Military Service & Testing

Testing For the Military

The Next Step Department aims to support your post-graduation journey toward enlistment in the armed forces.

This month we are focusing on The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Also known as The ASVAB this test is a timed, multi-aptitude test. The ASVAB helps the Defense Department (DoD) determine whether you are a good fit to join the service, which service branch is best for you as well as your ideal military position.

The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score is derived from four of the ASVAB subtests that are used to determine your service eligibility. A minimum score of at least 31 is required to enlist.

The ASVAB category scores, called line scores, determine job opportunities based on your knowledge. The line scores used vary from one branch of the military to the next in terms of which subtests they consist of and what jobs they will qualify you for.

About Military Jobs

First, you need to know the different branches of the military have distinct terminology for jobs. In the Army and Marine Corps, it's Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), while the Air Force uses Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). The Navy refers to jobs as Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC), and the Coast Guard uses the term "ratings" or "rate" for job classification.

ASVAB scores are related to job opportunities. Visit the links below to see the specifications for each branch of the service: