Hey, a little stressed out here. I've heard there's a specific exam/test you need to take to enter a military school post high school. Can someone explain it to me cause I'm kinda confused. Is this required only for certain military programs or generally for all?
Sure, I can help explain this. The test you've heard about is likely the ASVAB, which stands for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. This test measures your aptitude in a broad array of subject areas to help predict your potential success in various career paths and training programs within the military. The ASVAB is not only for students planning to attend a military school but generally for anyone considering a career in the U.S. military.
The test has 10 sections, but the primary four sections—Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Mathematics Knowledge—make up your Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) scores, which determine if you’re eligible to enlist in the armed forces.
This shouldn't be confused with the admissions processes for military academies such as the United States Military Academy (West Point), the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy. To get into these academies, the process involves getting a congressional nomination, meeting physical standards, and demonstrating leadership and academic excellence, but doesn't necessarily involve the ASVAB.
Hence, whether you need to take the ASVAB depends on your post-high school military plans. Being stressed is understandable, but remember to take it one step at a time and fully research the paths that interest you.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.