1,001 questions about the ASTB (post your scores & ask your questions here!)

[pcola478]

Attempted the ASTB for the first time today. My recruiter and I arranged it last-minute, just the night before. I have been studying frequently for the past 3-4 weeks but expected to have another 1-2 weeks of SOLID studying. I had bought the X52 and planned on practicing with the Jantzen sim every day. I only ended up using it a few times for brief practice sessions.

The OAR was the section I was least worried about and ended up being much more difficult than I imagined, as most of the practice problems I had encountered we barely on there. The problems became difficult very quickly (a few log questions). Didn't encounter any FOIL algebraic problems, no sin/cos/rad problems. There were several square/cubed root problems. I think I worked way too slowly on this section as the questions caught me off guard. Also, the conversations going on in the recruiting office were very loud and distracting. Just saying.

The reading - I was brain dead at this point. Was slightly different in the practice tests I had done because the question for the entire section was "pick the statement that can be inferred directly from the passage." The passages were boring and I was working off of 3 hours sleep the night before - I am a flight paramedic and was up all night. I think I mentally checked out here. All of the options seemed so similar. I really started to doubt myself.

Mechanical section was very scenario-based and most of the problems I solved by "common sense" - sorry, I don't know how else to describe it. Again, barely any of the problems were based off an equation or problem I had practiced from several texts.

ANIT - flew through this quickly with no problem.

NATFI - I already felt like I had failed at this point, but my strategy was no different than those shared on here - answer honestly but aggressively with the mindset of a leader. It was 99 items and I buzzed through them pretty quickly. Tried not to think about it too much.

PBM - this section surprised me. It started with the listening tests and I believe I only missed one. The crosshair simulations were identical to Jantzen's sim - really kicking myself for not having practiced more, but I thought I had more time. I did much better than I imagined I would with the listening/navigating portion - I did "lean" into the appropriate ear.

OAR 57
AQR 7
PFAR 7
FOFAR 8

I primarily practiced with the red Test Prep Books ASTB prep, dabbled a little in the Mometrix book, Barron's. Practiced the UAV sim on the ASTB prep app and missed several but somehow scored very well? I did not use the paper compass trick because I felt really dialed-in to my strategy after practicing on the app. Also utilized the 415 flashcards on Cram - they are repetitive but very helpful. I did see some boat-related questions.

Sorry this is lengthy. Trying to share what I can remember but I felt like I was in autopilot (ha ha) the entire exam. Definitely didn't expect to do "as well" as I did. Definitely wanted 8-9s.

 

[ThatOneDude]

Attempted the ASTB for the first time today. My recruiter and I arranged it last-minute, just the night before. I have been studying frequently for the past 3-4 weeks but expected to have another 1-2 weeks of SOLID studying. I had bought the X52 and planned on practicing with the Jantzen sim every day. I only ended up using it a few times for brief practice sessions.

The OAR was the section I was least worried about and ended up being much more difficult than I imagined, as most of the practice problems I had encountered we barely on there. The problems became difficult very quickly (a few log questions). Didn't encounter any FOIL algebraic problems, no sin/cos/rad problems. There were several square/cubed root problems. I think I worked way too slowly on this section as the questions caught me off guard. Also, the conversations going on in the recruiting office were very loud and distracting. Just saying.

The reading - I was brain dead at this point. Was slightly different in the practice tests I had done because the question for the entire section was "pick the statement that can be inferred directly from the passage." The passages were boring and I was working off of 3 hours sleep the night before - I am a flight paramedic and was up all night. I think I mentally checked out here. All of the options seemed so similar. I really started to doubt myself.

Mechanical section was very scenario-based and most of the problems I solved by "common sense" - sorry, I don't know how else to describe it. Again, barely any of the problems were based off an equation or problem I had practiced from several texts.

ANIT - flew through this quickly with no problem.

NATFI - I already felt like I had failed at this point, but my strategy was no different than those shared on here - answer honestly but aggressively with the mindset of a leader. It was 99 items and I buzzed through them pretty quickly. Tried not to think about it too much.

PBM - this section surprised me. It started with the listening tests and I believe I only missed one. The crosshair simulations were identical to Jantzen's sim - really kicking myself for not having practiced more, but I thought I had more time. I did much better than I imagined I would with the listening/navigating portion - I did "lean" into the appropriate ear.

OAR 57
AQR 7
PFAR 7
FOFAR 8

I primarily practiced with the red Test Prep Books ASTB prep, dabbled a little in the Mometrix book, Barron's. Practiced the UAV sim on the ASTB prep app and missed several but somehow scored very well? I did not use the paper compass trick because I felt really dialed-in to my strategy after practicing on the app. Also utilized the 415 flashcards on Cram - they are repetitive but very helpful. I did see some boat-related questions.

Sorry this is lengthy. Trying to share what I can remember but I felt like I was in autopilot (ha ha) the entire exam. Definitely didn't expect to do "as well" as I did. Definitely wanted 8-9s.

Based on what I’m seeing on here. The October board is cancelled (allegedly). So why did your recruiter have you take it now if you needed more time?

 

[pcola478]

Based on what I’m seeing on here. The October board is cancelled (allegedly). So why did your recruiter have you take it now if you needed more time?

I am 30 so time is not on my side. I'm also still waiting to hear about a MEPS date. Additionally, he was in town today, when we initially thought it would be the end of this week.

 

[ThatOneDude]

I am 30 so time is not on my side. I'm also still waiting to hear about a MEPS date. Additionally, he was in town today, when we initially thought it would be the end of this week.

I see. Hopefully it works out. You plan on applying for both SNA & SNFO?

 

[pcola478]

I see. Hopefully it works out. You plan on applying for both SNA & SNFO?

Thanks, hope so, too! My gut is really saying SNA only for the first go-round, that's what I really want... and then second attempt SNA + SNFO. What do you think?

 

[ThatOneDude]

Thanks, hope so, too! My gut is really saying SNA only for the first go-round, that's what I really want... and then second attempt SNA + SNFO. What do you think?

If you will have enough time to get turned down from one board and apply to another then go for it. If not, then play it safe and add SNFO. Unless you aren’t interested in SNFO at all and only want to be a pilot(which seems to be the case). I’m in a similar situation, I’m going to retake the ASTB and if I don’t get an 8 on the PFAR, then I’ll most likely go be an Army Officer.

 

[pcola478]

If you will have enough time to get turned down from one board and apply to another then go for it. If not, then play it safe and add SNFO. Unless you aren’t interested in SNFO at all and only want to be a pilot(which seems to be the case). I’m in a similar situation, I’m going to retake the ASTB and if I don’t get an 8 on the PFAR, then I’ll most likely go be an Army Officer.

Yeah… trying to do some research and soul-searching right now. I do think FO would be a cool job but I just don’t know enough about it right now. I’m friends with several naval aviators and they have all assured me/tried to convince me to go FO. Hmm.

 

[ThatOneDude]

Yeah… trying to do some research and soul-searching right now. I do think FO would be a cool job but I just don’t know enough about it right now. I’m friends with several naval aviators and they have all assured me/tried to convince me to go FO. Hmm.

Interesting. If that is the case I would listen to them. They would know. Would you be able to put side cash while being an FO to pursue a civilian flight school? Or do you have too much responsibility and this wouldn’t be possible? I’m going to have to look into FO more given that it’s being recommended so much by NAs. But it’s not a transferable skill. Then again, you will get the GI Bill and you already have valuable skills given your current job.

 

[pcola478]

Interesting. If that is the case I would listen to them. They would know. Would you be able to put side cash while being an FO to pursue a civilian flight school? Or do you have too much responsibility and this wouldn’t be possible? I’m going to have to look into FO more given that it’s being recommended so much by NAs. But it’s not a transferable skill. Then again, you will get the GI Bill and you already have valuable skills given your current job.

So that’s one of the questions I had… how FO would transfer later into the civilian world
I just started taking flight lessons, I only have 2 hours but going to keep at it because I enjoy it. Definitely don’t have the 10-15k sitting around but it might be possible with some overtime shifts. However, have always wanted to serve

 

[ThatOneDude]

So that’s one of the questions I had… how FO would transfer later into the civilian world
I just started taking flight lessons, I only have 2 hours but going to keep at it because I enjoy it. Definitely don’t have the 10-15k sitting around but it might be possible with some overtime shifts. However, have always wanted to serve

I understand. The only place for me is the military. I looked at the military and found that the coolest jobs were either infantry/special ops related or being a pilot. Either a Warrior on the ground or in the air. Best (or in this case easier) option for pilot is Navy&Marine and best option for infantry/spec ops is the Army. I guess with infantry/spec ops, there aren’t any good transferable skills for the civilian side also. Did you get an answer regarding FO transferable skills?

 

[Anthony2000]

I understand. The only place for me is the military. I looked at the military and found that the coolest jobs were either infantry/special ops related or being a pilot. Either a Warrior on the ground or in the air. Best (or in this case easier) option for pilot is Navy&Marine and best option for infantry/spec ops is the Army. I guess with infantry/spec ops, there aren’t any good transferable skills for the civilian side also. Did you get an answer regarding FO transferable skills?

