CHANGE 2 TO THE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST AND BODY COMPOSITION EVALUATION PROCESS UPDATE
MARADMIN 073/26 · February 27, 2026 · Source
Your Waist-to-Height Ratio Threshold Just Changed. Here's the New Number.
The Marine Corps quietly updated one line of its upcoming fitness policy.
But it's an important line. It's the number your body will be measured against.
Here's what changed and what it means for you.
Reference: MARADMIN 073/26, signed 27 February 2026. This is Change 2 to the advance notification series on upcoming PFT and Body Composition Evaluation changes. It amends MARADMIN 066/26 (Change 1), which itself updated MARADMIN 613/25 (the original advance notification).
The old problem
Change 1 (MARADMIN 066/26) introduced the Waist-to-Height Ratio, or WHtR, as a new body composition metric.
But the standard it published was unclear on one key detail.
Was the threshold the same for men and women, or different?
That needed to be nailed down before the policy goes live.
The new rule (in one line)
The WHtR standard is 0.52 or less, and it applies the same way to every Marine regardless of sex.
(Yes, one number. No separate male and female cutoffs for this metric.)
What this actually means
Waist-to-Height Ratio is calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your height. Both in the same unit of measurement.
Example: If you're 70 inches tall and your waist measures 35 inches, your WHtR is 0.50. That passes.
If your waist measures 37 inches at that same height, your WHtR is 0.529. That fails.
The standard is a ratio, so it scales with your body. Taller Marines get more room. Shorter Marines have less.
The cutoff is the same no matter your sex.
✦ WHtR at or below 0.52: within standard
✦ WHtR above 0.52: outside standard
Everything else in MARADMIN 066/26 remains unchanged. This message only corrected that one sentence.
Why this is a big deal
The Marine Corps is moving away from the tape test. The old Body Composition Program relied on neck and abdomen measurements to estimate body fat percentage. That method had well-documented accuracy problems.
WHtR is one of two new metrics coming in. The other is Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA).
Together, they are supposed to give a more accurate picture of a Marine's body composition.
This particular update matters because a single, sex-neutral standard is a significant policy choice. It's a departure from how most military fitness standards have historically been structured. Whether your command is ready to explain it or not, Marines are going to ask about it.
You should know the number before they ask you.
A smaller note for active-duty Marines
This applies to you too. The WHtR standard of 0.52 is Corps-wide, not Reserve-specific. Active-duty Marines should track the full MARADMIN 066/26 series for implementation timelines and how this metric fits into the broader evaluation process.
The bottom line
One correction. One number. The WHtR standard is 0.52 or below, the same for every Marine.
Everything else in the advance notification series stands as written.
What to do with this
If you're a Reserve Marine in the SMCR or IMA:
- Note the number: 0.52 is your WHtR cutoff.
- You can calculate your own ratio now. Divide your waist circumference (in inches) by your height (in inches).
- Track the implementation timeline through your unit S-1 or fitness officer. This is still advance notification. The new standards are not fully in effect yet.
- Ask your command when formal training or measurement guidance will be pushed down.
If you're in the IRR:
✦ Know this number exists. If you're called up or return to drilling status, WHtR will be part of your body composition evaluation.
If you're an S-1, fitness officer, or unit leader:
- Update any internal briefings or tracking tools that reference the WHtR standard.
- Make sure your Marines know the standard is sex-neutral.
- Direct questions about implementation timelines and BIA procedures to TECOM Force Fitness: tecom.forcefitness@usmc.mil or 703-432-2285.
This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.
Need a one-paragraph version to paste into a unit newsletter? Or a longer breakdown of the full advance notification series, including BIA and PFT changes? Say the word.