Army Body Composition Program
Service Members who exceed the Army’s height/weight and body fat standards and incur a "flag" on their records must be referred to the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP). Soldiers have 30 days after enrollment in the ABCP to meet with a dietitian.
The Army Body Composition Program Initial Counseling Class is for active-duty service members and taught at the Nutrition Care Clinic in William Beaumont Army Medical Center. All Soldiers NOT assigned to a H2F resourced unit are welcome to attend. This initial counseling is instructed in a group fashion and reviews AR 600-9, body fat standards, basics of weight management, portion control, calorie counting, and keeping a food log.
Army Body Composition Program Resources
Summary of Army Body Composition Program-Related Actions, Counseling, and Evaluations
Summary of Army Body Composition Program-Related Actions, Counseling, and Evaluations to remain in the Soldier's record for 36 months. To ensure Service Members successfully maintain body fat standards, remaining enrolled in ABCP until reaching under 2% maximum body fat for 2 consecutive months is highly recommended.
| Action, counseling, and/or evaluation |
Who |
Requirement |
Timing |
| AC and RC on active duty |
RC not on active duty |
| Flagging action (DA Form 268) |
Commander |
Mandatory |
3 working days (after Soldier determined to exceed body fat standard) |
Before end of MUTA in which Soldier is determined to exceed body fat |
| Notification counseling |
Commander |
Mandatory |
2 working days from when DA Form 268 is initiated |
No later than the next MUTA after Soldier is determined to ex¬ceed body fat |
Soldier acknowledgment in ABCP
(Previously called 1st Endorsement) |
Soldier |
Mandatory |
2 working days (after Soldier receives notification counseling) |
No later than the next MUTA after the notification counseling |
| Read USAPHC TG 358 and complete Army MOVE!23 Questionnaire |
Soldier |
Mandatory |
14 days (after Soldier receives notification counseling) |
14 days (after Soldier receives notification counseling) |
Soldier weight and body fat
Assessment (DA Form 5500/5501) |
Commander/ Designee |
Mandatory |
Monthly |
Monthly |
| Soldier Action Plan |
Soldier |
Mandatory |
14 days (after Soldier receives notification counseling) |
No later than the next MUTA after the notification counseling |
Nutrition counseling memorandum
(Previously called 5th Endorsement) |
Dietitian |
Mandatory (AC and RC on active duty only) |
Within first 30 days (after Soldier receives notification counseling) |
Not applicable |
Medical evaluation memorandum
(Previously called 2nd Endorsement) |
Medical professional |
Optional |
Upon enrollment in ABCP (Soldier or commander may request it) |
Upon enrollment in ABCP (Soldier may request it) at Soldier’s own expense |
| Mandatory (AC only) |
Soldier is pregnant Prior to bar to reenlistment or separation actions (commander must request it) |
Soldier is pregnant (provides documentation from health care provider) |
| Release from ABCP counseling memorandum |
Commander |
|
Flag lifted when the Service Member falls within the Army body fat standards, and is forwarded to the Military Personnel Officer to remain in the Soldier's record for 36 months. |