The effect of aviation selection test battery waivers on Marine student-aviator attrition

Abstract

This study examines the effect of Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) waivers on Marine student-aviator attrition. The first objective was to determine whether Marine student-aviators who are granted an ASTB waiver are significantly more likely to attrite for performance or for motivation reasons. The second objective was to determine the effect on attrition of changing the Marine Corps' ASTB minimum score waiver policy to allow more than ten percent of aviators to enroll annually with a test-score waiver. The study uses logit models to estimate the effect of ASTB waivers on attrition and to simulate the effect of changing the Marine Corps' waiver policy. The results suggest that student-pilots with a waiver for an ASTB score of 4/5 are significantly more likely to attrite. Additionally, student-NFOs with a waiver, regardless of their test score, are significantly more likely to attrite. The simulation shows a small positive effect on attrition of increasing the Marine Corps' current waiver rate. This study recommends that the Marine Corps maintain its current policy and that further research be conducted to account for student-aviator attrition during Introductory Flight Screening and to determine the effect of changing the Marine Corps' waiver policy on recruiting costs, flight school training costs, and minority representation.