Army Aptitude tests revisited

[Mike Haas]

Did the USMC actually require a "aptidue" test as a requirement for enlistemnt??

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[Mike Haas]

Did the USMC actually require a "aptidue" test as a requirement for enlistemnt??

[lboos]

Did the USMC actually require a "aptidue" test as a requirement for enlistemnt??

Mike, What is a "aptidue" test ?

[TDH]

Mike, What is a "aptidue" test ?

That's why the military makes you do all that dumb stuff to find out what you are apt ti due under duress

[huffmanite]

If I remember correctly, back in the late 60s, the army required you to have a GT score of 110 or higher to become an officer.

[SKIPH]

I went in in 1970 if I correctly recall it was 115 for OCS and SF. For SF you also had to take the DLAT(Defense Language Aptitude Test) and the SF exam. Seems there was a lot of photographic things on the SF test. Later the army lowered the GT score to 110. SKIP

[Bolo Badge]

If I am not mistaken the required score for OCS varied from 110 to 115 based upon the needs of the Army and the availablility of qualified recruits or inductees. In addition to higher physical standards SF candidates had to successfully complete the DLAT/DLAB language test (I can't remember what a passing score was). All selectees (OCS/SF) had to appear before a selection board of officers and be recommended prior to attendance. While not infallible the AFQ tests did give a good general indication as to whether or not a recruit or inductee had the necessary academic and reasoning skills thought necessary to complete a certain course. While every class lost students due to physical disqualificaton, family/personal hardships, etc. the major reason, then and now, for a soldier failing to complete a course was simple lack of maturity. Many soldiers just did not have the maturity and self-discipline to apply themselves to the level required for successful completion.

[DaveHH]

I'd say the ideal weight for a good soldier would be about 165-175lbs, no more no less. It isn't a game for fat people or weight lifters because all of those extra pounds of muscle serve little purpose in the field, it is just weight you have to pack around. The NVA had guys that weighed around 125lbs and they had a high muscle to weight ratio. They were strong enough to do the job and still be able to march their little flip-flops off. I weighed about 200lbs wringing wet when I got there and 178 when I left and I had little or no fat either way. At 6'2" I was a screaming skull when I got home as I had lost pounds of muscle from not eating well. In basic training I was the only draftee in my platoon and finished the overall test as number two in the company (220 people), one other draftee from Washington beat me. I thought it was telling that two draftees beat out all of those RAs who WANTED to be there. Regarding the Language test; they wanted me to go to the language school at Monterey, CA but when I asked what language they said Vietnamese, I declined. Wound up there anyway for a little OJT language training.

[johannderzweite]

Dave,

I was wondering the same about my scores from 1969.

Often you do well when I do bad and visa-versa. If the comparison says anything, it's that you and I seem to have different parts missing, as the chart below shows.

your mine
IN Infantry Combat 123 108
AE Armor Artillery Engn Cbt 149 93
EL Electronics 117 125
GM general maintenance 135 108
MM motor maintenance 144 101
CL clerical 122 135
GT general technical 125 144
RC radio code 123 126

AR arithmetic reasoning 127 152
SM shop mechanics 139 88
PA pattern analysis 126 147
AI automotive information 150 90
AC clerical speed test [you only] 126
ACS [me only] 134
MA mechanical aptitude 132 124
EL electronics information [you only[me only]] 110
ELI 126
GIT general information test 147 95
CI classification inventory 121 86
ARC radio code 123 116

[Ramboueille]

Did the USMC actually require a "aptidue" test as a requirement for enlistemnt??

Mike,

I don't know the answer to that but I do know the Navy formed the Marine Corps so the sailors would have someone to dance with.