What's the ideal military body?

blackplatano · Jun 18, 2008

What's the ideal body for a soldier according to the military?
I don't care how you measure it. Weight, height, fat %, waist and chest size etc.
Just curious.

Spilotro · Jun 19, 2008

Depends on many things. I suppose all builds are going to have their place, so long as that person is in good physical condition.

blackplatano · Jun 19, 2008

Originally Posted by Spilotro

Depends on many things. I suppose all builds are going to have their place, so long as that person is in good physical condition.

Not at all. The air force for example, prefers all their men whether 5'0 or 6'2 to have a 32" waist.
These are the kinds of things i'm asking about.

globetrotter · Jun 19, 2008

honestly, that is pretty much impossible to answer. If I had to give an answer

5 foot 10, 180 pounds, able to do 20 pullups and run a 3.5 hour marathon.

but let me answer that a different way - in an infantry company (and, lets face it, the only thing that really counts is Infantry) you will have some riflemen, some machine gunners, some snipers, some mortarmen, officers, sargents and a wide variety of others. you need some guys who are comfortable carrying a 60 mm mortar but aren't that great at sprinting, and some guys who are great at running but can't carry anything heavier than a normal pack. and you need both kinds.

Tokyo Slim · Jun 19, 2008

I carry a bengal tiger in a large slingshot.

LA Guy · Jun 19, 2008

I carry my banana in a bengal tiger hammock.

lawyerdad · Jun 19, 2008

Originally Posted by LA Guy

I carry my banana in a bengal tiger hammock.

^^ This is a "*****" joke waiting to happen.

rjmaiorano · Jun 19, 2008

Originally Posted by blackplatano

What's the ideal body for a soldier according to the military?
I don't care how you measure it. Weight, height, fat %, waist and chest size etc.
Just curious.

Do you ask this as "what is the ideal body for a fighting machine?"

If so then as normal people go I would say look at the build of a strong safety in the NFL and stick him in the military... i.e. Pat Tillman - 5'11" - 202... great strength to weight ratio. Above average intelligence, agility, eye sight etc... But this obviously can vary, because you look at a guy like Lebron James with all those stats (apparently he can kick out 25 pull ups no prob) and he is obviously a athletic specimen.

Also why does the air force prefer a 32" waist?

merkur · Jun 19, 2008

KBW · Jun 19, 2008

the 32" waist comment is one of the more absurd I've ever heard

whacked · Jun 19, 2008

Originally Posted by KBW

the 32" waist comment is one of the more absurd I've ever heard

+1. There's a the "Dumb Threads" subforum for this kind of thing...

maxnharry · Jun 19, 2008

Originally Posted by globetrotter

honestly, that is pretty much impossible to answer. If I had to give an answer

5 foot 10, 180 pounds, able to do 20 pullups and run a 3.5 hour marathon.

but let me answer that a different way - in an infantry company (and, lets face it, the only thing that really counts is Infantry) you will have some riflemen, some machine gunners, some snipers, some mortarmen, officers, sargents and a wide variety of others. you need some guys who are comfortable carrying a 60 mm mortar but aren't that great at sprinting, and some guys who are great at running but can't carry anything heavier than a normal pack. and you need both kinds.

This hits the nail on the head. The military is not some monolithic entity. There are many different jobs to be done and different body types suited to the work. Just like football players vs triathletes.

blackplatano · Jun 19, 2008

Originally Posted by merkur

32" waist huh? Is that anatomical waist or pants waist?

Originally Posted by KBW

the 32" waist comment is one of the more absurd I've ever heard

Originally Posted by whacked

+1. There's a the "Dumb Threads" subforum for this kind of thing...

Well it's true. Google it if you doubt me.

datasupa · Jun 19, 2008

Originally Posted by blackplatano

The air force for example, prefers all their men whether 5'0 or 6'2 to have a 32" waist.
No, it's not true, not the way you phrased it. They don't specify the waist to be exactly 32" (which would be absurd, as people have said), they have a maximum waist size limit of 32.5". This rule is also ridiculous, since it doesn't account for height or age, but not as ridiculous as what you wrote.

Gradstudent78 · Jun 19, 2008

Originally Posted by blackplatano

Well it's true. Google it if you doubt me.

It's not a strict cutoff, but part of a comprehenssive fitness test. Below 32.5 just scores the highest.

http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0104/fitness.html

What's the ideal military body?

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