The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery

The United States military uses the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a set of skills tests, to ensure that the requirements for enlistment are fulfilled by a recruit. Included in the ASVAB are core tests that are collectively known as the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT). Those tests which are not part of the AFQT, test a recruit’s capabilities regarding a number of skills essential to a range of military jobs. Get the ASVAB test study guide here.

All recruits must take the ASVAB. It is administered at military processing centers, as well as at secondary schools for high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in a branch of the military. Should there be no high school or military processing center administering the test within a reasonable distance, recruits can take the ASVAB at a Mobile Examining Team Site (METS), which brings the examination to recruits located in remote areas. Get your ASVAB test flashcards here.

ASVAB tests concern the areas of Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, General Science Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge, Auto and Shop Knowledge, Mechanical Comprehension, and Electronics Information. Because these tests are designed to evaluate aptitude, existing knowledge and ability, candidates cannot fail the ASVAB. Results are used to help determine the best area of military work for a particular candidate.
Results of the ASVAB can be important to recruits who intend to pursue particular types of military training, as they can determine whether or not a recruit will demonstrate the necessary aptitude to be successful in his field of choice. Areas such as medical services, engineering, communications, aviation mechanics, electronics, law enforcement, ground transportation and accounting all require specific skills or abilities, and placement in one of these areas of focus depends to a large degree upon the outcome of the ASVAB.

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