Army MEPS weight standard is ridiculous

[darknightzzz]

Hello All,

I just found out the Army HSPS's MEPS weight standard is very ridiculous.

For 5ft7, you can only weight 169lb (for commissioning officer) or else I will be taped. If I weight 169 lb, I will literally pass out. My weight is 178lb btw.

For tape, I am asian so my neck is small but my waist is big so now I have to do drills to get the waist down.

shouldn't Army be more lenient with weight especially for HSPS since 4 year later down the road, the applicants can bust the weight chart anyways.

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[vellnueve]

Tough. Those are the standards and they don't make exceptions.

 

[Incis0r]

Tough. Those are the standards and they don't make exceptions.

What if they are well built/have a lot of muscle and that's why they are above the weight restrictions? Is there an exemption for such people?

 

[ktran17]

I lost 30 lbs in 1.5 months for HPSP. No excuses, just results. Hooah!

 

[darknightzzz]

What if they are well built/have a lot of muscle and that's why they are above the weight restrictions? Is there an exemption for such people?

if you are well built, they will tape you and most likely ur waist and neck measurement will give below 22% body fat percentage.
they tape you, if you are above 22% body fat, they make you come back to MEPS again and tape you again until you are at or below 22% (at least for Army that is so)

I lost 30 lbs in 1.5 months for HPSP. No excuses, just results. Hooah!

looks like I found someone who lost weight for HSPS. losing that much weight over that amount of time is not healthy. Mind to share what you did?

 

[ktran17]

This is not health advice, just stating what I did.

First off, look at your diet, no cheating!!
I did 160 grams -180 grams of protein a day, <50 grams of carbs a day, and 50-80 grams of fat (mainly unsaturated from fish and avocados)

I did this 3 days in a row, rested 4th, then 3 days again.
Morning: 3 miles HIIT ( first mile warm up, at 1 mile mark, sprint for 1 min, run regular pace for 5 mins, sprint 1 min.. repeat until your 3 miles is done)
Afternoon: 5 sets of pull ups (10 reps each, try to do as many from dead hang but i used assisted for a while) and p90x's ab ripper X every other day.
Evening: 1 mile swim (leisure pace, free style)

As an aside, the navy has less strict requirements for MEPs HPSP, according to my ESN friend at least.

 

[darknightzzz]

This is not health advice, just stating what I did.

First off, look at your diet, no cheating!!
I did 160 grams -180 grams of protein a day, <50 grams of carbs a day, and 50-80 grams of fat (mainly unsaturated from fish and avocados)

I did this 3 days in a row, rested 4th, then 3 days again.
Morning: 3 miles HIIT ( first mile warm up, at 1 mile mark, sprint for 1 min, run regular pace for 5 mins, sprint 1 min.. repeat until your 3 miles is done)
Afternoon: 5 sets of pull ups (10 reps each, try to do as many from dead hang but i used assisted for a while) and p90x's ab ripper X every other day.
Evening: 1 mile swim (leisure pace, free style)

As an aside, the navy has less strict requirements for MEPs HPSP, according to my ESN friend at least.

dang this is too hard core. Yes I am on a diet but losing weight slowly 10lb over 1 month so far. I need to drop another 9lbs.
my main thing is just less carb/protein/food intake as possible everyday with some cheat days in between.

While we are at it, mind to share your experience working with your Army recruiter went? how early your app is boarded? when did you know you get the scholarship? I am assuming you get a kick ass stats

 

[ktran17]

Your experience with the Army and with any organization you interact with, is highly linked to first impressions. I made it a point to show up not looking like a slob, was professional and timely in my emails, and made sure to be very clear and concise with my recruiter. I also actively called in to make sure things were going where they were suppose to be. Because I didn't know i wanted to do HPSP until later on in the cycle, I ended boarding March and was eventually picked up as a 3 year recipient. I recommend getting in contact with your recruiter as early as possible, it might even motivate you to lose weight. My grades were good and I could divulge that information to you through PM.

 

[darknightzzz]

Your experience with the Army and with any organization you interact with, is highly linked to first impressions. I made it a point to show up not looking like a slob, was professional and timely in my emails, and made sure to be very clear and concise with my recruiter. I also actively called in to make sure things were going where they were suppose to be. Because I didn't know i wanted to do HPSP until later on in the cycle, I ended boarding March and was eventually picked up as a 3 year recipient. I recommend getting in contact with your recruiter as early as possible, it might even motivate you to lose weight. My grades were good and I could divulge that information to you through PM.

ah no need to 😉. if you could share how the process of getting on waiting list, then offer a 3 year scholarship? that would be helpful.

I already contacted my Army Recruiter, a very prompt guys and I also try to get everything in as soon as my ability allows. Just working on losing weight now.

 

[krmower]

The MEPS standard is the same one that you have in the Army. This is not going to change. If you are having a hard time with it now you will continue to struggle for the next 8 yrs (4 in school - 4 after school). I can tell you that if an overweight dentist came into my unit I would give them the same chance as everyone else, and if they fail to make the weight I will try everything within my power to get them kicked out and have the government recoup the money.

If you fail the weight test once on active duty you will not get promoted, go on Continuing Education trips, specialize, get awards, etc... Also you will do double the mandatory fitness training as everyone else to help you get to the standard. If you still can not make it, you can get kicked out (At the Commander's discretion). There is not a seperate standard for medical professionals.

 

[darknightzzz]

The MEPS standard is the same one that you have in the Army. This is not going to change. If you are having a hard time with it now you will continue to struggle for the next 8 yrs (4 in school - 4 after school). I can tell you that if an overweight dentist came into my unit I would give them the same chance as everyone else, and if they fail to make the weight I will try everything within my power to get them kicked out and have the government recoup the money.

If you fail the weight test once on active duty you will not get promoted, go on Continuing Education trips, specialize, get awards, etc... Also you will do double the mandatory fitness training as everyone else to help you get to the standard. If you still can not make it, you can get kicked out (At the Commander's discretion). There is not a seperate standard for medical professionals.

thank you @krmower obviously there are two weight scales for enlisted and commissioning officer (the latter is more stringent). My recruiter unfortunately gave me the enlisted weight standard and I made this weight standard by my weight (not by taping).

it is just sad to show up at MEPS and they use another commissioning officer weight scale and decide to tape me.

By the way, I am only borderline 23% body fat (22% body fat requirement).

thank you for your response. I truly understand the importance of physical health and mental health required to serve in the Army. 🙂

 

[vellnueve]

thank you @krmower obviously there are two weight scales for enlisted and commissioning officer (the latter is more stringent). My recruiter unfortunately gave me the enlisted weight standard and I made this weight standard by my weight (not by taping).

it is just sad to show up at MEPS and they use another commissioning officer weight scale and decide to tape me.

By the way, I am only borderline 23% body fat (22% body fat requirement).

thank you for your response. I truly understand the importance of physical health and mental health required to serve in the Army. 🙂

Unless the Army has started doing something different the height/weight chart for officers and enlisted is identical.

 

[darknightzzz]

Unless the Army has started doing something different the height/weight chart for officers and enlisted is identical.

Hi @vellnueve ,
Yes, exactly this is why I made this thread in the first place.

They have this really old weight chart (yellow stained color) for officers and this newer weight chart for enlisted. Even when a medical coordinator came in and told him that they only use 1 weight chart for every body (the standard weight for enlisted), the guy still decided to use the super old chart and mark me over weight.

I was fighting back and saying how my recruiter told me the standard weight (the enlisted one) will be used. He yelled at me and said this is the requirement.

Here I go crunching and sitting up everyday to drop fat.

 

[ajc123]

"While we are at it, mind to share your experience working with your Army recruiter went? how early your app is boarded? when did you know you get the scholarship? I am assuming you get a kick ass stats"

Hey @darknightzzz , Just to give you another perspective of my journey/timeline.

Last Year,
I went through MEPS in July, got all my paperwork done by the end of August...word of advice: You'll need THREE recommendations, so contact whoever ASAP!, I was boarded in SEPTEMBER, and got the call in October that I've been accepted for the 4-year scholarship.

And I can tell you right now, that my stats weren't stellar like most...but getting your paperwork turned-in EARLY is the key IMO

Also, my recruiter was really cool in working with me, and responded really quickly to all my e-mails.

 

[darknightzzz]

"While we are at it, mind to share your experience working with your Army recruiter went? how early your app is boarded? when did you know you get the scholarship? I am assuming you get a kick ass stats"

Hey @darknightzzz , Just to give you another perspective of my journey/timeline.

Last Year,
I went through MEPS in July, got all my paperwork done by the end of August...word of advice: You'll need THREE recommendations, so contact whoever ASAP!, I was boarded in SEPTEMBER, and got the call in October that I've been accepted for the 4-year scholarship.

And I can tell you right now, that my stats weren't stellar like most...but getting your paperwork turned-in EARLY is the key IMO

Also, my recruiter was really cool in working with me, and responded really quickly to all my e-mails.

Hello @ajc123
I already went through MEPS in June and waiting for the check up again (my weight with the above post and the ophthalmologist consultation since my myopia is borderline, they just want to check if my retina detaches or something. Other than that, my vision is corrected to 20/20 for both eyes)

My recruiter says he will submit my app in October (first board meeting) because september board still belongs to the previous fiscal year for military. I got 5 LORs sending in already with all the paperwork sign and completed (PS, app, etc).

My recruiter is really promptly responsive too. I got 21AA, 22Ts, 23 PAT with 3.89 GPA so I guess I will get it first round if my app is boarded in october.

 

[ajc123]

nice man, I'll be rooting for you. Those are really good stats!