What ASVAB Scores Mean for Different Military Branches?

Hey, I've been considering the military as a path after high school and I've been hearing a lot about the ASVAB exam. Understandably, higher scores mean more opportunities, but I'm kinda stuck—does anyone know what ASVAB scores mean for different branches of the military? Like, does a higher score mean I have a better chance of getting into more specialized branches, or does it just open up more duties within any branch? Any guidance would be really appreciated!

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test is a critical piece of the military entrance process. While it's true that a higher score will generally provide more opportunities, how your scores are used may vary somewhat from one branch to another.

In the U.S. military, the ASVAB is used for two primary purposes. Firstly, it is used to determine your eligibility to join the military. Each branch of the military has a minimum score requirement, which is often referred to as the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score. The AFQT score is computed based on certain subsets of the ASVAB, specifically Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK).

For example, for the Army, the minimum AFQT score is 31 for high school diploma holders and 50 for GED holders. For the Marine Corps, it's 32 (diploma) and 50 (GED), and for the Coast Guard, it's 40 (diploma) and 47 (GED). The Air Force and Navy require a higher minimum AFQT score—36 with diploma or 65 with GED for the Air Force, and 35 with diploma or 50 with GED for the Navy.

Secondly, your ASVAB scores are used to determine your suitability for a specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Some specialties require higher scores in certain areas. For example, to qualify for MOS as a cryptologic linguist in the Army, you'd need a high score in the Skilled Technical (ST) area of the ASVAB, which includes Word Knowledge (WK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), and Mechanical Comprehension (MC). Each job in each branch will have its own required line score combinations.

Remember, scoring high on the ASVAB does not necessarily mean you will be accepted into a more "specialized branch," but it offers flexibility in your choice of specialties or jobs within a branch. The scores can influence the roles and opportunities available to you within any given branch.

In addition to these scores, each branch also considers physical fitness, medical standards, moral standards, and other cognitive testing, so the ASVAB is only one part of a comprehensive evaluation. And note that even if you achieve the required ASVAB scores for a particular role, that doesn't guarantee you that job—availability of positions can fluctuate depending on the current needs of the military.

It can be beneficial to study and prepare for the ASVAB to ensure that you have the widest range of career options available to you. Good luck with your decision-making process!