Thread by @LethalityJane

I got flagged for ABCP once.

I had just stopped breastfeeding my twins, so that 1000 calorie deficit I had every day went away, and my body was still adjusting.

I passed my APFT still (this was years ago) but was one percent over body fat.

I think Height and Weight are frustrating for a lot of soldiers because it's a tool that's used like a sledgehammer when individual soldier circumstances vary. People go on and off medications, they're trying to gain muscle to improve ACFT scores, etc.

I lost my promotable status. It was pretty humiliating. I went to an Army nutritionist who gave me "expert" advice like "when you eat pizza try to get pizza with veggies on it"

I was off the program after two months. But I had to go back to the promotion board and explain to a bunch of 1SGs and a CSM I didn't know what had happened.

And I'm still not really complaining. I made it through. But I understand why people get frustrated with the process. It's an easy standard for some to make. It's a struggle struggle others.

Anyway I think empathy is lacking sometimes when we talk about this. "The standard is the standard". Sure. But it's also not unreasonable to ask why the standard is that way, which is what I think most people are doing, especially with the new ACFT requirements.

I think about soldiers in circumstances like this a lot.

https://twitter.com/LethalityJane/status/1365082993258205187?s=19