The Air Force is changing its body fat limits for new members as it faces a recruitment shortfall. The service expects to miss its active-duty recruiting goal by 10% in 2023, and it hopes that the new policy will help to increase its pool of eligible candidates.
Under the new rules, men can have a maximum of 26% body fat, up from 20%, and women can have up to 36%, up from 28%. However, the fitness standards for all recruits will remain the same.
The Air Force’s decision to increase its body fat limits comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that “obesity and physical inactivity are impacting national security.” According to the agency, only 2 in 5 young adults are both weight-eligible and adequately active to serve in the military.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, in a statement posted on the CDC’s website, said, “The military has experienced increasing difficulty in recruiting soldiers as a result of physical inactivity, obesity, and malnutrition among our nation’s youth.”
Follow Straight Arrow News on social media —
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]__
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
TikTok: [ Ссылка ]
For more SAN content: [ Ссылка ]
Sign up for our weekly newsletters: [ Ссылка ].
