When is AR 600-9 body composition standards applicable to IET soldiers?

The body composition standards outlined in AR 600-9 are applicable to Initial Entry Training (IET) soldiers 180 days from their entry date. This time frame allows newly inducted soldiers to adapt to military life and complete their basic training before being evaluated against the Army's body composition standards. This policy recognizes that IET soldiers may experience significant changes in lifestyle and physical conditioning, and it provides them a fair timeframe to meet the required standards after their initial entry period.

Adhering to these guidelines ensures that soldiers have adequate time to adjust and become physically conditioned to meet Army expectations without imposing immediate standards that could be challenging tasks during the early stages of their training. Consequently, the expectation set in AR 600-9 acknowledges the transition process soldiers go through as they begin their military careers.