TAB

[AROTCMom14]

I am a non-military person who is a parent to a current MSIII. Have never posted before since I try to let my cadet drive their future career and I can usually find answers on this forum. My MSIII Cadet is working on TAB. Just received info about it prior to Christmas break and I understand there is a deadline soon. My cadet filled in all the relevant information and is researching the branches using Virtual Branching website but claims there is no "aptitude test" to take where they can answer questions that can help with identifying strengths that might align to certain branches. This sounds kind of strange to me so I'm asking here if they are missing some important information. I know there are folks like MohawkArmyROTC who often have great insight into what cadets should be doing. Like I said, filling out all the "resume" like stuff has been done and the researching on the branches is also being done but it seems like there's a step missing? Like some sort of "test" that can help align strengths/let the army know what strengths my cadet has. I know I've had to take these types of aptitude tests for jobs before I get granted an interview so I assumed the army had the same thing in place. Am I wrong? Also what is the deadline for this TAB to be done? My cadet seems to think it's like in a few weeks which seems like a tight timeline to me. Thanks for any help.

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Appreciate that you're trying to let your young adult navigate all of this as much as they can themselves . I think this official Eastern Washington University official site will answer many of your questions for the timeline for this year that he can compare/ generally use for comparison.

The Army ROTC FY 2022 Accessions Timeline – EWU Army ROTC

In terms of branching paths - he should be using youtube, his chain of command, see which version of the free ASVAB might help him, ask his cadre and ROO to talk about his interests and discuss options. He should also lean on the MSIVs who completed this due diligence for their own benefit and their impressions. He should ask any green to gold members of his unit with service experience of their impressions. Army cadre served *often themselves branched before working at a university - ask them about their paths- set up some zoom calls. research the Youtube, etc.

Hope this all helps you and your son get your bearings on your interested top branching choices. Good luck.

 

[AROTCMom14]

Thanks for this reply. The link you sent begins by saying "The FY22 Accessions Timeline has been released for Cadets that will be commissioning in the Fall 2021 and the Spring 2022 Semesters." FYI my cadet commissions Spring 2023 (will be attending advanced camp this summer.) But if this timeline is generalizable then it looks like the deadline for this is before 28Feb?

Also, the confusion seems to stem from the TAB and TBB. I think my cadet has been filling out the TBB but has not done the TAB because the next step listed on this graphic is that they will get "feedback" and "branch scores" but my cadet has not been taking any branch "tests" just filling in personal information, resume like stuff. I feel like there's a missing and very important piece here. Where is this TAB thing that will ultimately result in a "score/recommendation"?

 

[MohawkArmyROTC]

@AROTCMom14

This is everything that is looked at for branching. There is a link below to a video that shows how to complete the TAB, the portion your cadet appears to be missing.

Cadet Talent Resumes
- Cadet File: Captures performance data (grades, APFT, OERs, etc…) and cadet input (extra-curriculars, language, etc…) on www.branching-rotc.army.mil. Also allows cadets to write a personal statement explaining his/her fit for their branch(es) of choice. Cadet File “How To” Video

- Talent Assessment Battery (TAB): A suite of cognitive and non-cognitive tests that measure cadet talents relative to peers in their branching cohort. TAB “How To” Video

- Cadet Talent Evaluation (CTE): An evaluation of a cadet’s strengths and weaknesses provided by cadre (officer or NCO) that know them personally. CTE “How To” Video

- PMS Branching Comments: Short (200 word) statements from a cadet’s PMS that articulate in which branch or branches the cadet would best serve the Army. Branching Comments “How To” Video

Interviews
- Cadets will be afforded the opportunity to interview with their preferred branches during the branching process and branches will use the interviews to finalize their ratings of cadets. Cadets will not be required to interview.

 

[AROTCMom14]

Thank you so much! This is very helpful! I will def pass this along. And is the due date for the stuff listed under "Cadet Talent Resumes" 28Feb or earlier than that (like I said my cadet seems to think the deadline is like in the next two weeks.

