Weight Requirements

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Hi everyone,

I am seriously considering joining the Air Force but I have a crazy question. How strict are they on the weight requirement? I am about 7 lbs away from meeting it but wasn't sure how strict they were. Thanks!

LOVE IT!

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Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......
Go to Bragg: Corps & Division CG/SGM regularly run Ardennes St & PT tests w/ soldiers; not to mention they jump regularly w/ them.

I sure remember those days! They would show up for first formation in PT uniform and you'd better be STRAC! Had a buddy there on the FIST Team I was on, bulit like me-stocky and heavily muscled- who passed every PT test (like Me), yet weighed "out" every time. Had to do all the consults to Dietary etc...... and he ended up in the hospital for malnutrition after a month of that silliness. When I was a 91B Paramedic Instructor for the Reserves and the National Guard, we had a Guard student on his way home from AT who ended up saving the life of a child that fell in a creek at a Rest Stop, and the Mom was so grateful that she wrote a request to the State Adjutant

General requesting he be awarded a medal for his actions. Great idea, huh? Well, the first thing the CO did when he returned to the unit was put him on the scale, pronounce him "overweight" and deny him the award! A few months later, the Mom called the Governor's office to find out when the ceremony was going to be so she could be there for the award. When she found out what had happened, the Mom went Directly to the Governor's office to demand an explanation! Needless to say, my Troop got his (well deserved) award, and the CO was publically made out to be the stupidly officious moron he was, and the Guard got a great Recruiting tool. Anyway, his being "overweight" didn't seem to keep him from doing his job, did it?

MSG Ski (Ret)

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I hate stories like that. I get the whole weight standards thing but that's way over the top. I'm glad the soldier got the award in the end; that was the right thing to do.

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Specializes in ICU.

i have a question on the (down?) side of this topic.. i'm wondering how strict they are on the weight minimum requirements. I'm 5'6" and have been trying my darndest to make the 120 lbs that they say in the website but i can't seem to get above 115-117. It seems between all the pt i'm doing to get ready for OBLC and working nights, i'm losing more weight then i'm gaining. :(

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.
i have a question on the (down?) side of this topic.. i'm wondering how strict they are on the weight minimum requirements. I'm 5'6" and have been trying my darndest to make the 120 lbs that they say in the website but i can't seem to get above 115-117. It seems between all the pt i'm doing to get ready for OBLC and working nights, i'm losing more weight then i'm gaining. :(

Wish I had your problem! :p I don't think that you will have any issues. They are more strict about being overweight (according to their standards). When I joined the Army in 1998 my weight was pretty close to the top weight standard. When I went to leave for Basic Training in 1999, they sent me home and wouldn't let me leave for training because I was 1 pound over and didn't meet tape! I was a very active and athletic person, so I was not big by any means. I went home for a week and went back the next week to leave again and was 1/2 pound over and still didn't make tape. At that moment I told them that they either let me leave or I wasn't coming back. They let me leave!!

I wouldn't worry so much about being under. They aren't strict about the bottom number, that is just a guideline for the most part.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
i have a question on the (down?) side of this topic.. i'm wondering how strict they are on the weight minimum requirements. I'm 5'6" and have been trying my darndest to make the 120 lbs that they say in the website but i can't seem to get above 115-117. It seems between all the pt i'm doing to get ready for OBLC and working nights, i'm losing more weight then i'm gaining. :(

I'm not sure, but I have 5 lbs you can borrow! :D

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Specializes in ICU.

Haha thanks guys! :)

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i have a question on the (down?) side of this topic.. i'm wondering how strict they are on the weight minimum requirements. I'm 5'6" and have been trying my darndest to make the 120 lbs that they say in the website but i can't seem to get above 115-117. It seems between all the pt i'm doing to get ready for OBLC and working nights, i'm losing more weight then i'm gaining. :(

Ironink71,

Google: Army Regulation 600-9

Then find:

Table 3-1

Shows this: Female Height 66in min weight is 117lb

Not sure where you got your info but to place safe I'd cont' trying to do some strength training as your weight might fluctuate during upcoming training and you don't want to dip down at a point when you might be weighed.... many who are a bit skinnier gain weight during intense training as you have increased exercise and chow.... army biscuits and gravy.

best of luck.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thanks for the info Just Cause! I looked up the reg's on the GoArmy website and that's what i was told at MEPS a few months ago.. "You're gonna have to do some intense donut-dunkin' exercises kid.. you're not gonna make weight if you stay as you are" said the doc. I'll keep at it.. maybe i'll add a few extra oreo's to my workout ;)

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I got an 89.5 on my first physical fitness test today!!! .5 away from excellent. I'll be excellent next time.

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