Our son told us this is now the way they are going to do it. This system may be a better predictor of success than the old "Class Rank" system, where graduates sometimes ended up in a Branch they later found out they didn't really want, or had difficulty being successful in. This way, they take tests starting this year forward and the different Branch Chief or someone in the Branch interviews you, then reviews your test scores along with your fitness evaluations and class rank. It would reason to think that if a cadet gets one of the "not recommended" ratings, that they will realize they may not be suited for that Branch and pick one they are more suited for.
Sort of makes sense, this probably should have been instituted long ago, like the enlisted branches have been doing for a while. They take your ASVAB scores, look at your HS or College classes, and either guarantee you a Class A school or not depending on how you scored and what YOU want to do. If you have no aptitude for what YOU want, then you don't get the guaranteed school and maybe not even the Branch or Specialty, but have to work up to what you want, or don't join. Seemed to prevent the previous high number of dropped Class A students because they could not do the requirements of the Branch or Specialty, and it gives the potential recruit the ability to get an idea of what is available to him/her and what they would likely be successful in prior to actually committing.
