How David Goggins Passed the ASVAB Test

Summary

This motivational story follows an individual's journey to join the Air Force, beginning with struggles to pass an ASVAB test and facing setbacks. Despite his initial failures, he demonstrates immense perseverance by studying intensely, even learning high school content in just six months. As he advances, he prepares for Special Operations, encountering a challenge with swimming due to his body’s negative buoyancy. However, through relentless discipline and effort, he masters swimming and ultimately succeeds in his training, proving the power of resilience and self-improvement.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker struggled with self-esteem and wanted to join the military to gain confidence.
• 😀 He initially went to the Air Force recruiter and was recommended for Air Force PA, a special operator role.
• 😀 The speaker had to take the ASVAB test, which caused anxiety and led to him failing multiple times.
• 😀 He asked his friend Johnny for help, who was able to read and write well, to assist with the test.
• 😀 Despite Johnny’s help, the speaker failed the ASVAB twice, scoring poorly and becoming discouraged.
• 😀 His mother arranged for him to have a tutor, and the speaker worked diligently for six months to improve his test-taking skills.
• 😀 Using intense study methods, the speaker successfully retook the ASVAB and scored high enough to qualify for the Air Force.
• 😀 After joining the Air Force, the speaker received a preparation guide for Special Operations training, which included physical fitness tests.
• 😀 He was unprepared for swimming, so he studied a how-to book and attempted to practice, but initially struggled with basic skills like floating.
• 😀 The lifeguard at the pool explained that the speaker's difficulty in floating was due to being 'negatively buoyant' because of bone density, a condition common in African Americans.
• 😀 The speaker persevered with focused training and eventually mastered swimming, which helped him succeed in the rigorous training for Air Force Special Operations.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to join the military?

The speaker was motivated to join the military to build self-esteem and prove themselves. They felt that being part of the Air Force, especially in a special operations role, would help them gain confidence.

What role did the speaker aim to pursue in the Air Force?

The speaker aimed to join as a pararescue (Air Force PA), which is a special operations role involving saving pilots and performing high-risk rescue missions.

What was the speaker's initial challenge when trying to join the Air Force?

The speaker’s initial challenge was the ASVAB test. They struggled with the test, receiving poor scores, and even attempted to cheat by copying off their friend, Johnny.

How did the speaker overcome their difficulties with the ASVAB test?

The speaker's mother arranged for a tutor, and the speaker dedicated six months to self-study. They used spiral notebooks and photographic memory techniques to learn the material, eventually passing the ASVAB with significantly higher scores.

What was the outcome when the speaker retook the ASVAB test?

When the speaker retook the ASVAB test, they scored so high that the recruiter thought they had cheated, although the speaker clarified that they had not.

What physical challenge did the speaker face when preparing for Special Operations training?

The speaker struggled with swimming, a skill they had never learned before. Despite reading a how-to book, they initially failed to float and sank to the bottom of the pool, causing concern for the lifeguard.

What did the lifeguard tell the speaker about their swimming ability?

The lifeguard explained that the speaker was 'negative buoyant' due to bone density, a condition that made it harder for them to float, which is why swimming was particularly challenging.

What did the speaker do to improve their swimming skills?

The speaker applied the same discipline they used to study for the ASVAB, dedicating themselves to learning how to swim. Over the next few months, they successfully learned the skill and became proficient in swimming.

How does the speaker explain the low percentage of African Americans in Special Operations?

The speaker attributes the low percentage of African Americans in Special Operations to the challenge of swimming, explaining that about 70% of African Americans are 'negative buoyant' due to bone density, making it more difficult to float and swim.

What key life lesson does the speaker emphasize through their journey?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of hard work, persistence, and discipline in overcoming obstacles. They learned that success requires dedication and the willingness to face challenges head-on, no matter how difficult they seem.