• RobertoOberto@sh.itjust.works
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          6 months ago

          The ASVAB tests for aptitude, hence the name, not the ability to step into a job without training. Looks up practice questions for the Mechanical Comprehension portion to see the kinds of questions that might suggest someone could be a good mechanic.

          The U.S. army absolutely does provide training to its mechanics, and does not assume people know jack shit coming in. I scored high enough on the MM portion of the ASVAB to be one and don’t don’t know a damn thing about fixing vehicles.

          • RobertoOberto@sh.itjust.works
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            6 months ago

            Some portions of the ASVAB have questions very similar to those you might find on an IQ test, but it is much more broad than just IQ.

        • somethingsnappy@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          My parents didn’t let me or my sister to go to school on the ASVAB test day. They didn’t want recruiters contacting them constanty.

          • RobertoOberto@sh.itjust.works
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            6 months ago

            That’s probably for the best.

            I spent 4 years in the USMC and have a very complicated relationship with my time enlisted. There is a lot I’m proud of, but there’s also a lot that would be nice to forget.

    • Halosheep@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      Idk man, friend of mine works as a mechanic for the airforce and makes ~78k/yr, gets a large housing bonus, and has access to military loans that have really good terms, comparatively.

      Ignoring the whole military lifestyle bs that he has to go through, it’s not that bad for someone who really doesn’t know what to do with themselves.

      • als@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        6 months ago

        The US army uses basic socialist policies (we will help you if you’re dying from cancer etc) to recruit. It only works because the US state refuses to take care of its subjects. The moment people are no longer desperate, the recruitment numbers will fall.

        • Ragnarok314159@sopuli.xyz
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          6 months ago

          Except if you get cancer while in they medically discharge you and leave you with nothing. “Go file with the VA!”

          I was in for ten years and saw it happen multiple times.

          • TheOakTree@lemm.ee
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            6 months ago

            I heard people got respiratory cancers specifically from being in the military and having been instructed to burn piles of trash without proper safety equipment.

            And then they got discharged, fucked over sideways by the VA, and died. Welp.