US Marine Corps Body Composition and Military Appearance Program (BCMAP) Study

This report outlines the findings from an assessment of the BCMAP, intended to provide data and options for Marine Corps policies and standards. Body composition and fitness data was obtained from 2,175 volunteer Marines at three geographical locations. Women who failed the weight screen usually also failed percent body fat (percent BF); while 30 percent of men who failed weight met percent BF standards. Without the weight screen, an additional 9 percent of all men and 30 percent of all women would fail BCP. Screening weights had low correlation with percentBF and with PFT and CFT scores. Tape tests accurately categorized 91.5 percent of men and 92.1 percent women for percentBF standards; 0.6 percent men, 6.3 percent women were overestimated and 7.9 percent men, 1.6 percent women were underestimated by tape compared to DXA. Average percentBF in four age groups of Marines represent a lean force (men, 22.0 + or - 6.3 percent; women, 29.8 + or - 6.6 percent by DXA), and well below national averages. Further research will evaluate alternative practical body composition assessment methods to help guide fitness behaviors and determine most appropriate %BF and lean mass goals for optimized Marine Corps physical readiness.