SECDEF’s beef w/ entrance exam

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Less than 30 percent of youth are qualified to join the military, but less than 1 percent are interested. Defense Secretary Mark Asper wants to know whether these accessions standards – that include ASVAB scores - are serving the force. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a standardized test that measures language, math and other skills, as well as a long list of medical conditions, bar some prospective recruits from signing up. “I think we disqualify very capable people for not very compelling reasons,” SECDEF told AF officials June 16 at Lackland AFB, Texas, which is (one of two homes, Keesler AFB, Miss.) to the AF’s basic military training. As long as someone is generally healthy, fit and motivated to serve, he said, why should an  “ambiguous” medical history or low scores on a multiple-choice test prevent them from signing up. SECDEF asked training and medical officials for their feedback. Maj. Gen. John DeGoes, commander of the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland, told Esper that not every one of those conditions is a liability or a ticking time bomb. For bringing in the best talent as possible, it may be worth looking at them on a case-by-case basis. “I think we need to move to risk management,” DeGoes said. “We make recommendations, commanders - you decide.”  (Source: Military Times 06/17/20) https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/06/17/secdef-has-beef-with-the-militarys-entrance-exam/