National Guard Height And Weight Standards: All You Need to Know for Military Career

The US National Guard height and weight standards are the very first step that you have to pass to join this service. Like other services, the National Guard also sets a strict physical standard for enlistment to make sure that all the recruits will be able to handle duties successfully. If you are intending to join the US National Guard, it is imperative to understand its requirements to be fully prepared. Therefore, this blog post is going to provide you with detailed National Guard height and weight standards as well as other medical requirements that you have to acquire. Keep reading and all you need to know will be unfolded.

What are the National Guard height and weight standards?

To make sure all the service personnel have physical readiness to carry out service tasks, the US National Guard has set strict height and weight requirements for both men and women. However, it should be noted that the US National Guard includes two branches:

• Army National Guard 
• Air National Guard

Therefore, the National Guard height and weight standards include the Army National Guard requirements and the Air National Guard requirements.

The Army National Guard height and weight requirements

Similar to the US Army, the Army National Guard height and weight standards vary between men and women to ensure they are both physically ready for the duty.

• Height: height standards for females ranges from 58 to 80 inches while that for male is between 60 to 80 inches
• Weight: weight standards are based on height, gender and age as well. For instance, if a woman is 29 years old and has a height of 59 inches will have a maximum weight standard is 123 pounds. A men is 45 years old and 77-inch high will have a maximum weight standard is 215 pounds

You can go to our post here for detailed Army height and weight requirements.

The Air National Guard height and weight requirements

The Air National Guard height and weight requirements are the same with the Air Force ones. Specifically, these standards are based on the applicants’ height and gender. 

• Height: The height range for females is between 58 and 80 inches, and male is from 60 to 80 inches. 
• Weight: Each height corresponds to a specific weight range. For example, a female standing 73 inches tall has a maximum of 179 pounds. Similarly, a men is 68 inches tall should not exceed 184 pounds

Curious how these weight standards are set? Read our post on US Air Force Height And Weight Standards. 

Other medical requirements for the National Guard

Besides the National Guard height and weight requirements, this service branch also has other standards with an aim to find the most suitable personnel who have adequate capability to serve the duties. 

Health standards

• Must be free from contagious diseases that could jeopardize their health or the well-being of others.
• Must also be capable of successfully completing the necessary training, without any conditions or physical impairments that would require prolonged treatment or hospitalization.
• Must be able to carry out their assigned duties without exacerbating any medical or physical conditions.

It should be noted that even you are currently serving in the National Guard, sudden failure to meet these standards you have to get out of the service

Sight and Hearing requirement

• Several diseases that might discharge applicant from enlistment: 

astigmatism over three diopters, hyperopia (farsightedness) over eight diopters, or myopia (nearsightedness) over eight diopters

• have the ability to hear pure tones at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 cycles per second in each ear, with an average of 30 decibels and no single level exceeding 35 decibels
• have no history of, or current reliance on, hearing aids.

FAQs

1. Is there a height requirement for the National Guard?

Yes, the National Guard sets height requirements for enlistment. Specifically, the acceptable height with women is from 58-80 inches and that with men is from 60-80 inches.

2. Is there a weight requirement for the Army National Guard?

Yes, the Army National Guard has a weight requirement for all the applicants. There is no specific minimum and maximum weight standard though, instead weight standards are based on each individual’s heights, gender, and age group as well.

3. Can I join the National Guard if I’m overweight?

Yes, you can still join the National Guard if you are overweight, but you must meet the height and weight standards to qualify for enlistment. If you are over the allowable weight limit, you should consider losing weight before enlisting. Some candidates are given the opportunity to join through the National Guard’s Fitness Improvement Program (FIP), which helps them reach the required standards. However, if you do not meet the standards after being given time to improve, it may prevent you from enlisting. 

Final thoughts

Understanding the US National Guard height and weight standards are necessary if you are intending to enlist yourself into the service. As there is a slight difference among requirements of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, it is recommended that you should carefully consider which branch you are going to join to fully prepare. Hope this blog post is helpful; otherwise, you can leave your questions below for further discussion. 

Be sure to explore our resources and take the free National Guard ASVAB practice test to help prepare for your journey.