Navy Body Fat Tape Test Instructions: Official DoD Protocols
Step-by-step measurement guide for the 2-step Body Composition Assessment (BCA) under OPNAVINST 6110.1L and DoD Directive 1308.3.
The Navy BCA follows a strict 2-step process: Sailors who exceed maximum screening weight on the height-weight chart must undergo circumference taping. Under OPNAVINST 6110.1L, male body fat is calculated from neck, waist (at navel), and height measurements, while female calculations include neck, natural waist, hips, and height. Maximum allowable body fat ranges from 22% to 26% for males and 33% to 36% for females.
Before reporting to your CFL, verify your height and circumference measurements inside our military body fat calculator to determine your compliance margin under official DoD formulas.
The 2-Step Navy BCA Protocol
BCA testing is administered between 24 hours and 45 days prior to the PRT physical readiness test:
- Step 1: Weight-for-Height Table. The sailor is weighed in standard Navy Physical Training Uniform (PTU) without shoes. If the sailor's weight is less than or equal to the maximum allowable screening weight for their height, the sailor passes the BCA immediately. No taping is performed.
- Step 2: Circumference Taping. If the sailor exceeds the screening weight, the Command Fitness Leader (CFL) must perform circumference measurements to determine actual body fat percentage.
| Age Cohort | Male Max Allowable Body Fat % | Female Max Allowable Body Fat % | Governing Navy Instruction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 21 | 22% | 33% | OPNAVINST 6110.1L |
| 22 to 29 | 23% | 34% | OPNAVINST 6110.1L |
| 30 to 39 | 24% | 35% | OPNAVINST 6110.1L |
| 40+ | 26% | 36% | OPNAVINST 6110.1L |
Step-by-Step Anatomical Landmark Guide
Graders must utilize a non-stretchable fiberglass tape. Three sequential measurements are recorded at each anatomical landmark and averaged to the nearest 1/2 inch:
- Height: Measured with shoes removed, heels together, and head in the Frankfort horizontal plane. Recorded to the nearest 1/2 inch.
- Neck Measurement (Male & Female): Place the tape around the neck directly inferior to the larynx (Adam's apple). The sailor looks straight ahead with shoulders relaxed. The tape must be perpendicular to the long axis of the neck without indenting soft tissue.
- Waist Measurement (Male): Place the tape horizontally across the abdomen at the level of the navel (belly button). Measure at the end of a normal, relaxed exhalation. Sucking in the gut or contracting the abdominal wall invalidates the measurement.
- Waist Measurement (Female): Place the tape at the natural waistline, defined as the point of minimal abdominal circumference (typically midway between the lowest rib and the top of the iliac crest). Measure at the end of normal exhalation.
- Hip Measurement (Female): Place the tape horizontally across the widest circumference of the hips and buttocks, keeping the tape parallel to the deck throughout the rotation.
Official DoD Mathematical Equations
The raw measurements are processed through the official DoD circumference equations:
- Male Equation: `% Body Fat = 86.010 x log10(Waist - Neck) - 70.041 x log10(Height) + 36.76`
- Female Equation: `% Body Fat = 163.205 x log10(Waist + Hips - Neck) - 97.684 x log10(Height) - 78.387`
Body composition is scored alongside the PRT, so check the Navy PRT push-up standards.