MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego -- Recently the Commandant of the Marine Corps has decided to crack down on body composition in the Marine Corps because he has discovered an unsatisfactory amount of Marines who are overweight.
The order itself, Marine Corps Order P1600.12, has been in effect since 2002. The order focuses mainly on the physical fitness of a Marine and their height and weight standards.
If a Marine fails their Physical Fitness Test, or is put on a Body Composition Program, they will be placed on a Remedial Physical Conditioning Program.
This program uses a combination of aerobic and resistance conditioning to get that Marine back to standards after a weight issue, injury, illness, pregnancy or a period that lacked a structured physical fitness program.
According to Marine Administrative Message 157/11 released March 11, the Commandant and the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps are continually observing Marines of all ranks that lack the military appearance they believe America expects from the Marine Corps.
They think there is a lack of compliance and equality of enforcement among the ranks. The Commandant has directed the Inspector General of the Marine Corps to ensure immediate compliance to the Body Composition Program and Military Appearance Program.
“Admittedly, decisions to assign Marines to the Body Composition and Military Appearance Programs are difficult and sometimes involve Marines who are otherwise solid performers. It is, however, the right thing to do.” said Gen. James Conway, 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps, during an interview with “The Marine Corps Times.”
According to Marine Administrative Message 0190/09, if Marines do not meet established Body Composition Program standards, they will be notified of their deficiencies and processed for BCP assignment.
The MARADMIN also states that the Inspector General of the Marine Corps will provide an unbiased and objective analysis of the Body Composition and Marine Appearance Programs across the Marine Corps. The results will be submitted to the Commandant of the Marine Corps for review and future guidance.
“All of the commands aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot have been notified of this,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Navarette, inspector general chief, depot inspector. “Last year we proactively included the Physical Fitness Test and the Combat Fitness Test and inspected 25 percent of personnel aboard the depot during the Commanding General’s Inspection Program. With this crackdown we have ‘upped’ it to 50 percent.”
The MCRD inspector general says the depot is going to adhere to exactly what the new MARADMIN states.
“We are Marines; we have a physical training standard,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Brian C. Paradis, band master, Marine Band San Diego. “We are simply doing our job as leaders and holding Marines accountable to that standard. We, as leaders, can’t be reactionary when it comes to individual physical readiness. The standards need to be enforced at all times. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to an individual Marine when they are identified as being out of shape.”
For more information, refer to Marine Administrative Message 0190/09, Marine Administrative Message 157/11 and Marine Corps Order P1600.12.