The following actions are required when a Soldier is determined to be exceeding the body fat standard (see table 3–1):
Notification counseling. In accordance with AR 600–8–2, the commander has 3 working days to Flag the Soldier using DA Form 268 (Report to Suspend Favorable Personnel Actions (FLAG)) and 2 working days from initiation of DA Form 268 to counsel and/or notify and enroll the Soldier in the ABCP.
The effective date of the DA Form 268 flagging action is the date that the Soldier is found to be noncompliant.
Notification counseling documentation will be completed in accordance with figure 3–1.
During this notification counseling, Soldiers will be advised they—
(1)
Have a DA Form 268 placed on their record to suspend favorable personnel actions.
Some of the ramifications of the flagging action include:
(a)
Are nonpromotable (to the extent such nonpromotion is permitted by law).
(b)
Will not be assigned to command, command sergeant major, or first sergeant positions.
(c)
In accordance with AR 350–1, are not authorized to attend military schools and institutional training courses.
(2)
Are enrolled in the ABCP effective immediately.
While enrolled they—
(a)
Must read the online U.S. Army Public Health Center (USAPHC) Technical Guide (TG) 358 within 14 days of enrollment.
(b)
Must complete and return their Soldier Action Plan (refer to para b, below) to the commander within 14 days of the notification counseling.
(c)
Are required to meet with a dietitian or health care provider within 30 days of enrollment in the ABCP, bring a copy of the commander’s request for counseling (fig 3–2) and their Soldier Action Plan to the dietitian for review.
Dietitian (or health care provider if a dietitian is not available) will provide the Soldier a signed memorandum for the commander when the Soldier has completed all steps in the required nutrition program (for example, the Army Fit for Performance interactive questionnaire) or after initial appointment if Soldier chooses another option to lose weight.
The memorandum will verify that the counseling took place.
All counseling sessions will include information on sleep, activity, and nutrition behaviors.
(d)
Must participate in unit monthly ABCP assessments to document their progress.
(e)
Must meet the body fat standard in order to be released from the ABCP.
(f)
Must demonstrate satisfactory progress, as defined in paragraph 3–9b, while enrolled in the ABCP and understand that failure to do so will result in bar to continued service or initiation of separation proceedings.
(g)
May request education and coaching on obtaining and maintaining optimal body composition through healthy sleep, activity, and nutrition counseling, weight management, behavior modification, and other services through the Army Wellness Center (if available at duty location), and/or other MTF resources.
(h)
May request a medical examination if there is reason to believe that there is an underlying medical condition that may be the direct cause of weight gain or the direct cause of the inability to lose weight or body fat.
(3)
Must acknowledge enrollment in the ABCP by memorandum to the commander (see fig 3–3) within 2 working days of notification of enrollment.
Figure 3–1. Sample of Initial Soldier Notification Counseling
Figure 3–2. Sample of Request for Nutrition Counseling
Soldier Action Plan. Within 14 days of the notification counseling, the Soldier will respond to the commander with a Soldier Action Plan confirming that he or she has read USAPHC TG 358, provide date and time of scheduled nutrition counseling, and indicate what approach he or she intends to use to work towards meeting the body fat standard.
The Soldier has the option to modify his or her plan while enrolled in the ABCP (for example, a Soldier may initially opt to follow a commercial weight loss program, but then 2 months later decide to enroll in a no-cost internet-based program).
A sample Soldier Action Plan is at figure 3–4.
Figure 3–3. Sample of Soldier Acknowledgment of Enrollment in the Army Body Composition Program
Figure 3–4. Sample of Soldier Action Plan
Nutrition counseling. The Soldier has 30 days after enrollment in the ABCP to meet with a dietitian (or health care provider, if a dietitian is not available) to receive counseling.
Soldiers will schedule this appointment and coordinate any absence with their supervisory chain.
Soldiers will provide the commander a memorandum signed by a dietitian or health care provider verifying that the counseling took place.
A sample memorandum is at figure 3–5.
Figure 3–5. Sample of Sleep, Activity, and Nutrition Counseling Results
Related Pages
- Army Height and Weight Standards
- Army Body Composition Program Enrollment
- Soldier Action Plan
- Army Nutrition Counseling
- ABCP Notification Counseling
- DA Form 268 (FLAG)
- Army Wellness Center
- FM 7–22 Holistic Health and Fitness
- AR 600–8–2 Flagging Actions
- AR 350–1 Army Training and Leader Development