Pilot Research for Validation of ASVAB(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and Enlistment Standards against Performance on the Job

Abstract : The Army Research Institute (ARI) conducted an initial pilot research project in the 193rd Infantry Bridage, Panama to determine the feasibility of validating the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and enlistment standards against performance on the job. This report discussess some preliminary analyses of these data. The preliminary analyses focus on two areas. The first area deals with the definition of a 'successful soldier,' and the extent to which commanding officers and NCO's agreed on the qualities of a 'successful soldier.' The second area deals with the relations among a ASVAB 5/6/7, SQTs, and selected preliminary measures of job performance. The results suggest that the three most important factors in overall soldier performance as indicated by supervisor consist of job performance, troop responsibility, and discipline. The relationship between ASVAB and existing measures of job performance (e.g., SQT scores, awards, honor graduate, and letter of appreciation) are also discussed.