# Is there any US military rank where you can be as fat & out of shape as you wish? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718 "2013-06-23T19:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/1 "2013-06-23T19:13:42Z")
Just curious. It’s my understanding that physical fitness is not just desired, it’s required if you want to stay in the US Military. Is there any point in US Military rank advancement (General, Admiral whatever) where you can be as big a tub of goo you want and no one can do anything about it with respect to forcing you to get fit or be discharged? ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/2 "2013-06-23T19:25:38Z")
Are you allowed? No, everyone is to comply with the physical fitness standards and tests. However, does it happen? Yup. Usually, as you probably guessed it, its the more senior people. Since they have a lot of inherent authority a few, the 1%'ers, will manipulate and get passed with flying colors. The guy who ran our Navy PFT’s was no way near his target weight for his height. I had a bitch of a time keeping my weight in standard for my weight of 5’6" at 150-155. Fortunately, my body fat percentage was low which saved me. But, any ways, the guy who ran the tests who was my height was an easy 180, rarely exercised, but passed with the highest marks. Why? Because we had a SNCO who did not feel like exercising and they “rubbed each others bellies” so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/3 "2013-06-23T20:20:28Z")
Everyone has standards to meet. Older people have lower standards for sit-ups and run times, etc. Some people are physically unable to do a PT test, but are still required to meet weight standards. Some medical conditions make it difficult to shed pounds. But yeah, people manage to dodge the bullet for years. But as far as just being obese and out of shape as a perk of higher rank: no. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/4 "2013-06-23T21:28:31Z")
Just one: Commander-in-Chief. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/5 "2013-06-23T22:02:18Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > Just one: Commander-in-Chief. [![](https://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/shayne_mantha/taft.jpg) ](https://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/shayne_mantha/taft.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/6 "2013-06-23T22:07:48Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > Just one: Commander-in-Chief. Not a military rank, a civilian. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/7 "2013-06-23T22:57:39Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Just curious. > > It’s my understanding that physical fitness is not just desired, it’s required if you want to stay in the US Military. Is there any point in US Military rank advancement (General, Admiral whatever) where you can be as big a tub of goo you want and no one can do anything about it with respect to forcing you to get fit or be discharged? Fortunately, the United States does not have the rank of _Reichsmarschall_, which I believe, requires its bearer to be a tub of goo. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/8 "2013-06-23T23:41:05Z")
Winfield Scott was over 300 pounds at the start of the Civil War. Still a badass, though. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/9 "2013-06-23T23:48:00Z")
It has been a few years since I read the regulations. With that caveat, in the army if you have over 18 years of service, instead of kicking you out they give you a mandatory retirement date of the end of the month when you hit twenty years. Another exception is made for medical personnel. If the army has paid for your medical school, you can’t just put on a few pounds and get sent home. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/10 "2013-06-24T20:07:55Z")
What happens if you are kicked out for obesity? Is it an honorable discharge? Are there penalties to your retirement or pension? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/11 "2013-06-24T20:14:08Z")
In theory, no…but in practice I’ve seen plenty of master chiefs who were not meeting physical standards, to say the least. 😛 I’ve seen some tubby officers as well, though this was all obviously in the Navy, which I presume is a bit different than the other branches of the service. I didn’t see many fat marines, though there were a few. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/12 "2013-06-24T20:15:12Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > [http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/shayne\_mantha/taft.jpg](http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/shayne_mantha/taft.jpg) And more recently: [http://bclund.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/482669\_Bill-Clinton-Cigar-Man.jpg](http://bclund.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/482669_Bill-Clinton-Cigar-Man.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/13 "2013-06-24T20:19:11Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > What happens if you are kicked out for obesity? Is it an honorable discharge? Are there penalties to your retirement or pension? It would be a lengthy process. First, after all the counseling about losing weight, you’re put on a medically supervised diet/exercise program. All you really have to do is show progress, weighing in every week, etc. If it turns out that you are unable or unwilling to meet standards, you could, in theory, be discharged either medically or administratively. But I can tell you that NOBODY wants to take on a Master Chief to that extreme. Also, the services are extremely reluctant to lose senior NCOs, who are the backbone of all services. For officers, failure to meet standards means bad fitness reports, and enough of those will prevent you from being promoted, and you’ll eventually term out. ---
**Author:** ![parsnip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parsnip/32/4564_2.png) [@parsnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parsnip)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/14 "2013-06-24T22:52:19Z")
30 years ago I was a Candy-Striper at the USAF base where my dad worked. There were active duty personnel locked down in the hospital beds who needed to lose weight to go back to work. Since I was only supposed to take direction from the Shift Lead RN, it always cracked me up that I wasn’t allowed in certain rooms–guess the staff figured the teenagers would be talked into delivering additional meals. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/15 "2013-06-24T23:10:30Z")
You get a special fitness dispensation if you’re [**the general**](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BOTEyOTI5MTIxOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODkwNDI3NA@@._V1._SX640_SY960_.jpg) in charge of planetary portals. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/16 "2013-06-25T01:07:19Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > You get a special fitness dispensation if you’re [**the general**](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BOTEyOTI5MTIxOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODkwNDI3NA@@._V1._SX640_SY960_.jpg) in charge of planetary portals. Linky no worky. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/17 "2013-06-25T01:12:17Z")
Not current, but… General [William Rufus Shafter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rufus_Shafter)who led the invasion of Cuba in 1898 (Spanish-American War) was a 300+ pounder who had to have a special set of steps erected so he could mount his horse (and one can feel a certain sympathy for the poor bloody horse that had to carry that particular tub of guts around in the Cuban summer heat). In more recent circumstances, I’d imagine that in wartime a competent and senior officer such as Shafter would still be given a pass on the fitness front if s/he were really needed. “Needs of the service” and all that. SS ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/18 "2013-06-25T01:13:58Z")
Just about everything you ever wanted to know about the Army’s weight control program. [http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600\_9.pdf](http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_9.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/19 "2013-06-25T02:59:21Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > You get a special fitness dispensation if you’re [**the general**](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BOTEyOTI5MTIxOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODkwNDI3NA@@._V1._SX640_SY960_.jpg) in charge of planetary portals. > > > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > > > Linky no worky. Weird. The link works with Firefox but bounces with Safari. [**Here he is**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Hammond) on a Wikipedia page, the link copied and tested with Safari. The other pic is better for making whatever silly point I attempted to make of an actor playing a “full-figure” general. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718/20 "2013-06-25T03:10:52Z")
The rank of Jabba the Hut. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-us-military-rank-where-you-can-be-as-fat-out-of-shape-as-you-wish/661718.md?page=2)