Weight Requirements

Slippy13

Slippy13

Prospective - C/O 2029
Joined
May 1, 2023
Messages
54
As stated on the website, if you are 5’3”, you must weigh 141 pounds and below. I weigh 147 due to sports (I’m a runner and ice hockey player). Do I ABSOLUTELY have to lose the weight before I apply and/or enter? Thanks.
 
Nope, I would focus on other areas, this is a hurdle that can get taken care of later. I would assume this to be incredibly low threat.
 
You will probably be asked to do a Body Fat test if you are outside the range and once you submit the results they can either give you a waiver, ask you to do a retest in a certain time frame or disqualify you. From experience with another athlete they will usually give you a two week period to get the test done so you can drop a few pounds over that time. The waiver requires that while at The Academy you get to and maintain weight in the range. Part of the body fat test are neck and waist measurements as well to determine that ratio. As Falcon349 says, focus on the other areas (like the big three of Athletics, Activities and Academics) and you will generally find they figure the rest out.
 
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It's only 6 pounds, and while true about waivers, it's just easier and less stressful to make the weight. Class of 2028? You have time to do the big three AND make your weight. You also have to pass and do well on the CFA. The extra weight just makes it that much more difficult.
 
I was in that same situation being over the given weight for 5'10", they're more than likely going to request a body fat test (measurements) performed by anyone who is qualified to do so (for example, a school nurse). It's not much of a hassle and you'll hear back immediately. As those above have stated, focus on the important areas and make sure you can perform well on the CFA.
 
Slippy13 said:
As stated on the website, if you are 5’3”, you must weigh 141 pounds and below. I weigh 147 due to sports (I’m a runner and ice hockey player). Do I ABSOLUTELY have to lose the weight before I apply and/or enter? Thanks.
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I'm 5'11" 230lbs and the limit for my height is around 198lbs. After receiving appointments to both USAFA and USNA, I had to do the body composition test. I was well under the body fat percentage requirements for both academies and was fine. If you are still worried about it, use this calculator. USAFA wants male cadets under 18% and female cadets under 26%. I agree with the others with regards to focusing on the CFA. Good luck!
 
I'm 5 foot 7 and a half and weigh 121 pounds. The weight requirement for 5 foot 7 is 120 and the requirement for 5 foot 8 is 125 pounds. I run xc and track so I have a pretty skinny build. Should I focus on getting my weight up? I'm a bit worried about how gaining weight will impact my running though.
 
smokey% said:
I'm 5 foot 7 and a half and weigh 121 pounds. The weight requirement for 5 foot 7 is 120 and the requirement for 5 foot 8 is 125 pounds. I run xc and track so I have a pretty skinny build. Should I focus on getting my weight up? I'm a bit worried about how gaining weight will impact my running though.
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I don't know how the Air Force or SAs handle it, but NROTC never cared about being under the minimum weight

You might naturally gain more weight during your first year of college anyways with the change in diet and lifestyle.
 
Ivy22 said:
I don't know how the Air Force or SAs handle it, but NROTC never cared about being under the minimum weight

You might naturally gain more weight during your first year of college anyways with the change in diet and lifestyle.
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Would it be an issue when I take my DoDMERB?
 
TNT12DaBomb said:
My being 260lbs when doing the DoDMERB had no effect on my medical qualification, so I would assume that it is the same for being underweight.
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I see that you were appointed to USNA, congrats! Does that mean your weight (I'm assuming you were over the max weight) not hurt your chances of receiving an appointment?
 
I was under the USNA minimum weight, (I weighed about 5 pounds under what I have always weighed, even went home and used a different scale and it jumped back up to my regular weight, so maybe a faulty scale,) but I had to do AMI's for it
 
smokey% said:
Would it be an issue when I take my DoDMERB?
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Just being underweight will normally not affect medical clearance unless there is an underlying medical condition for it such as a diagnosed eating disorder or thyroid problem (to name a few).
 
