CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — Command and staff personnel from the 1st Signal Brigade became the first Soldiers in the brigade to complete body composition assessments under the Army’s newly implemented waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) standard, demonstrating leadership by example as the service transitions to its updated body composition program.
The assessment marked the brigade’s first official implementation of the new policy, reinforcing the Army principle that leaders set the standard by leading from the front. Before the brigade’s Soldiers complete their annual assessments, senior leaders voluntarily underwent the process to familiarize themselves with the new procedures and demonstrate confidence in the updated system.
The Army officially replaced its long-standing height-and-weight tables, body fat percentage charts and tape test on July 7, 2026, with a single waist-to-height ratio measurement. The updated assessment is designed to provide a simpler and more consistent method for evaluating body composition while supporting Soldier readiness and overall health.
Under the new standard, a Soldier’s waist circumference is measured at the navel and divided by their height in inches to determine their waist-to-height ratio. Soldiers must achieve a ratio below 0.55 to meet the Army standard. Measurements are recorded to three decimal places and truncated rather than rounded. Soldiers whose initial measurement exceeds the standard receive a confirmation measurement. Those who remain above the authorized ratio may be enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program until they return to compliance. For 1st Signal Brigade leadership, participating first demonstrated accountability while ensuring they fully understood the updated process before asking Soldiers across the formation to complete the assessment themselves.
As the Army’s premier communications formation on the Korean Peninsula, 1st Signal Brigade maintains mission-ready forces capable of providing reliable communications and information systems in support of U.S. Forces Korea and combined operations. Maintaining individual readiness remains a critical component of the brigade’s ability to accomplish its mission.
The brigade consists of 934 Soldiers and 106 Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) Soldiers serving throughout the Korean Peninsula. By completing the first assessments themselves, 1st Signal Brigade command and staff personnel demonstrated the leadership expected of Army professionals, reinforcing trust in the new standard while setting the example for the Soldiers they lead. As implementation continues across the brigade, the focus remains on readiness, accountability and ensuring every Soldier is prepared to accomplish the mission whenever called upon.
The updated assessment reflects the Army’s continued effort to modernize policies that support readiness while maintaining fair and consistent standards across the force. Brigade leaders emphasized that the new process is not simply an administrative requirement but another component of maintaining a healthy, resilient and deployable force prepared to answer the nation’s call.