Finding out what career you want to pursue can be difficult and stressful. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a test that allows students to determine your skills and capabilities. It’s a great tool to use if students are struggling to figure out what job they want, and it can also help them enlist in the military.
To apply to the military, taking the ASVAB is a requirement. They use it as a way to find out what job would be best suited for you based on your qualifications.
“I’m interested in the military, my entire family’s been in the military; the Air Force, Marines, no one in the army though, and college is very expensive and stressful,” said Grace Woodall, a senior at Athens Drive, and an 88A in the military. “ I was like ‘Okay, college is a lot of money! What can I do to make it not a lot of money?’ The military pays for schooling because of the GI bill and lots of other things, especially the National Guard, you get a lot of benefits with it.”
Woodall took the ASVAB in February of this year. She then got her results back in March, allowing her to enlist in the military. It also allowed her to enlist in the National Guard, they require the ASVAB as well.
“It just gives you an idea of what you would be good at in the military. Not just the military, but life in general also. Like for me, I scored the highest in mechanics, so I’m an 88A which is transportation, operation. So I drive all the big military vehicles that you see,” said Woodall.
There are a multitude of ways students can take the ASVAB. You can take it at MEPS, (Military Entrance Processing Station) or you can take it through your school. Woodall was one of the people that took it at MEPS.
“I would definitely recommend taking it through the school because it’s [going to] be a lot easier versus taking it at MEPS. And your ASVAB score through the school counts in any military,” said Woodall.
The ASVAB testing at Athens Drive is held in the media center and there are two opportunities a year. It’s held once in spring and once in fall.
“It’s for any junior through senior. It’s computerized, they’ll get their results immediately afterward and then have an interpreter come in and explain those scores,” said Melonie Carlton, the Career Development Coordinator at Athens Drive.
For this special test, the lowest students can score is a 0 and the highest is a 99. However, just like for any test, you must prepare.
“If you don’t study for it and you get a score you don’t want, the job that you potentially qualify for is lower. So if you’re like ‘Oh I’m just not gonna study for it’ and you get like a 21… (the highest you can get is a 99) so the availability of that occupation, that job based on your score would not be great. So again, ideally like with any test, you want to review,” said Carlton. “I always send them an overview of what it looks like and some potential study links they should look at. They’re also given a hard copy online of potential questions they’ll be asked. It’s always to your best advantage to study for or at least review it.”
There are a variety of different questions that are on the ASVAB. These questions are organized into five different categories: math, science, English language, spatial abilities, mechanical and technical skills.
“They have books that you can study. You can study online, they have flashcards, quizlets, and anything. Study! I took the ASVAB twice, my first score was the one that counted. I got a 54, which is good. I studied and I took it again and I got a 98. Study, it’s all about studying!” Woodall said.
