LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIAL MILITARY CAREER?

Bayside Hosts The ASVAB Test On November 25, 2008

by Tiffany Pendleton

The Bear Truth Reporter

Most people do not know what the ASVAB test is. ASVAB in an acronym standing for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The ASVAB is a national, norm, multi- aptitude test battery that has been provided to high schools and post secondary schools since 1968.The ASVAB Career Exploration Program was developed with input from a panel of career development experts and was designed to encourage students to increase their self knowledge.

The ASVAB test is generally separated into sections, for example, mechanics, math, writing, science, and natural science. Junior Joseph Sieber exclaimed, “The test was all about showing were your strengths and weaknesses are in the military, and if you want to join the military it would show where your best skills would be most appreciated.”

Most of the students who took the test said it was pretty simple and mostly common sense. Senior Nicole Smolka states, “The questions on the test were simple, for example, math, like ‘4x+2=10, solve for x.’ In general science, they would ask you a question like, ‘ why does a volcano explode?’ Just simple questions that you should have learned in middle school.”

Students who have not taken the test are excited to see were they would get placed in the military. Senior Jose Rosario says, “Hopefully if I get the score that I want, I will be able to go into the Navy as a nuke officer, and I would also have a lot more doors open to me career wise.”

The ASVAB test generally takes you a very long time to complete, mostly because of the mathematics and calculations section. Smolka urges, “It’s supposed to take you three hours because there is a specific amount of time for each section. In school there is only three sections, while if you take it outside for a recruiter or something there are generally nine sections.”

The mechanical section is probably the most important section because that is were it is most Military related. Sieber exclaims, “The hardest questions for me were the mechanical questions, because in the military, if you need to fix a jeep they ask you what kind of parts need to go where or how to fix the engine, and the steps of how to take it apart and putting it back together.”

In the end the ASVAB test will benefit you in one way or another. Smolka states, “The test benefits you if you are going into a Military career because it places you on what kind of job that you are mostly qualified for. For instance, I scored a ninety two percent so basically I could get any job I want.”

All in all, the ASVAB test is a great scale on what you need more work on and your strong points. If you are interested in finding out where you would stand Military career wise, this is the test for you. Just think- the higher the score you get the more the Military will want you, so start studying and sign up in the Guidance office.