 

[AROTCMom14]

@AROTCMom14

This is everything that is looked at for branching. There is a link below to a video that shows how to complete the TAB, the portion your cadet appears to be missing.

Cadet Talent Resumes
- Cadet File: Captures performance data (grades, APFT, OERs, etc…) and cadet input (extra-curriculars, language, etc…) on www.branching-rotc.army.mil. Also allows cadets to write a personal statement explaining his/her fit for their branch(es) of choice. Cadet File “How To” Video

- Talent Assessment Battery (TAB): A suite of cognitive and non-cognitive tests that measure cadet talents relative to peers in their branching cohort. TAB “How To” Video

- Cadet Talent Evaluation (CTE): An evaluation of a cadet’s strengths and weaknesses provided by cadre (officer or NCO) that know them personally. CTE “How To” Video

- PMS Branching Comments: Short (200 word) statements from a cadet’s PMS that articulate in which branch or branches the cadet would best serve the Army. Branching Comments “How To” Video

Interviews
- Cadets will be afforded the opportunity to interview with their preferred branches during the branching process and branches will use the interviews to finalize their ratings of cadets. Cadets will not be required to interview.

@MohawkArmyROTC
Thanks for this. My Cadet's TAB did not look like anything in the video link you provided above. There were no tests (timed or otherwise) but simply a bunch of questions asking "how likely are you to" and then a scale of 0 (not likely) to 10 (very likely). After answer all these questions a page called "TAB Results" were shown showing "scores" on things like "Problem Solver" "Perceptive" "Mentally Tough" etc. I guess I was under the impression from the timeline picture that these results would not be "instant" and from the vide that there would be like 5 tests to take (some of them timed). Have things changed since that 2019 video? Is there a more recent video showing the new interface? Sorry so many questions but my cadet has done everything/filled out everything they have access to and even requested mentors. It just that the TAB part looked nothing like that video and seemed (from what was described) to be more of a self assessment rather than an actual assessment where they are asked more aptitude-like questions.

 

[A1Janitor]

@AROTCMom14

This is everything that is looked at for branching. There is a link below to a video that shows how to complete the TAB, the portion your cadet appears to be missing.

Cadet Talent Resumes
- Cadet File: Captures performance data (grades, APFT, OERs, etc…) and cadet input (extra-curriculars, language, etc…) on www.branching-rotc.army.mil. Also allows cadets to write a personal statement explaining his/her fit for their branch(es) of choice. Cadet File “How To” Video

- Talent Assessment Battery (TAB): A suite of cognitive and non-cognitive tests that measure cadet talents relative to peers in their branching cohort. TAB “How To” Video

- Cadet Talent Evaluation (CTE): An evaluation of a cadet’s strengths and weaknesses provided by cadre (officer or NCO) that know them personally. CTE “How To” Video

- PMS Branching Comments: Short (200 word) statements from a cadet’s PMS that articulate in which branch or branches the cadet would best serve the Army. Branching Comments “How To” Video

Interviews
- Cadets will be afforded the opportunity to interview with their preferred branches during the branching process and branches will use the interviews to finalize their ratings of cadets. Cadets will not be required to interview.

So many unsung heroes on this site.

 

[AROTCMom14]

So many unsung heroes on this site.

I completely agree! My cadet's cadre has been out of pocket since school is currently virtual and I've passed on every bit of information I've gotten from this site/string. Just trying to get verification that everything is actually done/complete since, as I've said, my cadet's TAB did not look anything like the 2019 vide link sent by @MohawkArmyROTC - there were not a list of tests to take, etc. Just a lot of questions asking "how likely are you to" and then a scale of 0 (not likely) to 10 (very likely). If that has been changed for this cohort (FY23) then all is well. If not, there's currently still time for my cadet to try to figure out what's missing.