Army Aptitude tests revisited

[Bolo Badge]

Sir, speaking as broken down old Army Personnel Sergeant I would like to compliment you on your scores. As the highest score in each area was 160 believe me when I say your scores were well above average. You qualified for every school that I can remember (to include OCS). I hope, for once, the Army assigned you according to your obvious abilities and potential for training. The AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Tests) were modified in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The "IN" (infantry) and "AR" (Armor/Artillery,etc) tests of your day became the CO (Combat Operations) and "FA" (Field Artillery) tests. If you ever wondered how the Army came up with scores concerning your aptitude for Combat Operations and Field Artillery, believe it or not, it had a great deal to do with the "Personal Preference" answers you gave on your tests. Guys that prefered going to a football game instead of the ballet got the higher CO/FA scores. Hunting/Fishing out ranked reading, etc. As you can see it was really scientific and unless a guy knew what they were up too he usually ended up with a higher score in those areas than he might have wished. Contrary to popular opinion the tests did give the services a good indication of your potential for training in different areas. Unfortunately, they did not always (some say rarely) apply common sense when making initial training assignments. Again, you have some very good scores. If mine were even fairly close I would post them. In my case I think it is best that they remain hidden in the dead records center in St. Louis.

[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.

[DaveHH]

It was done purely out of curiosity and I was hoping to find someone just like you to solve the puzzle. Again, thank you.

Shooter: In all of the years that I've been posting on this web, I've always felt that some of the joking or sometimes ill will were a result of maybe a guy has had too many beers that night or maybe they were angry about something at the time. In your case, I've decided that your replies are a result of pure stupidity. Kind of like waving a red flag in front of a bull, or dropping a steak on the floor in front of a hungry dog. You just can't help yourself can you? Someday we may meet at a gunshow or something; I sincerely hope you open up that flapping piehole when we do. And if my lovely wife happens to be with me, I'll have her take care of my light work that day.

[0311Shooter]

Dave, Dave, Dave, you need to come in out of the sun and post more often. Stop Body Surfing over there on the Left Coast. Quit oogling at those Beach Bunnies that are 1/3 your age.

YOU asskeded the question, you gots your answers. OK, you passed those tests back when you still had testosterone. If you want some one to say it, I will.

YOU should have been immediately battlefield promoted to Westmoreland's job.

Happy now?

[limazulu]

DaveHH, have you ever considered going to the ARMY website, finding their address and sending them the question you've asked of us? You could E-mail them but a letter is more important and usually more likely to get a response.

[TDH]

Dave at 157 she should be pretty sharp. But I know what you mean. She told me I didn't know how to build a back porch this is after working in steel fabrication for almost two decades. I think it's a recessive gene they have or something.

[rider]

I was one of the two-dozen or so (gifted) trainees in my Basic Training Company that was offered a chance to sign up for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. I believe one or two accepted. IIRC, the test that we took resulted in a "GT" score that would determine what kind of training you would be eligible for during your hitch.

[DaveHH]

and was just directed to their new entrance exam which has no connection to what I was looking for. The good SGT and dumb luck got me what I needed and a reference point. With this group of ex servicemen, what better place to find out this stuff?

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Your first mistake is your LAST ONE

[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