What really is the “average” ASVAB score?
Does anyone really use these scores to qualify for a job?
or do they just place you where needed.
Do the military reqruiters still tell you anything you want to hear to get you in?
Please fill me in on the SD, Thanks
Short answers. I don’t know the average ASVAB score and it has multiple areas so there is no single overall score. Yes, a good score qualifies you for certain jobs but see the detailed answer below. Yes, the military may place you where it needs you even if that’s not what you want.
You rarely get a guaranteed job in the military but you may be able to get guaranteed training if your ASVAB scores are high enough. You have to successfully complete your training to get the job you want and even then it isn’t guaranteed you’ll work in that field though probably you will.
Recruiters rarely lie outright but you’ll need to do a lot of reading between the lines. If possible get a maven who is familiar with military service to advise you on what the recruiter promises.
The specifics vary a lot but I’ll give you my example. My ASVAB scores qualified me for nuclear power or advanced electronics. I chose aviation electronics and was guaranteed training and accelerated advancement (rent-a-crow) in exchange for agreeing to extend my normal four-year enlistment to six years. If I completely my training I would be rated as a petty officer in one of three aviation rates: aviation electronics tech (radio) aviation fire control tech (radar, the one I chose and got) and antisubmarine warfare tech.
Part of my guaranteed advancement was starting as an E-3. It’s not much but put me about a year ahead and my paychecks were slightly larger from day one. My twice-monthly paycheck was $199 but keep in mind this was 1979 and that did not include food and housing allowance.
After boot camp I went to “A” school for approximately 20 weeks to learn basic aviation electronics. It was a self paced school with instructors available for assistance with lab work. After completing A school I was advanced to E-4 or third class petty officer This was after having been in less than seven months and normally takes up to two years.
After that I went to advanced first term avionics for 20 weeks of more advanced training on the same stuff I just did. Just more in depth with lots of instruction and emphasis on performance. From there I went to Miramar in San Diego for another 20 or so weeks learning the systems of the F-14. Very intensive training with a ratio of two instructors to every student. After all that I was transferred to a fleet squadron to actually put my education to use. I had been in the navy almost a year and a half before I ever touched an airplane.
Holy crap, yes they use them.
I qualified for a lot of things, but because my eyesight ain’t what you call “picture perfect”, I was somewhat disqualified.
Doesn’t matter though. I love what I’m doing, and am glad fate sent me into Engineering.
Tripler
5 CES, soon to be 819 RED HORSE
You may be thinking of the Armed Services Qualifying Test score, which is derived from the four most general parts of the ASVAB. This is a percentile score, and the average is 50 by definition. You’ll need a 31 or 32 to join any of the armed forces. I recommend a look at this website: http://usmilitary.about.com/library/weekly/aa043001a.htm