WHAT IS FIT? THE MISCONCEPTION OF FITNESS AND FATNESS: A REVIEW OF BODY COMPOSITION STANDARDS AND PHYSICAL READINESS POLICY ALTERNATIVES FOR THE U.S. NAVY
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Authors
Burke, Ollieanna P.
Subjects
personnel
manpower management
human resource management
military
department of defense
physical fitness
fitness
performance
body composition standards
height-weight standards
manpower management
human resource management
military
department of defense
physical fitness
fitness
performance
body composition standards
height-weight standards
Advisors
Seagren, Chad W.
Heissel, Jennifer A.
Date of Issue
2022-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis utilizes Eugene Bardach’s eight-step method from A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis to analyze the Navy’s height-weight standards and policies that affect physical fitness performance. It discusses the history of the height-weight standards and the Navy policy changes to the physical readiness program, compares the Navy to other services, and proposes four alternative adaptations to the policy. The first option is to maintain status quo and continue to use height-weight standards based on the body mass index. The second option is to allow body composition assessment failures to complete the physical readiness test (PRT) and exempt height-weight standards for service members with an overall outstanding PRT score. The third option is to add an additional test to assess attributes of fitness. The fourth option is to eliminate weight standards, increase fitness standards for passing, and focus on physical fitness vice body composition analysis. The purpose of this research is to provide a policy review of the United States Navy body composition program, with a specific analysis of the policy change of NAVADMIN 141/17 that allowed for validation of the PRT. Using data from the Army’s Person- Event Data Environment, the research shows that adopting a policy that incentivizes physical performance is the most ideal policy change.
Type
Thesis
Description
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, New York, NY 10019-5435
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.