Nearly 1 in 4 Americans fail the ASVAB!

[PQ]

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

Someone needs to inform the author(s) of this article that their statistical conclusions are fundamentally flawed. The first statistic they mention (the 23% failure rate) is among individuals who take the test. The second statistic they mention (the Pentagon's 75% elgibility rate) is among all citizens aged 17 to 24. Neither statistic is related to the other. And yet the article author(s) are trying to use them in conjunction. You could have a physically fit 26 year old that never took the test and he (or she) doesn't get represented in EITHER set of statistics. They're trying to take the worst possible conclusions (albeit flawed) from both sets of statistics and combine them into one big doom-and-gloom assumption.

Then there's the problem with drawing conclusions from these statistics in the first place. If you tell them to break the statistics out by any number of different criteria, like ethnicity or socio-economic background, you would get a much better idea of what's at play here. I would venture a guess that the majority of the 23% failure rate can be attributed to inner-city minorities or, like brandotron's example, upper-income individuals that are required to take it by their high school who fail it on purpose to avoid being recruited. And I would also guess that the majority of the 75% of people that the Pentagon deems "unfit" are primarily made up of overweight kids who have never done a complete push-up in their life. The majority of those individuals could easily be shaped up by getting sent to FTU before beginning Basic.

[Da Hose]

Originally Posted by PQ

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[CamaroSkooter]

Okay...

WRONG!!!

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

Someone needs to inform the author(s) of this article that their statistical conclusions are fundamentally flawed. The first statistic they mention (the 23% failure rate) is among individuals who take the test. The second statistic they mention (the Pentagon's 75% elgibility rate) is among all citizens aged 17 to 24. Neither statistic is related to the other. And yet the article author(s) are trying to use them in conjunction. You could have a physically fit 26 year old that never took the test and he (or she) doesn't get represented in EITHER set of statistics. They're trying to take the worst possible conclusions (albeit flawed) from both sets of statistics and combine them into one big doom-and-gloom assumption.

Then there's the problem with drawing conclusions from these statistics in the first place. If you tell them to break the statistics out by any number of different criteria, like ethnicity or socio-economic background, you would get a much better idea of what's at play here. I would venture a guess that the majority of the 23% failure rate can be attributed to inner-city minorities or, like brandotron's example, upper-income individuals that are required to take it by their high school who fail it on purpose to avoid being recruited. And I would also guess that the majority of the 75% of people that the Pentagon deems "unfit" are primarily made up of overweight kids who have never done a complete push-up in their life. The majority of those individuals could easily be shaped up by getting sent to FTU before beginning Basic.

What he said. I was going to say the exact same thing until he beat me to it.


NOT

[garcmol]

It's unfortunate that kids don't do their best on this test. You don't have to join any service upon taking it, nor is there a requirement to have a recruiter come to your house. I was fortunate (27 years ago) that I didn't give in to some peer pressure from friends in High School when I took it, and got a decent score. Events at home and my grades in school made college impossible. Coming from a small town meant a limited amount of opportunities available as well. The military was appealing to me and my ASVAB score opened the door to limitless opportunities in the Army.

I stayed in for my 20 years, but at about the seven year mark, my MOS (Job skill - Military Police) wanted a GT score above 110. Mine was 105. So, off to school I went to retake my ASVAB test all over again. Walked out this time with a 127 GT score.

This ASVAB relates directly to now what's called the Armed Forces Classification Test Results. The ASVAB is in categories of General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Auto & Shop Information, Mathematics Knowledge, Mechanical Comprehension, Electronics Information and Verbal. These break down into 10 aptitude areas which are General Technical (GT SCORE), General Maintenance, Electronics, Clerical, Mechanical Maintenance, Surveillance & Communications, Combat, Field Artillery, Operator & Food, and Skilled Technical. You can see that these can relate to where you could fit into the military's needs.

As we all tell our kids to put their best foot forward and do the best they can, this is one that that they may find themselves falling back on. My oldest screwed around on the first test, then had to retake it before he could join the service. If that happens to you and you score lower, you have to wait six months to retake it. Mine didn't because now it was important to him.

And PQ, I can't find my GT or ASVAB breakdown on my DD Fm 214.

[Milk 1027]

I think what the article is trying to say is that our education system is in need of some serious reform. What I saw when I was in high school was kids who wanted to join the military, so they thought that they didn't have to pay attention in school. What they fail to realize is that you need to take this test in order to be admitted.

Originally Posted by PQ

Isn't it funny, when I used that video years ago, and got no responses. Then you use it and people think you're a genius.

[CamaroSkooter]

Originally Posted by Milk 1027

Isn't it funny, when I used that video years ago, and got no responses. Then you use it and people think you're a genius.

PQ is like the Carlos Mencia of forum posters

[Da Hose]

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

PQ is like the Carlos Mencia of forum posters

Then he could change his name to. IRCM

[bigearl]

Originally Posted by Milk 1027

Isn't it funny, when I used that video years ago, and got no responses. Then you use it and people think you're a genius.

Comedy is all in the timing.

[Zabo]

Didn't even know what that test actually was called until I looked it up. Never had to take it, never would have made it anyway since I'm already ranked Capt. in the Tubby Corps.

I'll agree though that it seems that they're trying to either assimilate european/asian standards for education (and I use standards loosely) too hard or too fast. They (DOE or more importantly the state boards) need to redesign the whole curriculum from the ground up rather than try to do the old 'peer over your partner's shoulder' trick.

Though if all else fails you could strap bombs to all the failures and 'send in the clowns'. Fight idiots with idiots.

[franknbeans]

my older brother failed.

[2ndgenz28]

No clue what I got but it wasn't high enough for MP in the Marines, which would of been my reason to join.

#1 AirForce if I wasn't to tall to fly jets.
#2 MP Marines.
#3 Sex Drugs & RocknRoll.


Dad wanted me to go Navy cause its a job, I can get a job.
Didn't like Marines cause they teach you to kill, which is the whole point to a military.

So I went with choice 3

[PQ]

Originally Posted by Milk 1027

Isn't it funny, when I used that video years ago, and got no responses. Then you use it and people think you're a genius.

[Hemlawk]

I know 2 people who failed it multiple times. Not to be a dick, but the are both somewhat "special". Hahaha