Military's Interest in High School Test Scores

I've been hearing that the military looks at certain test scores when considering high school students. Is there any truth to this? If so, what tests are they particularly interested in?

Yes, what you've heard is correct. The military does indeed look at certain test scores during the recruitment process. Specifically, they are interested in the results from the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The ASVAB is a multiple-aptitude exam that is administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, and is used to determine qualification for enlistment in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The test covers various areas including General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Automotive and Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, and Assembling Objects. The ASVAB scores are used to determine if you are qualified to enlist in the military and to assign you to an appropriate job in the service.

Other tests that high school students take, like the SAT or ACT, are not directly used by the military for enlistment or job placement purposes. However, having a solid academic background can be helpful in the military, particularly for those interested in becoming officers, which typically requires a college degree.

Remember, each branch of military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard) might have different minimum score requirements on the ASVAB, so if you have a particular branch in mind, it might be worth researching their specific requirements.