Mandatory ASVAB For High School Students

The asvab was mandatory for me as well however I took it when I was 17/11th grade. It was and still is mandatory at the high school I attended so this isn't really news to me, considering that was 5 years ago. However, I do believe this is a bunch of BS making a test that's not academically geared mandatory in ANY public school. Hell schools ban everything else that isn't academic (some kids get kicked out for dying their hair) why should they allow this let alone make it mandatory?

Originally posted by Onboard2
I can't see the reasoning behind making a 15 yr. old take the ASVAB. If my son had an interest in taking the test and scored low, he'd miss out on being a fighter pilot for sure. I think it's best to wait, until they're 18, males and females. They have more time to increase their knowledge.

The ASVAB has no baring on your son being a fighter pilot. If your son wants to be a fighter pilot he needs to go to one of the academies. If your son does poorly he can retake the test at a later date if he wants to enlist. The ASVAB is primarily just for enlisted personal not those being commissioned. The ASVAB is not a one and done type of test as you can take it multiple times if you wanted to.

Thanks, Topdog, but my son isn't taking the mandatory test, which is an invasion of student's civil rights to be forced to take it in any school. I won't change my opinion on the matter. I only brought the matter up, because it doesn't make any sense for a person to take the test, until he/she is 18.

Originally posted by Onboard2
Thanks, Topdog, but my son isn't taking the mandatory test, which is an invasion of student's civil rights to be forced to take it in any school.

You've said this or something similar several times and I have to admit I'm a bit confused by how you think high school students being told they have to take the ASVAB is a violation of civil rights...

They are getting ready for the big one...compulsory draft etc...they plan ahead.

Just to make you think...

reply to post by Jenna


REEEALLLLYY??? You don see anything wrong with mandatory Military testing of civilian children??? Wow..you must be in "civil service" lol...

reply to post by paearmor


Read my first post in the thread, then ask yourself if your question makes any sense.

Any student can fight this and refuse to take it. If they are threatened with suspension, he/she can contact ACLU and the Secretary of Education. The ASVAB is not mandated and it's illegal to force a student to take it. It's geared toward recruiting for the military or it would be a complete career planning guide that is compatible to every student in some form.

I took the ASVAB back in 1998. My school was paid to administer it. And there were recruiters present during the testing. But it was entirely optional. They didn't force any of us.

When the results came back, the recruiters did too. So when I got an overall score of 98, I had to sit through the sales speech from 4 different recruiters. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps were all present. Thank god we didn't have a Coastie recruiter too.

I told them all I wasn't interested in joining at that time. They handed over their pamphlets, business cards, and free knick-knacks, and moved on to the next student.

Coincidentally, when I graduated in 2000, I also won the Army Reserve Scholar/Athlete Award and the Air Force Mathematics & Science Award. I'm not sure if this had anything to do with taking the Asvab or was just because my Guidance Counselor kept them informed of my grades and activities in school.

Now after I graduated, I wasn't pressured to join any branch of the military. I did a year of college. Thought it was the most unbelievably boring thing I had ever experienced, and then decided to join the military in 2001.

Luckily, because I had voluntarily taken the ASVAB in 1998, I just had to bring in my score card. With that card, it turns out I qualified for every single enlisted job that the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps had to offer. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do but the Navy threw quite a bit of money at me, so I went Navy. Got out in 2005.

Now should the ASVAB be forced on anyone? No. But taking it does have it's advantages. Especially while you are in school and constantly learning. If I had taken the ASVAB test a year or two after leaving high school, I probably wouldn't have done nearly as well.

This isn't a sales pitch or anything. I'm just saying that it might not be a bad idea for your son to take the test in case he decides to join the military some time in the future. Keep his options open.

Thanks allenidaho. I'm glad it was a benefit to you, but I would do everything in my power to prevent my son from joining the millitary. He has Aspergers and actually was telling me that the military was at his school today handing out all of their knick-knacks. He has no interest in ever joining, but he's only 15!

His high school uses this test as a career planning guide and the grade they receive on this test is the grade they will get in the career exploration class, so the teacher has had to give my son other options for a grade, since I won't allow him to take the test. I know most parents think nothing of it, but I don't believe the millitary should be recruiting in a public school. I have my reasons and I don't want recruiters hounding my son to join.

