"The Defense Department advertises the student version primarily as a counseling tool" to help students choose a career, an Army manual says.

It also instructs recruiters to point out that the ASVAB "is a good practice test for the Scholastic Aptitude Test and American College Test" college entrance exams.

But an Army manual says the top purpose of the test is to "provide the field recruiter with a source of leads of high school seniors and juniors qualified through the ASVAB for enlistment."

Also, some test questions specifically ask if a student has interest in the military. Those who do "are considered priority. This system allows recruiters to 'work smarter, not harder,' " an Air Force manual says.

Short with the Air Force said recruiters in Utah "promote the ASVAB test because it is an aptitude test that can help students find out where their strengths are. . . . It is not just a test to join the military, but a very valuable tool to counselors."

But he adds, "We utilize their results and their plans to show students how we can help them reach those plans and goals through Air Force benefits and programs."

Part of the school

Recruiters are instructed to work to become a visible part of each top-priority school's community.

An Army manual tells recruiters "to eat lunch in the school cafeteria several times each month. This will give you more visibility, and will help you identify potential candidates."

Recruiters are also urged to contact sports coaches "and volunteer to assist in leading calisthenics or calling cadence during team runs."

They are told to offer to teach classes on government or history, to volunteer to visit all classes with juniors to promote the ASVAB test, to advertise in school newspapers (and seek stories in them about recruiters), and to attend career days.

Army recruiters are also told to "attend athletic events at the high school. Make sure you wear your uniform" and have plenty of handouts about military scholarships and benefits.

Manuals encourage recruiters to offer color guards for school events, especially graduation. They are told to offer military-sponsored awards in math, music, science, athletics and other areas at school assemblies.

Quotas and results

Each year, about 3,600 Utahns join the military, based on estimates recruiters provided. That includes about 1,750 a year in the Army and Army Reserves, 1,000 in the Utah Army National Guard, 400 in the Marines, 250 in the Air Force, 160 in the Navy and 45 in the U.S. Coast Guard.