Where is the neck measurement taken?

• A. At the neck, just below the larynx, with the tape parallel to the floor and not compressing the skin.
• B. On the wrist, near the radius bone.
• C. On the thigh, halfway between hip and knee.
• D. At the neck, near the base of the neck, with the tape parallel to the floor and not compressing the skin.

Answer: (D)

Measuring neck circumference uses a fixed reference point on the neck so the results are consistent over time and between people. The neck measurement is taken at the base of the neck, near where the neck meets the shoulders, with the tape held horizontally, parallel to the floor, and not compressing the skin. This position provides a stable, reproducible landmark that isn’t easily altered by head position or movement, which helps when calculating body fat with the AR 600-9 method. The other spots described—around the wrist or on the thigh—are unrelated to neck circumference, and measuring higher up near the larynx would not provide the standard reference point used in this regulation.