The Massachusetts Democrats list published a link to the article "10 Ways to Protect Your Child from ASVAB", which is the first I'd heard of this career aptitude testing program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. Below is a link to the same artitcle that is posted on our CGCS site by SnuffySmith:

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/for...=21494&hl=asvab

Here's the link to the ASVAB website. (The site was recently given its present web address, which--because "mil" is removed from the address string-- makes it less obvious it is a DOD-sponsored program.)

Current link:

http://www.asvabprogram.com/

Old link:

http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/asvab/CareerExplorationProgram/

Amazing, the materials don't make it clear it for the military but, on the 2 fact sheets, military careers are the second statement under survey says (31% take the test b/c of their are interest in military service) & under primary components of the program is military careers (a comprehesive guide to military occupations and their civilian counterparts). They also provide idea sheets for educators to use for guided exercises & activities for career exploration in the classroom.

If you look at the overview, it does say the test was developed by the DOD, but they also have statements on the home page under overview that says [emphasis added]:



The bolded statement seems fairly innoucous, most people would take that to mean kids had limited knowledge of the vast types of careers (which is true, as do many adults) and the program opened their eyes to them. In the context of this program, I have no choice but to wonder how many of those 67% of kids joined the service as a direct result of this and if it's skewed to exercise a bit more pressure on kids with skills the military wants and/or underestimate the very real danger those who enlist (especially those without further education or experience that would make them likely to go to the front sooner, rather than later) while we are in a nasty war with a back-door draft and potential for other fronts opening up.

Don't get me wrong, my father was in the Air Force and would have made a career out of it had he not been grounded; I have friends who were mil brats; and, were I not overly inquisitive and obstinate, would have considered joining the corp of cadets in undergrad and the service for experience, discipline and financial assistance to further my educational/career goals.

Online references to educators and career counselors has 1 link today's military

There's more if you explore the site. I don't see how the schools/teachers would not know this was directly related to the military as, if everything's on the "up & up", they should have received special packets to answer questions, etc. Schools should be supplying all of this information to the students and their parents as part of an advanced notification of the test/test administration; otherwise it looks shady at best.

oops, another thing I notice on today's military ,an interesting poll on that site:

Boy, talk about unintended irony. That first sentence...

"Many high school grads figure serving in Today's Military is a smart way to start out in life."

I shake my head. The truth is hidden in plain sight.

Thank you for the post, SAICS.

I remember taking this test when I was in high school, I scored in the 99th percentile and I had the military after me for quite a while. It was one of many tests that you were required to take, I don't remember being given a choice at the time.