My daughter did take the test and at that time knew nothing about it, until she brought it home. I got a call from a recruiter just last week for her, so imagine how it would be for the males.

Originally posted by Onboard2
They should have the right to refuse to take the test.

Actually, I did put the mule breaks on. I had a freaking fit and I'm very afraid of the draft for my son, because I know the military takes Aspergers.

If they force this, a person can also contact Code Pink. My son is very intelligent, but he has Asperger's Syndrome. People think autistics aren't capable of being in the military, but they certainly are. My son knew every military weapon used in WWII when he was only 10.

Hold on lady I'm a US soldier and i know for fact the test isnt mandatory because any test can not be taken furthermore the Army and Military in general is overmanned .......draft? Yeah #ing right the military is cutting people for weight issues why would they choose a person with aspergy, They wouldnt open your eyes

reply to post by allenidaho


Yeah right like you got a perfect score on the asvab gtfo

reply to post by paearmor


Theres nothing wrong with taking a damn test the military wants best of the best so you civies can have the right to question them you act as if the military were giving them there "Booster SHot"

reply to post by Onboard2


They dont want that retard stop being like every other mom.. hes not gods gift he couldnt even complete an army pt test unhinge urself

The ASVAB should not be mandated for high school students EVER. The ASVAB is for persons contemplating enlistment into the Armed Forces, so unless they do decide to investigate a tour or career in the Armed Forces, then that's when they should take the ASVAB, once they decide they are willing to volunteer and not before. In the case that the U.S. gets into a situation were it MUST institute a draft, the ASVAB will be administered for those persons that are drafted for the purposes that the ASVAB has alwyas been used, to classify and codify the abilities of the candidate. If for some insane reason we ever get into a situation were we do need a draft, they would do the country a tremendous service by including our female citizens in that draft also as they have already demonstrated without doubt they're willingness and courage in defending the constitution of the United States of America, which is the central theme of the oath of enlistement. In fact, it's the only thing you actually are asked to support and defend.

reply to post by Onboard2


That is the cost of business when your child goes to a government school. As long as your school district is taking federal money, children will continue to take the ASVAB. BTW, the asvab is just a battery of test to see what areas your children excel at.

It's the start of a future draft in my opinion.

Take the time to make kids take the ASVAB before hand, that way when the time comes, they can see who is eligible.
Good thing the lowest score is 26, you can get that by merely signing your name at the top. I have seen people fail though, quite surprising.

With the way the world is slowly going into chaos, I wouldn't be surprised if the U.S. takes this to advantage and draft kids to start a global invasion.

Luckily for me I am already in; I plan on re enlisting as well.

I am open for criticism

well thank god its not mandatory in michigan.... i really hope that the draft dont start up. it pry will though.
anyone know how we got out of the great depression? we went into WW2 . so i think that we'll pry end up in some BS war (not including iraq), just look at the middle east. were fighting in libya, iraq, and afgahnistan. a neww WW is ganna start, and we as americans are ganna get DRAFTED!!.

I have two daughters that I'm proud to say have taken the ASVAB and passed with awesome scores. Both girls have received letters one from the Air Force and the other from the NAVY saying when they are 17 1/2 if there still interested they would very much like to talk with them. They both want to wait lintel they have graduated. This is probably going to make all kinds on ATS mad but I think it would be good if when you turned 18 you had to sign up for duty in what ever branch of the Military you choose, with that said I know it would be against the Constitution but it would help some young adults turn out allot better IMO.

I'm against this too .

[ext]In roughly 11,000 high schools where the ASVAB is administered, students are strongly encouraged to take the test for its alleged value as a career exploration tool, but in more than 1,000 schools, according to information received from the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command through a Freedom of Information Act request, tens of thousands of students are required to take it. It is a particularly egregious violation of civil liberties that has been going on almost entirely unnoticed since the late 1960's. [/ext]

Please see link:

Forced Military Testing in America's Schools
by Pat Elder

Pat Elder is the Director of the National Coalition to Protect Student Privacy, www.studentprivacy.org and also serves on the Steering Committee of the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth, NNOMY,www.nnomy.org

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