The Department of Defense introduced the ASVAB (which stands for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) in 1968. It was originally designed to predict future academic and occupational success in military occupations. However, extensive research indicates the ASVAB assesses academic ability and predicts success in a wide variety of occupations.
The ASVAB CEP is used for career exploration and is given to high schools and early post-secondary students. An enlistment version of the ASVAB is primarily given at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS), and is used for enlistment purposes only.