ACN 028/19 - MAR 2019 CHANGE TO WEIGHT AND BODY FAT SCREENING PROCEDURES AND EXEMPTIONS TO WEIGH-IN OCCASIONS

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                                   CANCEL DATE 28 MAR 2020

R 291809 MAR 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01000//
ACN 028/19
SUBJ:  CHANGE TO WEIGHT AND BODY FAT SCREENING PROCEDURES AND EXEMPTIONS TO WEIGH-IN OCCASIONS
A. Coast Guard Weight and Body Fat Standards, COMDTINST M1020.8 (series)
B. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8 (series)
1. During this year’s State of the Coast Guard Address, the Commandant committed to forward-leaning
policy changes including modifications to the Coast Guard’s Weight and Body Fat Standards, as they
pertain to women. COMDT (CG-1) is leading a multidisciplinary team, that includes the Personnel
Readiness Task Force, to review the Service’s policies and standards concerning weight and body
fat. The team will make recommendations within the next 100 days to meet the Commandant’s Guiding
Principles.
2. In response to feedback from the field and preliminary information provided by the Women’s
Retention Study (WRS), the following changes to REF (A) are effective immediately:
    a. Taping:
        (1) All service members requiring taping have the option to be taped over the uniform of the
day, physical training (PT) gear, or in accordance with current policy for abdominal and hip
measurements. This optional "over the clothes" method will use the same measurement locations and
taping procedures in REF (A).
        (2) An allowance of one inch will be subtracted individually from both abdominal and hip
measurements to account for the “over the clothes” method. The recording of these measurements
and the averages noted in para 2.D.3 of REF (A) still apply.
        (3) Neck measurements remain over the skin, no allowance will be made.
        (4) The preferred physical training gear is the USCG PT T-shirt and USCG Basic PT Shorts,
but civilian physical training clothing is authorized.
        (5) Appropriate under garments shall be worn during the taping process. Compression garments,
pantyhose or shape wear of any kind are not authorized during taping.
        (6) Members who fail a tape measurement using one method shall be given the option to be
retaped using any of the methods above.
        (7) All other processes and procedures outlined in REF (A) for taping remain in effect.
    b. Exemptions:
        (1) Service members are exempt from weight and body fat standards during pregnancy and are
not required to participate in weigh-ins. The member’s previous weight data will be entered into
Direct Access (DA) and the member will be considered compliant.
        (2) Service members on maternity convalescent leave and primary or secondary caregiver leave
authorized in REF (B) are not required to break their leave to participate in required weigh-ins
in Chapter 2 of REF (A). Those members that are not exempt from a weight and body fat
screening must participate in the missed weigh-ins within 30 days of their return to duty status.
3. Questions regarding policy or other human resource management matters may be directed to the
Office of Military Personnel (CG-133) at: HQS-PolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
4. Policies and standards in REF (A) not specifically addressed in this ACN remain unchanged.
However, the changes mentioned in this ACN will be implemented into the next revision of REF (A),
which will be released within the next year.
5. Released by RADM W. G. Kelly, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources.
6. Internet release is authorized.