Last updated: August 16, 2026
You Got a Non-Selection. Now What?
First off, take a deep breath. A non-selection stings, but it doesn’t mean the end of the road. I’ve seen plenty of candidates bounce back and earn their wings. The question you’re asking—and it’s a smart one—is whether you should retake the ASTB to improve your package. The short answer: probably not, especially if your PFAR is already a 9. But let me walk you through the reasoning behind that astb retake advice so you can make the best decision for your situation.
ASTB Retake Advice: Is It Worth the Risk?
Your PFAR (Pilot Flight Aptitude Rating) is the highest possible score—a 9. That tells the board you have the raw aptitude to succeed in flight training. Retaking the ASTB carries a real risk of scoring lower, and a lower PFAR could actually hurt your chances. I’ve heard of candidates who scored a 9, retook the test, and ended up with a 7 or 8. That doesn’t improve your package; it raises questions. When a score is already maxed, there’s nowhere to go but down. Your recruiter likely warned you about this, and I’d echo that caution. Focus your energy elsewhere.
Addressing the Real Weakness: Low GPA
If you have a low undergraduate GPA, that’s the hole in your package the board noticed. The good news is there are ways to patch it. Completing a master’s degree with a strong GPA can show academic maturity and dedication. Even taking a few courses at a community college—especially in STEM or aviation-related subjects—can help. The board wants to see an upward trend. I knew a candidate who had a 2.8 GPA but crushed a master’s in aeronautics and got picked up on his second try. It’s not just the number; it’s the story you tell.
Other Ways to Strengthen Your Package
Beyond GPA, consider these steps to boost your application:
- Flight hours: If you can afford it, get some civilian flight time. It shows commitment and gives you context for the training pipeline.
- Letters of recommendation: Ask current aviators or leaders who can speak to your character and potential.
- Community involvement: Volunteer work or leadership roles demonstrate the whole-person concept the board values.
- Apply for SNFO: If you’re open to being a Naval Flight Officer, that can be a backup. Your high PFAR still helps, and you might get selected as an SNFO even if SNA is competitive.
Your OAR (Officer Aptitude Rating) is also part of the ASTB. If your OAR is low (say below 5 or 6), retaking might be worth considering, but only if your PFAR has room to improve. In your case with a max PFAR, it’s still risky. Talk to your recruiter—they know the board trends and can give you astb retake advice specific to your designator and year. For more on the overall process, check out the Navy OCS Journey page for a step-by-step guide.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let one non-selection shake your confidence. The Navy needs good officers, and you’ve already proven you have the aptitude. Use this turnaround time to strengthen your GPA and your story. The board will notice the improvement. And if you have questions, lean on your recruiter and mentors. You’ve got this.
If you’d rather pay for this
This is the one post in this series where spending money is usually right, and the reason is not the price — it is that the ASTB-E is capped at three attempts in a lifetime. The scarce resource is the attempt, not the fee, and that changes the arithmetic completely: a third attempt taken underprepared costs you something you cannot buy back at any price.
Paid help comes in three pricing models. Study guides are a one-time purchase. Course and question-bank access is a recurring monthly subscription — one of the main ASTB-E courses lists at $79.99 a month at the time of writing. Tutoring is billed hourly and is the most expensive per hour of the three. Weigh each against the value of the attempt rather than against each other. And confirm the current wait between attempts with your officer recruiter before you plan around it — the published intervals differ between sources and by program, and your recruiter is the one who is right.
This post is part of Applying to Navy OCS — every post here on the OAR and ASTB-E, in reading order.
