No, a 70 on the ASVAB is not bad—it’s actually a strong score. The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) uses a percentile-based scoring system, meaning a score of 70 indicates you scored higher than 70% of test-takers who took the exam during the 1997 norming period.
This places you well above the average (which is 50) and significantly above the minimum enlistment requirements for all U.S. military branches:
- Army: minimum 31
- Navy: minimum 35
- Air Force: minimum 31 (often higher in practice)
- Marine Corps: minimum 32
- Coast Guard: minimum 40
More importantly, a 70 opens the door to a wide range of military jobs, including technical, intelligence, aviation, and special operations roles that require high ASVAB line scores. Many advanced specialties—such as cyber operations, linguistics, or electronics—require scores in the 60s, 70s, or higher in specific subtests.
Your AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) score of 70 also makes you a highly competitive candidate for enlistment bonuses, advanced training opportunities, and educational benefits like the GI Bill.
In short, a 70 is a very good ASVAB score that reflects strong aptitude and provides excellent opportunities across all branches of the U.S. military.