Should a minimum ASVAB score be required to be an NCO?
I think it is very necessary.
As a young 19 year old PFC, I had a real tough time listening to an NCO who could not spell simple words, do simple math, or understand simple logic. I always had to second guess myself following this NCO's orders, wondering if this leader even thought the scenario through he/she was sending us to? Would we be reprimanded by another NCO? Just be wasting our time? End up looking stupid ourselves? Taking this NCO's training seriously was even tougher, because in the various minds of the lower enlisted soldiers, this NCO was an idiot. In addition to just losing confidence in our NCO, we also lost our confidence in the promotion system.
Now I am not saying we need to be geniuses, or anything ... but I think being proficient at high school level English and math would be beneficial. Keep current ASVAB scores for MOS's as they are, but make a pre-req for a certain score before going to a promotion board (Which will be the same across all MOS's, but naturally in certain MOS's, the fact you qualified for the MOS in general would mean you already meet that pre-req). Those who do not meet the score, take FAST class until they make it, or they never get to lead soldiers.
What do you think?
NCOs
I used the ASVAB as an example of a test that already exists, but we could use any kind of other pre-existing test or make one ourselves. The point of this, is so we are sure the prospective NCO has "Everyday" knowledge.
The problem here, I am noticing, is when I brought up basic math, English and logic ... I heard a couple mentions of a 'College Degree' or 'English Major'. You do not need to take a single college level course to be proficient at basic math, English, and logical skills.
I joined the Army as a 19 year old PFC in 2009, barely a high school graduate (I mean I had a 1.9 GPA in High school), I bought a $20 book called "ASVAB for Dummies". I studied it for 3-5 days, then scored a 120 GT. (I never took the ASVAB before studying, so I don't know what I would have score without studying). FAST class exists, and it does work.
Maybe my generation, was a bit different then other generations, but the way I and my fellow soldiers saw it, if a leader has proved to us time and time again that they are uneducated, we were very hesitant to follow their orders. I just cant trust a leader to keep me alive, when I truly believe they are an idiot. I used the word idiot on purpose, as I see some of you pointed it out. The fact that a leader may not be as intelligent as me is not an issue, though they may not be as intelligent as me, they have more experience. I am talking about a leader who is unintelligent, to U.S. society standards.
The majority of my line scores are 139.
So what? I'm all ears. What value does that score bring me or the army besides the vanity of having a higher score then the next guy.
No not at all, it doesn't have to be the ASVAB that tests it. That was just an idea because the test already exists. When I say a "Certain Score" this is what I mean. We make a test for "everyday" knowledge, and agree on a score that is acceptable.
This isn't meant to pick on anyone, but just like there is a PT standard, we should have a common knowledge standard... Things like knowing how to find the Area of a square, or triangle ... reading a paragraph and identifying the main idea, etc..
Everyone is vehemently against me, because I think they believe that I am asking for some kind of rocket science. I would make this test to a 9th or 10th grade level, and there wouldn't be any scores. Just a go/no-go sort of thing. Scoring a certain amount wouldn't get you more promotion points or anything, just something you need before going to a board (Like a range card, PT Card, etc...)
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