Short answer: We found no testosterone exemption in Army Directive 2026-13 or in the Marine Corps announcement of MARADMIN 066/26. Both services use a waist-to-height ratio, and neither calculation includes scale weight or muscle mass.
What the rules say
The Army directive makes the waist-to-height ratio the sole measurement for all Soldiers. It also says no fitness test score exempts a Soldier, and that other body fat methods may not be used to challenge a ratio result. The Marine Corps threshold is 0.52 or less, with a body fat evaluation for Marines who exceed it.
For active duty Soldiers who are enrolled after missing the standard, the commander requests a medical exam to look for an underlying condition that is causing weight gain or preventing the Soldier from meeting the standard.
What we cannot tell you
No one can predict how therapy will change your waist. The Defense Health Agency guideline says testosterone therapy improves body composition across studies, which is a population statement and not a promise about your tape measurement. Navy and Air Force procedures are separate, and we could not open their current instructions, so check your service's guide.
Read the full breakdown: TRT and Military Fitness Tests: Waist, Weight, Muscle.
Talk to us
Hew Health is a private, cash-pay practice in Destin and Orlando, Florida, with telemedicine in 47 states. We are not TRICARE and not part of military medicine. Request a consultation at hewhealth.com or call (850) 820-8850. Discounted pricing is available for military, law enforcement, and first responders.
Hew Health is a private medical practice and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense, TRICARE, or any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. General information as of November 8, 2026, not medical advice. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance.