ATSB and the Marine Corps

[BullGator]

For the Marines, assuming the ASTB is still pass/fail at 4,6,6: does it help if you scored higher? (I got a 7,7,8.) Or do they just look at the rest of your package ("whole person") and as far as the ASTB goes only see that that you "passed?

I am applying for the Navy only as a pilot. I ask because both the Navy and the Marine corps are the branches I am considering, but overall my package isn't as strong as it could be (2.9 GPA, not the greatest work experience). I understand if you guys want nothing to do with me, as I know that only the "few" can make it as Marine officers and pilots (2 uncles were in the Marines, and they instilled the respect that is "demanded"), but your input would be well recieved. Thank you.

 

[Gabriel]

6's and 7's my friends, if you want to be competitive. Don't even concider the minimums - they're the same as failing. Recruiters have told me that the board laughs at threshhold scores. Fuel is up and planes are down so slots are limited (so I hear). At the same time I'm just a regular dude doing research just like everybody else. Also, I've been told that there are no pilot slots left for NAVY/USMC. I'm not sayin give up but definitely be an Einstein.

 

[nugget61]

First, I don't remember seeing a question like that on the ASTB.

Just to chime in, I did have a few questions similar to this one - but don't worry, they know that they're asking a lot of questions in a short amount of time. So when you read the question, just try to think of what the simplest solution would be, and from what I've seen, that's probably right. GL on the test.

 

[BarrettRC8]

seriously... the ASTB is essentially moron-proof. If you fail it over and over, well, somebody needs to manage the McDonald's of the world.

HAHAHA. I'd say thats a bit harsh, but nonetheless, if you study it is not difficult to achieve a solid score.

 

[Crowbar]

Fuel is up and planes are down so slots are limited (so I hear).

The S-3 decommissioning has been planned for years. Reserve squadrons are being shut down and their assets distributed to active duty squadrons. These things were all decided when gas was "cheap".

 

[BullGator]

The S-3 decommissioning has been planned for years. Reserve squadrons are being shut down and their assets distributed to active duty squadrons. These things were all decided when gas was "cheap".

Thanks Crowbar. I was waiting until someone with real experience would answer. No offense, Gabriel.

Yeah, I know there is always a need for pilots. And that the Marines often allow more selections to cover the higher attrition rates in Marine-OCS and TBS.

First, for me, I'm not a quiter and I would be 100% loyal to either the Navy or Marines. They are both steeped in tradition/history and are the "tip of the spear" (with the Marines probably edging out for the very "tip"). Also, I would not at all be opposed to flying helos.

If any one who has been selected can chim in, my origional question: "As far as selection, does it help to have higher ASTB scores for your packet, or do they only see if you passed? I have a 7,7,8, and an OAR 58, but the rest of my packet could be much stronger (GPA, work experience and extracurriculars in college could all be better- I had a lot of extracurriculars in high school though, and I've done community service "sparringly" over the last 9 years) and I was wondering if the ASTB score could "level the playing field" for me.

 

[theblakeness]

For Marines its pass/fail. OSOs hand out 1 point waivers all the time and, believe it or not, I have met many potential Candidates who couldnt pass it.

You really should be talking to an OSO about your chances rather then this forum. Nobody here can tell you definitively if you will get selected or not. So call your local OSO and show him you have the fortitude to be a Marine Officer. His positive evaluation of you will help your chances a lot.

 

[phrogdriver]

Sure it's not one of these?

 

[Spekkio]

First, I don't remember seeing a question like that on the ASTB. Second, that's a horrible diagram.
To me, it looks like it's a simple model of a tower crane, meaning that the 'anchor' is not attached to anything - it's there to balance any loads on the right horizontal support. The term 'anchor' does not necessarily mean a rigid attachment. The answer depends on whether the anchor is a just a weight, or a rigid point of attachment for the horizontal support. It also depends on whether that string can slide across the top of the vertical support, or if it's attached there.

Here's a quick list of answers for an attached/non-attached anchor, and a sliding/non-sliding string:

Attached/Sliding: B. B causes more tension because it bends the horizontal support and stretches the string, A can't pull the string because the anchor supports it's weight, and the left horizontal support can't move.

Attached/Non-sliding: C. The tension at both weight locations is 0 because the anchor supports A, and the bending caused by B doesn't pull the string on the left side.

Non-attached/Sliding: Unanswerable. It depends on the relative weight of the block and the anchor, and the relative distance of A and B. Both positions will cause more overall bending of the support and stretching of the string, but you can't tell how much without numbers.

Non-attached/Non-Sliding: A. B won't affect the tension, because the string isn't free to slide. A will increase the weight on the left horizontal support, causing it to bend more.

Since the word "string" is written only once, I guess you're safe assuming that it's one continuous string, and is free to slide. You can also assume the question is answerable, so the anchor probably is a rigid attachment. So, the answer is probably B like Sinatra said. I guess I made the whole thing more complicated, but I really hate bad diagrams and questions that give incomplete information.

Jeez, I'm a nuke and I didn't think that hard about the question.

I would've picked B.

 

[Tyler]

Yeah, I just looked at it and imagined holding the string at point X.

B is farther away from the fulcrum, hence it has more leverage, exerting more force on X.

...but what do I know? I majored in Business.

 

[Smacked_in_ATL]

Recently took Form 5 of the ASTB, and nothing similar to that.

 

[BullGator]

Sure it's not one of these?

Attached Thumbnails



The first question with the ramp and spring, is way to easy for the ASTB mechanical section, without friction it would fly 2.85 feet into the air above the ramp, and progressively go higher up until it reached the Exosphere, the wind shifts it, or it hits an airplane. Give us a challenge man. :icon_tong

The second question of find the hypotenuse really is easy. It's 25, right?

I don't get the third one -So I'd mark choice C.) Describes body decomposition down to the skeleton, then to oil where mass stays constant (eg. Mass cannot be completely "destroyed" since matter can not).

The last one with the cat color is black; thankfully they cut back the genetics problems but I happened to get that one on my verbal section. Haha. Lucky me, of course it's a black female cat (I'm a feline-vagina checker myself). Haha, just having some fun.

 

[NAeagle89]

Reply to Pass or Fail

Hey, this is my first post and I know its been a few years since this question was indoctrinated but when I took it its "pass or fail" in a sense. If you want to be a pilot you need a certain score with a 6/5/5. I took it a month ago and in the first category I was 1 point below. This was for the Marines and I am going to have to take it again. That was just my experience, if anyone has anything different please let me know.

 

[TTUalumn07]

I got the mark of the devil score: 6/6/6

 

[smulet]

Hey, this is my first post and I know its been a few years since this question was indoctrinated but when I took it its "pass or fail" in a sense. If you want to be a pilot you need a certain score with a 6/5/5. I took it a month ago and in the first category I was 1 point below. This was for the Marines and I am going to have to take it again. That was just my experience, if anyone has anything different please let me know.

My OSO has said 4/6/6.