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So why then does the US military place people according to the ASVAB?

by j_gu 8y ago

JasonFruit 8y ago
The military provides the motivation.
topkai22 8y ago
The ASVAB is a vocational (subject) test, not an IQ test. I think it does try to measure general intelligence in some sections, but it’s really focused on “can you do this type of job.” When I took it over a decade ago there was basically a “clerking” section which I flunked.
- blueseaadmin 8y ago
  The ASVAB is what you say it is. I took it back in the mid 80s, scored just shy of perfect, yet I chose a combat MOS because of my interests and desire for going the "hard route". Looking back, I regret not going into a technical role in the Air Force rather than going Marines, but I've now been in IT for 20 years, and Uncle Sam paid for my degree when I left the service. All in all, a good gig.
- Consultant32452 8y ago
  http://asvabmilitarytest.com/asvab-compared-other-iq-tests http://asvabmilitarytest.com/asvab-compared-other-iq-tests >The ASVAB measures cognitive ability like other common IQ test, but it dependent upon the individual’s previous education for successful scores. It removes the individual attention received in common IQ test, but gathers much of the same information.
freeopinion 8y ago
College degree and ASVAB results are not similar criteria at all. They serve completely different purposes. A college degree shows an ability to complete a specific course of discipline. It does not really even indicate aptitude in the discipline. Just the ability to follow through and complete the requirements. I suppose it shows a minimum level of aptitude in that you didn't give up hope and quit. ASVAB doesn't indicate the ability to follow through with anything. It tries to hint at aptitude in a wide range of disciplines. It purports to provide your relative capabilities and interest in many topics. That is why the military relies on ASVAB. They don't need to know your level of stick-to-it-ness or discipline. They will beat that into you or drum you out very quickly. They are more interested in where among hundreds of specialties you are most likely to fit.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- snovv_crash 8y ago
  > It does not really even indicate aptitude in the discipline. I don't know what standards are like in the U.S., but at least where I went to university a good 30% (of those who were in the top 20% of the highly selective entrance exam) ended up getting kicked out because they didn't pass enough courses in their first or second year. Yes, for some people it was an inability to concentrate, but I also know a few who put in more than the minimum hours but for some reason it just didn't 'click'. I don't know if the US is suffering from grade inflation which lets through people who should have been failed, or if you are just in a bubble of people who are successful, but what you describe is nothing like what I experienced.
  - freeopinion 8y ago
    For sure, my experience is US-centric. I cannot speak to systems outside the U.S.
- Consultant32452 8y ago
  ASVAB is an IQ test. Education correlates strongly with IQ. IQ isn't the only thing you get from the type of degree earned and where it's earned from, but it's a big component.
xkjkls 8y ago
Mainly because it is really hard to measure work ethic over any short period of time. College being 4 years gives a pretty good proxy.

So why then does the US military place people according to the ASVAB?

by j_gu 8y ago

So why then does the US military place people according to the ASVAB?

JasonFruit 8y ago

The military provides the motivation.

topkai22 8y ago

The ASVAB is a vocational (subject) test, not an IQ test. I think it does try to measure general intelligence in some sections, but it’s really focused on “can you do this type of job.” When I took it over a decade ago there was basically a “clerking” section which I flunked.

blueseaadmin 8y ago
The ASVAB is what you say it is. I took it back in the mid 80s, scored just shy of perfect, yet I chose a combat MOS because of my interests and desire for going the "hard route". Looking back, I regret not going into a technical role in the Air Force rather than going Marines, but I've now been in IT for 20 years, and Uncle Sam paid for my degree when I left the service. All in all, a good gig.
Consultant32452 8y ago
http://asvabmilitarytest.com/asvab-compared-other-iq-tests http://asvabmilitarytest.com/asvab-compared-other-iq-tests >The ASVAB measures cognitive ability like other common IQ test, but it dependent upon the individual’s previous education for successful scores. It removes the individual attention received in common IQ test, but gathers much of the same information.

freeopinion 8y ago

College degree and ASVAB results are not similar criteria at all. They serve completely different purposes. A college degree shows an ability to complete a specific course of discipline. It does not really even indicate aptitude in the discipline. Just the ability to follow through and complete the requirements. I suppose it shows a minimum level of aptitude in that you didn't give up hope and quit. ASVAB doesn't indicate the ability to follow through with anything. It tries to hint at aptitude in a wide range of disciplines. It purports to provide your relative capabilities and interest in many topics. That is why the military relies on ASVAB. They don't need to know your level of stick-to-it-ness or discipline. They will beat that into you or drum you out very quickly. They are more interested in where among hundreds of specialties you are most likely to fit.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
snovv_crash 8y ago
> It does not really even indicate aptitude in the discipline. I don't know what standards are like in the U.S., but at least where I went to university a good 30% (of those who were in the top 20% of the highly selective entrance exam) ended up getting kicked out because they didn't pass enough courses in their first or second year. Yes, for some people it was an inability to concentrate, but I also know a few who put in more than the minimum hours but for some reason it just didn't 'click'. I don't know if the US is suffering from grade inflation which lets through people who should have been failed, or if you are just in a bubble of people who are successful, but what you describe is nothing like what I experienced.
- freeopinion 8y ago
  For sure, my experience is US-centric. I cannot speak to systems outside the U.S.
Consultant32452 8y ago
ASVAB is an IQ test. Education correlates strongly with IQ. IQ isn't the only thing you get from the type of degree earned and where it's earned from, but it's a big component.

xkjkls 8y ago

Mainly because it is really hard to measure work ethic over any short period of time. College being 4 years gives a pretty good proxy.