Veterans

Combined 11 years in the regular army, reserve and national guard, both as enlisted and officer. Came from a military family. Dad was a full bird colonel in the Philippine Army. He fought the Abu Sayyaf in the 70’s. They were then called Moro National Liberation Front. Grandpa was a guerrilla during WWII, his brother was a Filipino Scout who participated in the infamous Bataan Death March. He made it, though.

Me? I was still in high school during Desert Storm. My reserve unit was activated to go Kosovo in 1997.

 

6 years Army National Guard
9 years active duty Army
Presently in the Army Reserves

The poll did not accept my selections when I checked more than one category.

 

Come’on, anyone can get into the Air Force, its not like you have to do any work there.


It is true that the Air Force is the only service that sends their officers off to fight, which tells me that they must have their priorities straight.

 

Not true. You need a high tolerance for air conditioning to qualify.

 

C'mon, dudes.

Stop picking on the air force. I happen to have lots of respect for them flyboys. When I was in the airborne, they usually gave us a ride in their C-130s.

The air force also has the highest retention and re-enlisment rate out of all the branches. The reason being? They do the best they can to take care of the air force family.

 

When I was in that business for awhile, the required scores on the ASVAB would belie that statement.

In percentiles, the minimum QT scores for entry:

Air Force: 45
Navy: 31
Army: 16
Marine Corps: 16

That means 45 percent of the takers of the ASVAB did not qualify for the Air Force. And that was for high school graduates only. I don't know what the current numbers are, but I doubt if their relative differences have changed much. Except to widen, of course.

 

There is a saying: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” From Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.

Anyone that would go to the effort of digging up ASVAB scores to defend the fact that the Air Force is much less gung ho than the other services, MUST believe in their head that they have something to defend!

Honestly, while I respect all of the services and the people that serve, you simply made a mistake, because the Air Force does not carry as much bragging ‘UTILITY’ as the other services.

You bash other people on this board all the time; you claim they have thin skin. I loath the day an Air Force weenie is going to claim superiority over an Army man, that right is reserved for the Marines, mister!

 

The Army did spawn the Air Force.

 

Who’s your DADDY!!

 

When I got out of the active Army, I went through the Air Force's Transition Assistance Program. Most of the airmen that attended this course were retiring in the grade of E-6. Compare that with the average enlisted grade retiring from the Army...E-8. Let's do the math...higher rank = more pay + more respect...retiring as an E-8 compared to an E-6 = more pay + more respect

I can't argue on the whole quality of life issue. The Air Force wins hand down. But as far as making the military a career; the Air Force's slow enlisted promotions are a real deterrent. If someone wanted to enlist to make the military a career, they may want to think beyond the immediate future (air conditioned tents, better food in the field, etc...) and look 20 years into the future (retiring as an E-8 compared to an E-6). Yes there is a price to pay...but the rewards in the end are, on average, better.

My two cents...

 

To we geezers, that brings to mind a Zombies song.

 

I know that when I enlisted in the Navy, I took the test with two other guys. Interestingly, they both scored 22. The Navy took the one with the high school diploma, but rejected the other (who had not graduated). He walked across the hall and joined the Army. This was in 1981.



Tom Nixon

 

A lot has changed since 1981. The Army only allows up to 4,000 new recruits each year that don't have a high school diploma, but only the GED. To qualify under this program, the applicant must score in the top half of the AFQT distribution.

In addition, the Army currently has a goal of at least 25% of new recruits to have some college experience. Therefore, these days, it's very tough to get into the Army without at least a high school diploma, especially when enlistment interest is high.

Cheers,
Adrienne

(Source: Asch, B., Du, C., Schonlau, M. (2004). Policy options for military recruiting in the college market . Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation.)

 

current QT scores, fyi

Interestingly enough, it seems that the differences have narrowed quite a bit. Taken from the U.S. Military page at About.com (http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/genjoin/a/asvabminimum.htm):

Air Force

ASVAB Score - Air Force recruits must score at least 40 points the 99-point ASVAB (Note: The "Overall" ASVAB Score is known as the "AFQT Score," or "Armed Forces Qualification Test Score"). Exceptions are made, however, for a handful of high school graduates who can score as low as 21. But these "category four" recruits (by regulation) cannot exceed more than once percent of all recruits per year. (Note: A "Category IV recruit is a recruit who scores between 16 and 30 on the AFQT). In actuality, the number of Cat IV recruits the Air Force generally accepts each year is about 0.2 percent of the Air Force's annual accessions.

Education - You're more likely to be struck by lightening than enlist in the Air Force without a high school diploma. Even with a GED, the chances are not good. Only about 1/2 of a percent of all Air Force enlistments each year are GED-Holders. To even be considered for one of these very few slots, a GED-holder must score a minimum of 65 on the AFQT. The Air Force allows a higher enlistment rank for recruits with college credit.

Army

ASVAB Score - The Army requires a minimum AFQT Score of 31 to qualify for enlistment. To qualify for certain enlistment incentives, such as enlistment bonuses, an Army recruit must score a minimum of 50. The Army does allow a very few recruits (about 1/2 percent) to enlist each year with scores as low as 26, but those very few must have other exceptional qualifications.

Education - Those without a high school education need not apply. The Army allows no more than 10 percent per year of their enlistees to have a GED. To even be considered, a high school dropout (GED) must score at least a 50 on the AFQT. Like the Air Force, the Army also offers a higher enlistment rank for recruits with college. Unlike the Air Force, where the maximum initial enlistment rank for college credits is E-3, the Army offers the rank of E-4 for those with a bachelors degree.

Marine Corps

ASVAB Score - Marine Corps recruits must score at least 32. A very few exceptions are made (about one percent) for some exceptionally otherwise qualified recruits with scores as low as 25.

Education - As with the Army and Air Force, those without a high school education are ineligible. The Marine Corps limits GED enlistments to no more than five percent per year. Those with a GED must score a minimum of 50 on the AFQT to even be considered. As with the other services, the Marine Corps offers advanced enlistment rank for college credits. However, of all the services, the Marines are the most restrictive in this area. The maximum advanced rank for college credits is E-2, where the other services will give college credit advanced rank up to E-3 (E-4 in the Army).

Navy

ASVAB Score - Navy recruits must score at least 35 on the AFQT. The Navy raised this requirement from 31 in 2003. Additionally, because of limited berths on ships, the Navy limits the number of women they can enlist each year. Quite often, when there are too many female applicants, the Navy will require a higher ASVAB score for females in order to decide which women get to enlist and which don't.

Education - Between 5 and 10 percent per year can be high school dropouts with a GED, but they must score a minimum of 50 on the AFQT. Additionally, high school dropouts must be at least 19 years of age, and show a proven work history. Like the other services, the Navy offers advanced enlistment rank (up to E-3) for college.

Coast Guard

ASVAB Score - The Coast Guard requires a minimum of 40 points on the AFQT for those who took the ASVAB prior to July 1, 2004, and 36 for those who take the ASVAB after July 1, 2004. A waiver is possible if a recruit's ASVAB Line Scores qualify them for a specific job, and the recruit is willing to enlist in that job.

Education - For a very few (about 5 percent) who will be allowed to enlist with a GED, the minimum AFQT. Minimum score is 50. Unlike the other services, the Coast Guard does not offer advanced rank for college credits.

Cheers,
Adrienne

 

4 years active duty, Army, service ended Dec, 2003 due to an injury and medical discharge