Height restriction (Army, Air Force, Navy, officer)

[Padgett2]

Is there a maximum height acceptable in any of the Armed Forces?

My concern is for a 6'7" basketball player. If they do accept the tall ones, would one service be better than any of the others.

I know that the Air Force has to restrict height for fighter pilots because of the size of the cockpit.

[theoldnorthstate]

Sure someone can give you a more current answer but in the past the Navy kept a midshipman from the Academy on active duty for his 5 years. He then went to Dallas Mavs and was a basketball player for years. I think his name was David Robinson and he was well over 6'7".

Back in WWII my dad was in the Army Air Corps but to his sadness flunked the physical since he was 6'7".

So Navy and Army perhaps. Don't think AF.

Hope this helps.

[GeorgiaTransplant]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

Is there a maximum height acceptable in any of the Armed Forces?

My concern is for a 6'7" basketball player. If they do accept the tall ones, would one service be better than any of the others.

I know that the Air Force has to restrict height for fighter pilots because of the size of the cockpit.

Army:

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r40_501.pdf

"The causes for disqualification are—
a. Men: Height below 60 inches or over 80 inches does not meet the standard.
b. Women: Height below 58 inches or over 80 inches does not meet the standard.
"

6'7" = 79 inches. Would squeak in there. I am sure there are waivers available.

I wouldn't worry about pilot limits in the Air Force. The vast majority of the Air Force are NOT pilots. It's a furious competition to get into pilot slots in any service, including the Army.

[Bakeneko]

I think that you could get into any of the branches of the service but the height may limit which "job" you could do. (ie pilots)

[North Beach Person]

Height and Weight Chart - Navy

The above is for the USN.

David Robinson was around 6'1" or so when he entered the Naval Academy and grew the extra foot during his 4 years there. He was offered a discharge but refused it and went to mostly recruiting and PR duties upon commissioning. He had topped out for everything. Generally the upper limit is 6'6" for the services.

[smadley]

I know that I have worked with guys that were 6'8" in the Air Force and I'm AD working in maintenance. One thing to think about for the AF is that all (enlisted and officer) have to PT test every 6 months. One portion of the test is a waist measurement and they don't incorporate for height or age, only gender. So a male who is 5'5" has to be measured the same as you at 6'7". The test gives max points if your waist is under 35" and points decline every half inch until you 39.5" and then its an automatic fail. The waist measurement becomes a burden on people as they age cause naturally peoples body will change over the years and typically I have seen a alot of taller people have a real hard time as they get a little older. Just a thought...

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

Is there a maximum height acceptable in any of the Armed Forces?

My concern is for a 6'7" basketball player. If they do accept the tall ones, would one service be better than any of the others.

I know that the Air Force has to restrict height for fighter pilots because of the size of the cockpit.

Chad Hennings of the Air Force Academy and Dallas Cowboys (6'6", 290 lbs.) flew A-10's in Iraq.

[Wartrace]

I would avoid the Navy unless you are REALLY careful going through bulkhead doors. On the other hand I suppose you would learn after banging your head a few times.....

[bs13690]

Originally Posted by Wartrace

I would avoid the Navy unless you are REALLY careful going through bulkhead doors. On the other hand I suppose you would learn after banging your head a few times.....

If you are going to avoid the Navy for that reason, avoid the USMC as well. I'm only 6 foot and I banged the hell out of my head on one of those things. I was hungover at the time so it made it abou 100 times worse.