ASVAB & MEPS

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a multiple-choice test used to determine your qualification for enlistment in the U.S. military. It measures your aptitude — your natural ability to learn — across several areas. Every person who wants to enlist in any branch must take the ASVAB. There are no exceptions.

The ASVAB is now typically taken as the CAT-ASVAB (Computer Adaptive Test) at MEPS. The computer version adapts question difficulty based on your previous answers. You cannot go back to change answers on the computer version. A paper-and-pencil version is sometimes given at schools or Mobile Examining Team sites.

The ASVAB consists of nine subtests:

Your AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) score is calculated from four subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension. This is the score that determines whether you can enlist at all.

AFQT Score Categories

Scoring in Category IIIA or higher may qualify you for enlistment incentives (bonuses, preferred job selection).

Minimum AFQT Scores by Branch

Meeting the minimum AFQT only means you're eligible to enlist. The jobs available to you depend on your individual subtest scores (line scores).

Each branch combines ASVAB subtests into their own composite scores (called "line scores") to match you with jobs. Your line scores determine which specific jobs you're eligible for.

• Army (10 composites): Clerical (CL), Combat (CO), Electronics (EL), Field Artillery (FA), General Maintenance (GM), General Technical (GT), Mechanical Maintenance (MM), Operators and Food (OF), Surveillance and Communications (SC), Skilled Technical (ST)
• Marine Corps (5 composites): Clerical (CL), Electronics (EL), General Technical (GT), Mechanical Maintenance (MM), Skilled Technical (ST)
• Navy and Coast Guard: Each rating (job) has specific ASVAB subtest score requirements rather than composite line scores
• Air Force: Uses four qualification areas — Mechanical (M), Administrative (A), General (G), and Electronics (E) — known as "MAGE" scores

1. Study early — give yourself at least 2–4 weeks of focused study. Don't wait until the week before.
2. Use official resources — officialasvab.com offers free practice tests.
3. Focus on weak areas — take a practice test first to identify which subtests need the most work.
4. Brush up on math — Arithmetic Reasoning and Math Knowledge make up half of the AFQT score.
5. Read regularly — Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension are the other half. Reading improves both.
6. Use study guides — available at libraries, bookstores, and online (Kaplan, ASVAB for Dummies, etc.).
7. Get enough sleep before test day — fatigue significantly impacts test performance.
8. Aim higher than the minimum — a higher score opens more job options and may qualify you for bonuses.

Retaking the ASVAB

If you're not happy with your scores, you can retake the ASVAB: after 30 days for the first retest, after 30 more days for a second retest, and after 6 months for any subsequent retests.

MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station. It's a Department of Defense facility where all military recruits complete the enlistment process. There are 65 MEPS locations across the United States. The entire process typically takes 1–2 days. If your MEPS is far from home, the military provides hotel accommodations and meals.

At MEPS, you will:

1. Take the ASVAB (if not already completed) — approximately 3 hours
2. Undergo a complete medical examination
3. Meet with a service liaison to select your job
4. Swear the Oath of Enlistment (family members may attend)

The medical examination is the most detailed part of MEPS. It determines whether you're medically qualified for military service and includes:

• Height and weight measurements — must meet your branch's body composition standards
• Vision test — distance, near vision, and color vision. Some jobs require uncorrected vision standards
• Hearing test — audiometric testing (remove earrings beforehand)
• Blood pressure check — must be within acceptable range
• Blood draw — includes HIV screening and other blood work
• Urine test — drug screening. A positive drug test means automatic disqualification
• Flexibility and balance assessments — performed in your underwear
• Full physical exam with interview — a doctor reviews your medical history and conducts a physical exam
• Body fat percentage test — if you exceed weight standards

The following is a summary of major categories that may disqualify you. This is not a complete list — the full list (DoD Instruction 6130.03) covers hundreds of conditions.