Is the ASVAB ST composite score a reliable predictor of first-attempt graduation for the U.S. Army operating room specialist course?

Is the ASVAB ST composite score a reliable predictor of first-attempt graduation for the U.S. Army operating room specialist course?

The U.S. Army Operating Room Specialist (68D) Course provides first class medical technician training to U.S. Army enlisted soldiers of the Army Medical Command. With a failure rate of approximately 12% over a 2-year period, this study was commissioned to determine whether the Armed Services Vocatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine Vol. 177; no. 11; pp. 1352 - 1358
Main Authors: Grant, Joel, Vargas, Angel L, Holcek, Robert A, Watson, Carolyn H, Grant, Jessica A, Kim, Forest S
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Oxford University Press 01-11-2012
Subjects:
Allied Health Personnel - education
Aptitude Tests
Armed forces
Communication
Female
Hospitals, Military
Humans
Hypotheses
Literature reviews
Male
Military Medicine - education
Military personnel
Operating Rooms
Students
Success
United States
Workforce
United States > US
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Summary:The U.S. Army Operating Room Specialist (68D) Course provides first class medical technician training to U.S. Army enlisted soldiers of the Army Medical Command. With a failure rate of approximately 12% over a 2-year period, this study was commissioned to determine whether the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) skilled technical (ST) Score served as a reliable predictor for successful first-attempt completion of the 68D course. A sample size of 373 was analyzed via a multivariate binary logistic regression model with 6 distinct independent variables. This study found that the ASVAB ST score, gender, and rank were predictors to first-attempt successful completion of the 68D training program. Specifically, students with an ST score 10 points higher than their peers were 5 times more likely to graduate. In addition, females were 2.5 times more likely to succeed than males and Army Privates (E2) were 3.2 times more likely than Privates (El). Specialists, Corporals (E4), Sergeants (E5), and Staff Sergeants (E6) combined, were 34 times more likely to succeed than Els. Although further study may be warranted, increasing the minimum ST score requirement in the admission guidelines and/or specific preventive assistance for lower-ranked students may decrease the first-attempt failure rate.
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ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.7205/MILMED-D-12-00189