to upset more than a few Marines, who may not have a body to grace the cover of a fitness magazine but are skilled athletes who meet the physical fitness tests’ standards.

“Admittedly, decisions to assign Marines to the body composition and military appearance programs are difficult and sometimes involve Marines who are otherwise solid performers,” Conway wrote. “It is, however, the right thing to do.”

McGuire stressed that only a “vast minority” of Marines will be snagged by the military appearance program. He also stressed that most Marines need not worry about the consequences of these programs.

“Most Marines meet and exceed standards,” he said. “There are some cases in which special attention needs to be paid.”