Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:19 am Post subject: THE US Military Thread (merged)
I'm a single dad of a 16 year old boy in Texas.
So, I'm picking him up yesterday, and he tells me he took a test.
I was not aware of a test being given yesterday, so I ask about it.
He tells me that all Juniors & Seniors were required to take a standardized test during the first half of the day, administered by 4 military guys. (One Navy & 3 Air Force).
When I asked him why they were doing this, he said he didn't know.
I don't recall being notified about these tests by the school.
A little research has revealed that this has typically been a "voluntary" test for upper classmen.
So what's the scoop?
"I've got a bad feeling about this." -Han Solo _________________ "When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F Roberts.
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:05 am Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
Will you let him being drafted if it is the case in the near future ? (hypothesis)
And what would you think and feel if he choses to be enlisted ?
(hypothesis)
What is the idea in Pentagon's mind to get a 'touch' with teens??
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
I did some Google searching, and it may be that your son took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test developed by the Pentagon.
Going to groups, I came across this:
Quote:
He said today: "Parents and students need to know that it's their right to withhold information from military recruiters. If you don't want to be harassed by the type of recruiter who does harass people, then file the opt-out form. Unfortunately this is not always enough. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
(ASVAB) is an exam developed by the Pentagon and currently used in 14,000 schools. Although schools are not required to give the ASVAB, students are often compelled to take it without knowing that their exam results may be passed directly to militaryrecruiters."
It seems likely that your son will become a target for military recruiters.
Given the present trends, I would suggest the following:
1) get rid of your hard-wired telephone, and transition to a cell-phone with voice mail. Keep the cell-phone off most of the time.
2) find an independently owned (non-franchise) private mailbox service. Rent one. Change your driver's licence and other records (especially your son's school records) to reflect the "new" address.
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
I have known about this test, but was surprised by the "required" nature of the exam.
Apparently it was the entire 11th & 12th grades.
Anybody else going through this?
I mean if I was planning on a draft, I would want these assessments myself, to gauge the potential draftees ability.
It's about 1 1/2 years out for us, since he won't be 18 till then, but I found the experience chilling to say the least.
What if this is going on all around the country... quietly gathering in the potentials.
I don't mind telling you folks that I feel a chill wind on my neck.
_________________ "When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F Roberts.
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:37 am Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
Deleterius wrote:
Will you let him being drafted if it is the case in the near future ? (hypothesis)
And what would you think and feel if he choses to be enlisted ?
(hypothesis)
What is the idea in Pentagon's mind to get a 'touch' with teens??
I don't know if I'll have much say after he's 18. Until then... no way. _________________ "When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F Roberts.
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:08 am Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
I remember taking it in high school about 7 or 8 years ago. As far as I can remember, we were compelled, if not required, to take it. I can attest to this because almost no one would choose to sit through a 3 hour test, and I remember taking it with my entire class. _________________ "It's called the American Dream because you'd have to be asleep to believe it."
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:23 am Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
It's not required, but they present it as such. Had you been informed that the test was scheduled, you could have opted your son out. If your son had known the nature of the test he could have declined to participate.
Joined: Apr 21, 2004 Posts: 508 Location: Republic of Texas
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:59 am Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
I took it 13 or so years ago so it's nothing new. I did well on it and got several calls from military recruiters through my senior year. I don’t see how it's that big of a deal. However, if you think it’s a conspiracy then you better do well so you can be eligible for officer training in the upcoming draft. _________________ The road goes on forever and the party never ends - REK
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 1584 Location: Nez Perce Nation
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
Our youngest son just took the ASVAB 2 weeks ago but it was on a strictly voluntary basis.
He scored in the mid 90th percentile and now the recruiters are all over him, which is fine with him because that's what he wants to do. But college first, then he can go in as a second lieutenant. _________________ "Modern Agriculture is the use of land to convert petroleum into food."
-- Albert Bartlett
"It will be a dark time. But for those who survive, I suspect it will be rather exciting."
-- James Lovelock
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:42 pm Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
I was in high school in the mid 90s (can it be that long ago?) and the ASVAB was presented as an optional test, and was clearly identified as being for the military. It's pretty ridiculous they would do it any other way - but unfortunately is not surprising.
Joined: Sep 06, 2004 Posts: 5315 Location: Smalltown New Zealand
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
pip wrote:
However, if you think it’s a conspiracy then you better do well so you can be eligible for officer training in the upcoming draft.
There is a sensible tactic that if you know there is a draft coming for you around the cornet then volunteer for a unit of your choice first. The alternatives are to prove your are a CO or be medically unfit. _________________ "Complex problems have simple, easy to understand, wrong answers." - Henry Louis Mencken
Joined: Oct 11, 2005 Posts: 411 Location: Arizona, USA
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 8:27 pm Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
I took the test about 17 years ago and aced it. The worst repercussions were the persistent calls from recruiters from every service branch. The calls kept coming for years.
I wouldn't worry about the test. As was stated, it's nothing new. What might be new is how the information could be used.
If you get wind of a draft, I'd say have him sign up for the Chair Force. It has pretty much the lowest proportion of servicemen that see combat compared to the other branches. My brothers, my father, and my brother-in-law are/were all in the Air Force and always remained rather far behind the front lines. There are hordes of people supporting just one pilot. Most of the pilots are officers. There are always tons of kids clamoring for those glamorous positions, so it'd be hard to get in harm's way even if you tried in the Air Force.
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Military High school Testing
Aaron wrote:
Anybody else going through this?
I mean if I was planning on a draft, I would want these assessments myself, to gauge the potential draftees ability.
From my book:
Quote:
Many people are aware that tens of thousands of Japanese-Americans in this country spent the war in confinement camps. But few know that, under Roosevelt's instructions, the Census Bureau had already produced a complete list of their names and addresses before Pearl Harbor. If there is a lesson Pearl Harbor should teach us, it is to look at history beyond the reality created by headlines and Hollywood.
_________________ A Saudi saying, "My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel."
Live in Arizona? Check out: http://sustainablearizona.org and read my blog.
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