DA 5500: Army Body Composition Screening and Assessment Worksheet
The JUL 2026 waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) worksheet that replaced the tape test: height, three waist measurements, the WHtR, a confirmation measurement, and the compliance finding.
Every block on the DA Form 5500
Laid out block for block like the official ARMY BODY COMPOSITION SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET (JUL 2026 edition), with the instruction for each block. Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.
Form details
- Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)
- Rank
- Height (rounded to the nearest 0.50 inch)
Note printed on the form: 1/2" = .50.
- Sex
- Age
- Remarks: (Recommend using this section to record step by step calculations, if applicable)
- Check All That Apply
- Prepared By (Name)
- Rank
- Date (YYYYMMDD)
- Approved By Supervisor
- Rank
- Date (YYYYMMDD)
- Signature
- Signature
Whtr measurement
- First
1. Measure waist at the navel (belly button). Round down to the nearest 0.50 inch. Record three times, then average to 3 decimal places.
- Second
- Third
- Average
- WHtR
2. Divide the average waist by the height. Record to three decimal places; don't round, and disregard digits after the third decimal place. 0.549 meets the standard; 0.550 does not.
If applicable, confirmation whtr measurement
- First
Only when the first WHtR is 0.550 or higher. Taken the same way, by a different team.
- Second
- Third
- Average
- WHtR
How to fill out the DA Form 5500
Documents the Army's body composition assessment. Since July 2026 the Army uses the waist-to-height ratio: waist at the navel divided by height. A WHtR under 0.550 meets the standard. The height/weight table and tape test (and the old DA 5500 and DA 5501 body fat worksheets) are no longer used. When: At each body composition assessment (the Army announced twice per calendar year), and for any Soldier flagged or enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program. A Soldier at 0.55 or higher gets a confirmation measurement by a different team the same duty day.
Step by step
- Enter name, rank, height rounded to the nearest 0.50 inch, sex, and age.
- Measure the waist at the navel (belly button), rounding down to the nearest 0.50 inch. Take three measurements and average them to three decimal places.
- Divide the average waist by the height. Record the WHtR to three decimal places without rounding (0.549888 is recorded as 0.549).
- If the WHtR is 0.550 or higher, a second team takes the confirmation measurement the same way.
- Use Remarks to show the step-by-step math, check whether the Soldier is or isn't in compliance, and have the preparer and supervisor sign.
What a strong one looks like
- Example: height 70.0 in, waist measurements 38.0, 38.5, 38.0 in. Average 38.166; WHtR = 38.166 / 70.0 = 0.545 (truncated), which meets the standard.
- Measure against bare skin or a thin shirt at the navel, at the end of a normal exhale, with the tape level all the way around.
- Use this draft to track your own WHtR monthly; a waist measurement is quicker than the old tape test and easy to check at home.
Common mistakes
- Rounding the WHtR up. 0.5499 is 0.549 (meets); 0.5501 is 0.550 (does not meet).
- Rounding the waist measurement up instead of down to the nearest half inch.
- Using the old circumference and body-fat worksheet; the DA 5501 no longer appears in the active forms list.