THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 1, 1997 TAG: 9701010429
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Staff report
LENGTH: 73 lines
STUDY: NAVY SHOULD REVISE FAT STANDARDS FOR OLDER SAILORS
A study by the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington suggests that the military's standards for estimating body fat in men and women over 40 may need revision.
In a study of women aged 40 to 60, the ``tape-measure'' method of assessing body fat overestimated actual fat levels by 9 to 14 percent in some women, and underestimated it by 7 to 11 percent in others, when compared to findings obtained by the long-accepted standard of underwater weighing.
That's because the equations each branch of the military uses to estimate body fat from circumference measurements of arms, legs and abdomen were developed from studies of younger people, the medical center says.
The equation used by the Navy overestimated body fat most often, in 20 percent of women tested.
Why should you care? Because service men and women who do not meet the standards must undergo a weight-control program until they lose the excess fat. Failing to do so can be grounds for discharge.
NAVY SHIPS OPEN FOR VISITS:
Two Navy ships will be open to the public from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For further information, call the Norfolk Naval Base's Tour Office, at 444-7637.
Guided missile cruiser South Carolina - Norfolk Naval Station. Enter through Gate 2.
Dock landing ship Ashland - Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. Enter through Gate 1.
COLLEGE DEADLINE APPROACHES:
Applications for the Navy's Enlisted Education Advancement Program are due to the chief of naval education and training by Feb. 1. The program offers eligible sailors the chance to earn associate or bachelor's degrees, packing them off to class as full-time students for up to 24 months. Applicants will be screened in March by a selection board, and sailors given the nod will begin coursework between August 1997 and January 1998.
CHOPPER CHOW-DOWN PLANNED:
Rear Adm. Ziemer, commander of the Norfolk Naval Base, will be the speaker at a Naval Helicopter Association Region 4 luncheon Jan. 8. The 11 a.m. event takes place at the Breezy Point Officers Club at the Norfolk Naval Air Station and costs $8 per person. To make a reservation, call Lt. j.g. Bill Hoyt at 444-2851 or 444-3171 by Jan. 6.
FAMILY SERVICES
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Norfolk Navy Family Services is seeking volunteers in the following areas:
Retired Activities Office (RAO) - needed 4 to 8 hours per week.
Relocation Assistance Unit and Job Information Center (JIC) - needed 8 to 15 hours per week. Computer skills desired but not mandatory.
For addition information about these and other volunteer opportunities, call Manny Willis at 444-2102.
COLLEGE JOB WORKSHO:
Navy Family Services is sponsoring a college job networking symposium Friday for high school seniors and college students with a valid military I.D. card. The six-hour workshop begins at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Beach Central Library. For information, or to register, call 444-2102, ext. 36.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
DEPARTING
Four F-15C Eagles from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton will head for Keflavik Naval Air Station in Iceland at 4 a.m. Friday, sending about 40 pilots and support personnel to the island nation for 90 days. The deployment, the third for the wing, will put the jets to work flying air defense alert missions against unidentified aircraft in Iceland's military air defense identification zone.