Ahernandez said:
I was in that same situation being over the given weight for 5'10", they're more than likely going to request a body fat test (measurements) performed by anyone who is qualified to do so (for example, a school nurse). It's not much of a hassle and you'll hear back immediately. As those above have stated, focus on the important areas and make sure you can perform well on the CFA.
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My son had to do this too. Basically measure your neck and waist in inches. Our neighbor who is a doctor signed it for us, and we submitted it to the portal. Really easy.
 
T-37IP said:
It's only 6 pounds, and while true about waivers, it's just easier and less stressful to make the weight. Class of 2028? You have time to do the big three AND make your weight. You also have to pass and do well on the CFA. The extra weight just makes it that much more difficult.
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They will not hassle you about your weight. You might have to do a tape test at some point, likely after basic. If you're in reasonably good shape, you have nothing to worry about. I've been over the "max" BMI since before basic, and in 4 semesters I've been tape tested once. I passed easily with my uniform on and haven't heard anything more about it. It's virtually impossible to be muscular and be under the BMI requirements. You can do your own waistline tape test if you're worried.
Bottom line is you need to be in shape. There is a long, intense process to kick someone out for athletics, and it involves failing many PFTs and AFTs. If you're crushing the CFA, you have nothing to worry about.
 
justsomecadet said:
They will not hassle you about your weight. You might have to do a tape test at some point, likely after basic. If you're in reasonably good shape, you have nothing to worry about. I've been over the "max" BMI since before basic, and in 4 semesters I've been tape tested once. I passed easily with my uniform on and haven't heard anything more about it. It's virtually impossible to be muscular and be under the BMI requirements. You can do your own waistline tape test if you're worried.
Bottom line is you need to be in shape. There is a long, intense process to kick someone out for athletics, and it involves failing many PFTs and AFTs. If you're crushing the CFA, you have nothing to worry about.
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Okay. I’m relatively skinny-looking as well, but my legs are just very muscular. I try to eat well and work out every day. Good to know, thank you!
 
TNT12DaBomb said:
I'm 5'11" 230lbs and the limit for my height is around 198lbs. After receiving appointments to both USAFA and USNA, I had to do the body composition test. I was well under the body fat percentage requirements for both academies and was fine. If you are still worried about it, use this calculator. USAFA wants male cadets under 18% and female cadets under 26%. I agree with the others with regards to focusing on the CFA. Good luck!
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I appreciate it! Congrats on your USNA appointment! Edit: I am at 21.5% so I am all good!
 
DS is Class of 2026 at USNA, but he had to do weight waivers for both USAFA and USNA. He had a very large athletic build at 6'5" 260 pounds at the time he entered USNA. I just thought I would mention how during my son's application process, the SAs handled the body composition form differently since weight could be a qualifying factor for appointment. DS had his DoDMERB in the summer of 2025. USAFA sent him the body composition form very early in the application process--2-3 weeks after his DoDMERB exam. USNA did not ask for a body composition form until he was given a "Conditional Offer of Appointment" the following spring. The offer was conditional upon him passing the tape test. Our school nurse performed the tape test and signed the form--it was an easy process. I mention this for those that may need to lose a few pounds. In the case of USAFA, there wasn't a lot of time to lose weight between the DoDMERB and the tape test. With USNA they didn't ask for the body composition form until 8 months later.
 
Instead of relying on opinions on an anonymous forum, email admissions and ask them directly. Personally, I would just make weight and be done with it, but admissions, not DoDMERB runs the show with respect to the weight aspect of appointments, so they are the final arbiters.
 
T-37IP said:
Instead of relying on opinions on an anonymous forum, email admissions and ask them directly. Personally, I would just make weight and be done with it, but admissions, not DoDMERB runs the show with respect to the weight aspect of appointments, so they are the final arbiters.
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I’ve actually emailed them before! They didn’t respond.
 
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