By FEAR CHURCHWELL – Web Staff
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is a test to evaluate one’s personal skills and abilities. Many people, however, look at it as only a test for people interested in entering the Military.
“I encourage all students to take it,” Clarke Central High School JROTC Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle said, “It’s not just for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps kids. I encourage every student I talk to, to take it. AP kids or kids that don’t care anything about JROTC or the military.”
The ASVAB is a test that consists of eight individual tests, including general science, arithmetic reading, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, mathematics knowledge, electronics information, auto and shop information and mechanical comprehension.
The eight tests are scored and are used to compile three composite scores for verbal, math skills, and science and technical skills. These scores then produce a broad number of occupations that the test taker might like to pursue.
“I tell them to take it because it’s a free standardized test that helps you determine how you learn and what you’re good at, and it gives you choices when you get ready to graduate to decide on what you might like to pursue.” McMickle said.
The ASVAB is, in fact, the test you take to gain entrance into the Military. A tester must score a minimum score of 31 to eligible to be enlisted in the United States Army.
“The SAT, the ACT or the COMPASS is for colleges or technical schools, while the ASVAB is to get into the military,” McMickle said. “The higher you score on the ASVAB, the more opportunities you have to do different stuff in the Military.”
Not only may the ASVAB provide possible career paths for people entering the military, but it can also provide a back up plan for people who take it.
“(I took the ASVAB) just in case I wanted to enter the military,” CCHS senior Joshua Jones said.
Although the ASVAB may sound like a military test alone, the test is closer to an abilities, career and interests test than anything else.
“Even if you don’t want to be in the military it still shows you what you’re good at, what you’re bad at and what you need to improve on. It shows you career opportunities,” CCHS freshman Evan Smith said.
Students have realized the benefits of the ASVAB, leading to a growth in the number of students who take the test.
“When I first got (to CCHS) we would only have six, eight, 10 people taking the ASVAB. Last semester, we had around 40 people signed up to take the test.” McMickle said.
The ASVAB test isn’t just an evaluation of somebody interested in the military, but somebody interested in their abilities and what occupations and careers they might consider pursuing in the near future.
“We are always trying to connect with students, and figuring out what is important to them and how they learn so that they can learn.” McMickle said.