You can’t join the Army and go direct into SOF. Not a thing. You have to branch first then hope to get selected for the Q-Course you pass that then you go SFAS, pass that then you can try out for SOF.

Best options for SOF as an officer are Navy EOD/SEAL, or go to the Marine side, or even USAF. Army you cannot join as an officer in a spec ops or SOF designation.

 

[ThatOneDude]

You can’t join the Army and go direct into SOF. Not a thing. You have to branch first then hope to get selected for the Q-Course you pass that then you go SFAS, pass that then you can try out for SOF.

Best options for SOF as an officer are Navy EOD/SEAL, or go to the Marine side, or even USAF. Army you cannot join as an officer in a spec ops or SOF designation.

You can’t join the Army and go direct into SOF. Correct! And this is why the Army is perfect. Navy EOD/SEAL or Marines (I hear it takes many years to get into MARSOC) are not the best options, they take too long and these paths aren’t strategic.
The Navy expects you to be Superman when you sign up to be a SEAL. I am not Superman and so I would definitely fail SEAL training, especially the swimming parts.
Army is King for SOF because instead of jumping into fire right out the gate, you can take a more incremental and strategic approach.
First you join as an Infantry Officer, you will have a few years to hone your running and rucking skills and just get used to grunt life. Army Infantry Officers get to go to Airborne school, Ranger School, and SERE. All these schools are valuable and prepare you further for grunt life. Then once you’re O1, Army Infantry Officers have the opportunity to go to RASP 2 and become an Army Ranger. With all your prior training and grunt life experience, your odds of passing RASP 2 is way higher than someone off the street jumping into SEALS training. So you become a Ranger and do cool shit. Rangers, SEAL, same thing, just different branches. Similar mission set and they all do cool shit.

Note: Ranger School is just a leadership school. It doesn’t make you an Army Ranger. To be a Ranger, you must go thru RASP.

 

[Anthony2000]

You can’t join the Army and go direct into SOF. Correct! And this is why the Army is perfect. Navy EOD/SEAL or Marines (I hear it takes many years to get into MARSOC) are not the best options, they take too long and these paths aren’t strategic.
The Navy expects you to be Superman when you sign up to be a SEAL. I am not Superman and so I would definitely fail SEAL training, especially the swimming parts.
Army is King for SOF because instead of jumping into fire right out the gate, you can take a more incremental and strategic approach.
First you join as an Infantry Officer, you will have a few years to hone your running and rucking skills and just get used to grunt life. Army Infantry Officers get to go to Airborne school, Ranger School, and SERE. All these schools are valuable and prepare you further for grunt life. Then once you’re O1, Army Infantry Officers have the opportunity to go to RASP 2 and become an Army Ranger. With all your prior training and grunt life experience, your odds of passing RASP 2 is way higher than someone off the street jumping into SEALS training. So you become a Ranger and do cool shit. Rangers, SEAL, same thing, just different branches. Similar mission set and they all do cool shit.

Note: Ranger School is just a leadership school. It doesn’t make you an Army Ranger. To be a Ranger, you must go thru RASP.

Yeah just wanted to make sure you knew that. I know a few guys going through SFAS right now in the Army.

Their advice try out for the California National Guard Special Forces Group. It’s an open try out to the public. You are active duty during training and then you go back to reserves when done. The 2 guys I knew pretty well in college both said if they had to do it all over they do it that way.

 

[ThatOneDude]

Yeah just wanted to make sure you knew that. I know a few guys going through SFAS right now in the Army.

Their advice try out for the California National Guard Special Forces Group. It’s an open try out to the public. You are active duty during training and then you go back to reserves when done. The 2 guys I knew pretty well in college both said if they had to do it all over they do it that way.

I want to be active duty, not interested in any civilian career. The reserve path seems ideal for someone with a good degree. Work and get paid well while being SF part time. I have a useless Psych degree(that I only got so I could commission in one of the branches) so the reserve path wouldn’t be best. However I guess after training, I would be competitive for a civilian job as a cop or state trooper(while being reserve). What do you think?

 

[Anthony2000]

I want to be active duty, not interested in any civilian career. The reserve path seems ideal for someone with a good degree. Work and get paid well while being SF part time. I have a useless Psych degree(that I only got so I could commission in one of the branches) so the reserve path wouldn’t be best. However I guess after training, I would be competitive for a civilian job as a cop or state trooper(while being reserve). What do you think?

Without a doubt, most agencies only require an associates degree. Honestly if I went that path I’d look at FBI HRT or CIA SAU. Especially if you’re out in Cali you’d get a lot of action