Can I get an ASVAB waiver?
Looking for advice and answers
Is it at all possible for someone to get an ASVAB waiver in the Marine Corps DEP Program?
If so how long did it take for it to get processed?
I am currently a poolee and have been in the DEP since March of this year. I took the ASVAB twice when it was offered at my high school in 2024 and 2025. My first score was a 71, and my most recent score was a 51. At the time, I was very ignorant and trusted everything my recruiter told me. Before I was sent to MEPS, he told me that the ASVAB score I would be going to MEPS with was my 71. I went through the entire process under the impression that I would be using that score. When the time came for my recruiter to pick me up from MEPS, he broke the news to me that I had actually sworn in with my 51. I was very upset because I knew I would not be able to choose either of my top MOS choices (Cyber or Aircraft Maintenance). I was told it was possible to get an ASVAB waiver, so I waited from March until June for it to be processed. I was eventually told that my retest at MEPS was scheduled for June 4. However, the day before my supposed test date, my recruiter told me he was on leave and that I would not be able to retake the ASVAB. I was then told that I could potentially get another retest date, so I continued studying and waiting. Around two weeks ago, during our station PT, I told him that I no longer wanted to retake the ASVAB. I was tired of waiting for the waiver to be processed, and the uncertainty of whether it would ever be approved was becoming exhausting. I have not yet spoken with my recruiter about selecting an MOS and signing my contract. My original ship date from MEPS was June 22, but it has now been pushed back to October. I feel like I wasted my opportunity to leave for boot camp right after graduating high school because I was waiting for a retest that never happened. I’m starting to think I was being lied to the entire time. My original plan was to use work experience in cyber, along with a security clearance, to help me get a high paying job when it came time to transition out of the Marine Corps. I know there are many great opportunities in other career fields, but I don’t think I would feel fulfilled working in a different field. At this point, I’m starting to question whether joining is even worth it anymore.
(Update signed a contract for DB Info and Comms shipping out August 3rd)