Navy to Eliminate Little Used Fitness Waiver
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS100413-21
4/13/2010
From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- The Navy announced plans April 12 to discontinue waivers that allow Sailors who exceed Navy body-fat standards to receive a passing score for the semi-annual physical fitness assessment (PFA).
The Department of Defense Body Composition Assessment (BCA) Exception Waiver allows commanding officers to waive BCA criteria up to the Department of Defense (DoD) maximum standard if the Sailor can achieve an overall score of excellent or better, with no single event scored below a good. Approximately 1,595 BCA waivers were granted for active-duty Sailors in 2009.
According to NAVADMIN 131/10, the waiver will be discontinued beginning with the Fall 2010 PFA cycle which starts July 1. Sailors who exceed Navy BCA standards will be scored as a PFA failure in the Physical Readiness Information Management System (PRIMS). The change will also be incorporated in the next Physical Readiness Program instruction update.
"Obesity is linked to serious medical conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, gallbladder disease and cancer," said Bill Moore, director of the Navy's Physical Readiness Program. "Doctors generally agree that the more obese a person is the more likely he or she is to have health problems."
According to OPNAVINST 6110.1H, the Navy's Physical Readiness Program instruction, the upper limits for the BCA are 22 percent body fat for males age 17-39, and 33 percent body fat for females age 17-39. Sailors age 40 and older are allotted one additional percentage point.
"Most Sailors have a significantly lower level of body fat than the upper allowable Navy limits," said Moore.
For more information, read NAVADMIN 131/10 and visit the Physical Readiness Program section available at www.npc.navy.mil.
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