ALCOAST 404/25 - SEP 2025 EASING ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS - BODY COMPOSITION SCREENING BETA TEST

R 291700Z SEP 25 MID120012107952U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 404/25
SSIC 1020
SUBJ: EASING ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS - BODY COMPOSITION
SCREENING BETA TEST
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 311212Z JUL 23/ALCOAST 274/23
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 131347Z FEB 24/ALCOAST 077/24
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 012020Z APR 25/ALCOAST 157/25
D. Body Composition Standards Program, COMDTINST 1020.8I
1. This ALCOAST announces an extension to the Body Composition
Screening (BCS) Beta Test announced in REFs (A) through (C) for the
October 2025 semiannual screenings. The goal of the BCS Beta Test
is to reduce the total administrative time spent on the BCS and
weigh-in processes. Military members assigned to Cutters, Boat
Stations, Aids to Navigation Teams, PATFORSWA, Deployable
Specialized Forces, FORCECOM Special Missions Training
Center (SMTC) units are eligible to participate in this BCS Beta
Test. In addition, military members who are required to complete
the Boat Crew PFT as part of their law enforcement designation
or assigned billet, including Sector boarding teams and security
forces, and Training Center boat houses, are eligible to
participate in this BCS Beta Test.
2. REF (D) added the Boat Crew Physical Fitness Test (PFT) as a
method of body composition compliance. As is being done within
the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard is reviewing existing
standards set for members of the Armed Forces pertaining to
physical fitness, body composition, and grooming. As such,
commands are reminded that only those units covered under the
beta test in para 1 are authorized to conduct the Boat Crew PFT
in lieu of semi-annual Body Composition Screening (BCS) in
October 2025. Personnel taking the PFT solely to fulfill the
requirements of the 2025 Physical Fitness Assessment are not
eligible to participate in this Beta Test. All members not
permanently assigned to a unit listed in para 1 must conduct
the BCS in accordance with REF (D); there are no other
exceptions. In accordance with REF (D), members
must conduct the BCS in order, which requires:
     a. Max Allowable Weight (MAW); if non-compliant, then
     b. Taping, which includes two- or three-site taping (based on
sex), and/or abdominal circumference (AC); if non-compliant, then
     c. Medical Screening for authorization to conduct
Boat Crew PFT; then
     d. Boat Crew PFT.
3. The BCS Beta Test offers individuals at the units listed in
para 1, as a first option, the choice to enter the Boat Crew PFT
pass date into Direct Access (DA) to satisfy the October 2025
semiannual screening requirement. The BCS Beta Test is limited to
units listed in para 1 because a significant segment of the members
assigned to these units complete a semi-annual Boat Crew PFT
as part of their readiness requirements.
4. Member Responsibilities. For each member assigned to a unit
listed in para 1, the steps to participate in the October 2025 BCS
Beta Test differ depending upon the last time the member passed
a Boat Crew PFT.
     a. Members who passed a Boat Crew PFT due to assignment to a
billet or position described in para 1 between 01 May
2025 and 31 October 2025 shall have their pass date entered into
DA during the month of October to satisfy the requirement for the
October 2025 BCS.
     b. Members who last passed a Boat Crew PFT prior to 01
May 2025, or have never taken or passed a Boat Crew PFT in
the Coast Guard must:
        (1) Complete a medical pre-screening questionnaire to
determine medical eligibility to safely participate in the Boat
Crew PFT. The "Body Composition Physical Fitness Test Pre-screening"
is located at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/USCGReferences/forms/
Forms/CG_6120.pdf

        (2) If the medical pre-screening determines that a member
requires further medical evaluation prior to safely completing a
Boat Crew PFT, that member shall not participate in the October
2025 BCS Beta Test unless medically cleared in time to
participate in a Boat Crew PFT on or before 31 October 2025.
        (3) If the medical pre-screening determines that a member
may safely complete a Boat Crew PFT, that member will need to pass a
Boat Crew PFT on or before 31 October 2025 to satisfy the
requirement for the October 2025 BCS.
5. Command Information.
     a. Members at units listed in para 1 who do not follow the
steps listed in para 4 to successfully pass a Boat Crew PFT on
or before 31 October 2025 are ineligible to participate in the
October 2025 BCS Beta Test and must follow the normal BCS process
outlined in REF (D).
     b. For members who follow the steps in para 4 and pass the
Boat Crew PFT, commands shall enter the following example text
in the "remarks" block at the bottom of the weight and body
composition module in DA from 01 to 31 October 2025: "Boat Crew
PFT Pre-Screening date: DDMMMYYYY, Pass date: DDMMMYYYY." For
members cited in para 4.a and 4.b above, please enter
"N/A" for the Pre-Screening date. Commands will also select
"compliant yes" in DA. This DA entry during the month of October
2025 is the final step to participate in the October 2025 BCS Beta
Test. Members that participate in the October 2025 BCS Beta Test
may temporarily remain red in CGBI but will be considered
compliant with the October 2025 Semiannual BCS. No changes will be
made to DA until completion of the Beta Test, however CGBI reporting
is in the process of being updated.
6. Units listed in para 1 that are unable to participate in the
October 2025 BCS Beta Test due to an extended deployment or time
at sea shall comply with the normal BCS process outlined in
REF (C).
7. Beta Test Analyses. The Coast Guard will:
     a. evaluate how many commands and members used the Beta Test
in October 2025 to successfully complete the semiannual
screening requirement;
     b. assess any increased administrative burden to medical
clinic personnel, and;
     c. assess any other unintended negative outcomes.
8. POC: For medical screening questions, contact Health Care Service
Center (HCSC) at: HQS-BodyCompMedical@uscg.mil. For general policy
questions contact Office of Military Personnel Policy, Compensation,
and Travel (CG-WMM-2) at: HQS-SMB-BodyCompPolicy@uscg.mil.
9. RDML Zeita Merchant, Assistant Commandant for Workforce
Management (CG-WM), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.