ALCOAST 079/26 - MAR 2026 EXTENSION: EASING ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS - BODY COMPOSITION SCREENING

R 251305Z MAR 26   MID320018603141U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 079/26
SSIC 1020
SUBJ:  EXTENSION: EASING ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS - BODY
COMPOSITION SCREENING
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. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 291700Z SEP 25/ALCOAST 404/25
E. Body Composition Standards Program, COMDTINST 1020.8I
F. DoW MEMO Military Fitness Standards dtd 30SEP25
1. This ALCOAST announces an extension to the Body Composition
Screening (BCS) easing administrative requirements process per REFs
(A) through (E) for the April 2026 semiannual screenings. 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 easing administrative requirements process. 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 easing
administrative requirements process.
2. For awareness, REF (F) announced new physical fitness testing and
BCS changes, including a Height-to-Waist ratio requirement,
being implemented by the Department of War (DoW). As a result, REF
(E) is currently under review to assess the impact of these changes.
Until further notice, existing policies remain in effect. As such,
commands are reminded that only those units covered under the easing
administrative requirements process in para 1 are authorized to
conduct the Boat Crew PFT in lieu of semi-annual BCS in April 2026.
Personnel taking the PFT solely to fulfill the requirements of the
2026 Physical Fitness Assessment are not eligible to participate in
this easing administrative requirements process. All members not
permanently assigned to a unit listed in para 1 must conduct
the BCS in accordance with REF (E); there are no other exceptions.
In accordance with REF (E), 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 easing administrative requirements process 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 April 2026 semiannual screening requirement.
The BCS Easing administrative requirements process 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 April 2026 BCS
Easing administrative requirements process 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 November
2025 and 30 April 2026 shall have their pass date entered into
DA during the month of April to satisfy the requirement for the
April 2026 BCS.
     b. Members who last passed a Boat Crew PFT prior to 01
November 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 April
2026 BCS Easing administrative requirements process unless medically
cleared in time to participate in a Boat Crew PFT on or
before 30 April 2026.
         (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 30 April 2026 to satisfy the
requirement for the April 2026 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 30 April 2026 are ineligible to participate in the
April 2026 BCS Easing administrative requirements process and
must follow the normal BCS process outlined in REF (E).
     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 30 April 2026: "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 April 2026 is the final
step to participate in the April 2026 BCS easing administrative
requirements process. Members that participate in the April 2026
BCS Easing administrative requirements process may temporarily
remain red in CGBI but will be considered compliant with the
April 2026 Semiannual BCS. No changes will be made to DA until
completion of the easing administrative requirements process,
however CGBI reporting is in the process of being updated.
6. Units listed in para 1 that are unable to participate in the
April 2026 BCS Easing administrative requirements process due to an
extended deployment or time at sea shall comply with the normal BCS
process outlined in REF (E).
7. Easing administrative requirements process Analyses. The
Coast Guard will:
     a. evaluate how many commands and members used the easing
administrative requirements process in April 2026 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. CAPT Lawrence Gaillard, Acting Assistant Commandant for Workforce
Management (CG-WM), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.