# Feet too big to serve in the US Army?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-too-big-to-serve-in-the-us-army/295186>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 18, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-too-big-to-serve-in-the-us-army/295186 "2005-03-18T19:27:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-too-big-to-serve-in-the-us-army/295186/1 "2005-03-18T19:27:35Z")

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Someone was asking me about the veracity of a claim. The person said that they tried to join the military in 1992 but was denied because his size 15 fee were too big. Is there any truth to that claim?

I’ve found [ht/wt requirements for the army:](http://www.armedforcescareers.com/enlistmentrequirements.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Males: Physical Condition (Some military occupations have additional requirements.) Height: 5’0" to 6’8"

But nothing that speaks to the feet.

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**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-too-big-to-serve-in-the-us-army/295186/2 "2005-03-18T19:34:57Z")

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If boots larger than size 15 have to be custom-made then I can see why they might reject someone.

However this online bio of David Robinson ([http://members.fortunecity.com/stefnba/robinson/davids\_bio.htm](http://members.fortunecity.com/stefnba/robinson/davids_bio.htm)) claims that he wears a size 17 and he served in the Navy.

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**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-too-big-to-serve-in-the-us-army/295186/3 "2005-03-18T19:41:24Z")

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Is this covered under the Fats Waller regulation?

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**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feet-too-big-to-serve-in-the-us-army/295186/4 "2005-03-19T02:13:40Z")

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It just so happens that my drill sergeant at 93D school in Fort Gordon had size 16 boots. Biggest, tallest, blackest dude I’d ever seen in my life. Nice guy, too (hey, this wasn’t basic, and we were “professional class” soldiers).