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Weight rules now more stringent for Marines

Life just got a bit more miserable for Marines struggling to keep their weight in check.

Beginning immediately, the Corps wants all commanders to evaluate those Marines assigned to the service’s body composition program, a six-month rehab designed to help troops comply with the Corps’ stringent weight standards. Those deemed “out of standard” after their evaluation must begin the BCP again, said Col. Brian McGuire, physical readiness programs officer at Training and Education Command in Quantico, Va.

The Corps outlined the new BCP guidelines in a Sept. 9 Marine administrative message. The new rules state that Marines assigned to their first BCP must complete all six months — even if they meet the Corps’ rigid weight standards sooner, the MarAdmin states.

The program, which requires most Marines to maintain no more than 18 percent body fat, “promotes a longer-lasting weight loss strategy,” McGuire said.

Moreover, it shows no kindness to troops facing administrative separation for failing to comply with weight regulations — even if they managed to drop the excess weight after separation procedures began.

“Marines being processed for discharge secondary to BCP failure are being done so after a lengthy period in which many opportunities and resources have been afforded to them in order to return to standards,” McGuire said.

Commandant Gen. James Conway introduced the more rigid BCP in August along with a new “military appearance program.” Both are part of his effort to forge leaner Marines.

In an Aug. 8 All-Marine message, Conway took umbrage with Marines who fail to meet the Corps’ high standards for fitness and appearance, demanding that commanders hold Marines accountable for failing to meet standards.

The new appearance program allows individual commanders more leeway to determine if a Marine’s appearance is in step with the Corps’ standards. For instance, even if a Marine is within the service’s body composition and height-and-weight standards, his commander can assign him to the military appearance program, often geared toward weight redistribution, smoking cessation or improving diet.

Along with the new BCP guidelines, Marines were advised Sept. 9 that they may begin conducting the highly touted Combat Fitness Test.

“If they are ready to do it, they can do it,” McGuire said.

All active-duty Marines are required to perform their initial CFT before Dec. 31.

The grueling three-part test is designed to measure Marines’ ability to operate in a combat environment. It consists of an 880-yard run, lifting a 30-pound ammo can as many times as possible in two minutes, and a daunting 300-yard obstacle course.

The test is pass/fail in its first year, but it will convert to a three-tier graded test beginning Oct. 1, 2009. Those scores will factor into Marines’ ability to earn promotions.