Body Mass Index and Army Physical Fitness Test Standards in ROTC Cadets

The United States Army administers fitness tests and collects height and weight data for soldiers and cadets in order to determine a measure of physical readiness. This study examined individual test results from the U.S. Army’s Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and respective Body Mass Index (BMI) to see if any association existed in male ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps.) cadets. If a correlation was found between BMI and PFT scores, then leaders could more accurately predict how an individual would perform on an upcoming fitness evaluation. 145 male (age 17-31) ROTC college students’ PFT scores and BMI measurements were analyzed via a Pearson Correlation Coefficient to determine if a meaningful correlation existed between them. Raw and point adjusted (percentiles) scores were evaluated. There was no meaningful relationship found between BMI and an individual’s respective scores on push-ups, sit-ups, or two mile run times. BMI is not an accurate predictor of Army PFT scores for male cadets in the age range of 17-31. Further studies are required to determine if an association exists between an individual’s PFT scores and other anthropometric measurements as well as applicability to both genders and other age groups. KeywordsBody Mass Index; ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps.); PFT (Physical Fitness Test).