R 031222Z FEB 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 081/11
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2010/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/CLARIFICATION OF DOD AND USMC POLICY ON THE USE OF PRACTICE TESTS PRIOR TO TAKING THE ARMED FORCES CLASSIFICATION TEST (AFCT)//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MRA/YMD:20051017//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/MPP/YMD:20100429//
NARR/REF (A) ARMED SERVICES MILITARY PERSONNEL ACCESSION TESTING PROGRAMS. REF (B) MARADMIN 250/10.//
POC/C. E. NADER/CAPT/UNIT:MPP-50/-/TEL:(703) 432-9350 /TEL:DSN 278-9763/M. A. TALLENT/GYSGT/UNIT:MPP-50/-/TEL:(703) 784-9615/TEL:DSN 278-9615//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/ 1. THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION OF DOD AND USMC POLICY FOR THOSE MARINES WHO DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS IN ORDER TO RETEST ON THE ARMED FORCES CLASSIFICATION TEST (AFCT) WHILE AWAY FROM HOME STATION. MARINES CONTINUE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO LATMOVE, REENLIST, APPLY FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND IMPROVE ON THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS TO ENHANCE THEIR CAREERS WHILE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS. ACCORDINGLY, THE AFCT IS AVAILABLE FOR RETESTING MARINES WHO ARE DEPLOYED.
2. MARINES DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ ARE BEING OFFERED A MYRIAD OF ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT COURSES AT SISTER SERVICE SITES THAT ARE DESIGNED WITH THE INTENT OF INCREASING ONE'S AFCT SCORES. COURSES SUCH AS THESE ARE PROHIBITED BY THE REFERENCES AND MARINES SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN SUCH COURSES IF THEY INTEND TO RETEST ON THE AFCT.
3. PER REF (A), CHAPTER 4, SECTION 4-2, PAR E(5), "THE FOLLOWING, AT A MINIMUM, ARE PROHIBITED ACTIONS THAT CONSTITUTE LOSS OR COMPROMISE OF TEST MATERIAL AND REQUIRE AN INVESTIGATION: DEVELOPEMENT OF A LOCAL OR PRACTICE TEST WHICH CONTAINS ACTUAL TEST MATERIAL. THIS INCLUDES COACHING PRACTICES WITH LOCALLY DEVELOPED TEST QUESTIONS, TEST AIDS OR COMMERCIAL TEST STUDY GUIDES TO FAMILARIZE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A TEST." KNOWN NAMES OF THESE TYPE COURSES ARE: "GT PREDICTOR", "GT IMPROVEMENT", AND "ASVAB PREP" AMONG OTHERS. MARINES SHOULD NOT ENROLL IN THESE COURSES OFFERED BY OTHER SERVICES IF THEY CONTAIN ANY REFERENCES TO THE AFCT OR ARE INTENDED TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR TAKING THE AFCT.
4. MARINES SHOULD UTILIZE ALTERNATIVE SELF-STUDY GUIDES TO PREPARE FOR RETAKING OF THE AFCT. EXAMPLES OF SELF-STUDY GUIDES ARE: ASVAB STUDY GUIDES (PAPER-BASED) WHICH CAN BE PROCURED AT ANY LOCAL LIBRARY. ANOTHER VERY EFFECTIVE RESOURCE AVAILABLE IS THE "PETERSON'S ON-LINE ACADEMICS SKILLS COURSE" WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING URL: (HTTP:(SLASH SLASH)WWW.NELNETSOLUTIONS.COM/ DANTES/). THIS STUDY RESOURCE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY DOD AND IS AVAILABLE TO ANY SERVICE MEMBER. FOR MORE INFORMATION, MARINES SHOULD CONTACT THE BASE/CAMP EDUCATION CENTER.
5. DEPLOYED MARINES ARE NOT RESTRICTED FROM TAKING THE AFCT AS LONG AS THEY MEET THE PREREQUISITES ESTABLISHED WITHIN MCO 1230.5B AND PROVIDE THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED BY ENCLOSURE (2) OF THAT ORDER. MARINES AND THEIR COMMANDS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THIS OFFICE TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY MATTER REGARDING CLASSIFICATION TESTING.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//