MY Recruiting process step 2: The ASVAB

Just Five days after seeing a recruiter I was scheduled to take the ASVAB, which stands for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Its basically like the SAT's for the military and its suppose to measure your strengths, weaknesses, and the kind of job field you could be qualified for. Knowing that this test determines if I am qualified to be in the medical field in the Navy made me more nervous than i have ever been for a test. This test actually counted for something other than just a grade, it was a test for my career. After I got out of the recruiters office that first day I purchased the ASVAB for dummies study guide book and went to Barnes & Noble to look at other ASVAB study guide books, everyday until the test.

Study Guide Books found at local libraries or book stores

There are also practice tests available online for you to take and get the basic understanding of the test. Depending on which branch of the military you want to join, there are different requirements and passing scores. Although there are a total of 8 subjects to be taken in the ASVAB for an individual to pass your score is dependent on the Arithmetic reasoning, Mathematics knowledge, World knowledge, and Paragraph comprehension. Here are the recent qualifying scores for each branch, which could be subject to change...

Service Branch	Required AFQT Score*
Army	31
Navy	35
Marines	31
Air Force	36
Coast Guard	45

The other sections of the test are general science, electronics information, mechanical comprehension, and auto and shop knowledge, which are areas to determine your job field. As scared as I was of failing I ended up scoring a 69, needing a 35 to pass in general, qualifying me for Hospital Corpsman (HM), which is medical care. Other jobs I qualified for was Operations Specialists, who work the tactical combat information, basically those who give out the tactical decisions that need to be made if an attack is striking. Another job was Intelligence Specialists (IS), which deals with classified information about enemies and/ or potential enemies. 


My tips for taking the ASVAB:

1. STUDY the books and practice tests available on the internet. Study the basic concepts of the test.
2. For the World Knowledge portion, which includes vocabulary words bound to be heard sometime in your lifetime, study the ROOT WORDS. If there are 2 or more similar words with the same meaning its most likely incorrect.
3. For the Paragraph Comprehension section, READ THE QUESTION FIRST so that you can pick up key words as you read the paragraph given.
4. Don't just do your best on the areas that will be totaled for you to pass---unless thats all you want and don't care what kind of job you'll get---try your best in every section because the higher the score the better the kind of jobs you'll be selected for.

If I didn't pass the ASVAB this time around I would of had to wait a month to take it again and if i dont pass the third time I would of had to wait 6 months to take it again. Now that the ASVAB is over and done with, I have MEPS in 2 days to worry about. I honestly don't know what to expect. If I pass my physical at MEPS I can get my job that same day if not ill have to wait for one to open up. We'll see what happens, its an all day event from 5am-5pm.

MY Recruiting process step 1: the recruiter

U.S. Armed Forces (Navy, Air Force, Marines)

172 Skyline Plz
Daly City, CA 94015

During spring break I finally decided to go see a Navy recruiter and talk about the F word….my FUTURE! I knew I had to see one that week of spring break because time was running out and graduation is right around the corner. MY PLAN is to leave for boot camp soon after graduation, as much as I really don’t want to, I know that financially I have to. I did however, put it off till the very last days of my spring break to actually drag myself to the recruiting office, which ended up being a bad choice.

On March 31^st 2011 I went down to the closest armed forces recruiting office, which was easy to find. I went on navy.com  and on the home page it has a link for finding a recruiter. You simply type in your zip code and it lists the closest recruiters for you. I am sure that for every branch of the military it has this easy go to link on their home pages. I went to one in Skyline Plaza, just 3 miles from where I live, how convenient. I went there seeing the office for army recruiting, who had their office separate from the rest of the other recruiting offices, I kind of felt embarrassed when I had to ask them for the navy recruiting office. They were kind enough to lead to me the Navy recruiters, which was only 2 doors down, but of course on the way there they gave me some choices as to why I should join on their side. I went in with an open mind about the air force, navy, and now the army was an option. I just wanted my questions answered and get more insight about what each branch specialized in. One of my friends actually went with me because she needed to begin her enlistment process for the Air force so I sat and talked to the air force recruiter with her for a while before the navy recruiter came in.

I began talking with the recruiter at 10am and didn’t get out of there till 1pm. My questions were answered and a lot more information was given to me. I came in there wanting to know more about the officer candidate school (OCS)---where you can go in from a civilian to an officer in a matter of 1-2 years of school automatically, qualifying upon entry only with a BA/ BS degree or higher---but found out that as of right now there are no openings for that opportunity because it’s so full. My next option was to look into just enlisting.

Some questions I thought was important for me to ask:

•       What kind of jobs are available for me in the Navy?
•        What kind of opportunities will I receive by joining?
•        Can I still go to school while serving my required 4 years?
•        How soon can I leave? Because I want to leave as soon as I graduate
•        What do I need to do right now to see if I am qualified for the Navy?

One important question the recruiter had for me was, what was my main reason for joining the Navy? I told him my education was my first priority and he answered “well then here is what the Navy can do for you based on the information you have given me” Basically from being a college student about to graduate I can move up to an E3 position going into boot camp. With my first contract I am able to either take the loan repayment program (LRP) or not take it and keep my GI bill that comes after 4 years of serving. This means I can choose to pay off my student loans through the LRP or not take it and keep my GI bill which pays 100% of schooling for a total of 36 months after serving. Not only will I have experience in the medical field, if I am fortunate enough to get Corman in the Navy, I can go to school during my off hours and get another BS degree in nursing, fully paid for. I will get housing allowance to live on base or off base so I can save my paycheck for my future. 

What’s my next step?  Taking the ASVAB, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, and MEPS,  the United States Military Entrance Processing Command. After three hours that first day in the recruiting office I left feeling confident and assured that I was making a bold decision for my future. I felt like I was taking a big step into my future and everything was happening very fast. Five days after my first meeting with the recruiter I am scheduled to take the ASVAB and 2 days after that I am scheduled to do my MEPS. Life is coming at me fast but I am definitely ready for it.