I concur with billyb and add that you should also consider your intended major when deciding on validation.
With an Associates in Engineering you should be well-prepared and will be well served by placing into Jedi math if you intend to continue with a STEM major. However, if your intended major is in the Humanities or non-quantitative Social Sciences, take careful consideration of your math aptitude. USMA does a good job of accurately placing students in the proper courses, but there are cadets who wish they'd never heard of Jedi math.
For well-prepared students, validation and advanced placement are an excellent opportunity. For those on the border, who just qualify for advanced placement, but may not have mastered the concepts, validation can be a nightmare. It is your decision and you are the one who will reap the rewards or suffer the consequences. Look at your standardized test scores, AP scores, grades, and determine your level of academic confidence. Go for it if you feel you can succeed.
Grades are still important and there are no "grade bumps" at USMA like there are in high school AP courses. For competitive branches, grades are important. In MI, for example - several cadets ranked highest by the branch were unable to get it because they got beat by cadets higher on the OML who were also ranked highest by the branch. For posting, OML and therefore grades, is critical and the difference in spending three years in Hawaii or Ft. Polk Louisiana.