ASVAB CO Score
Combat
What CO Measures
CO determines eligibility for combat MOS: Infantry (11B/C), Combat Engineer (12B), and Cannon Crewmember (13B). The minimum required (87) is relatively low compared to technical composites, reflecting that the primary filter for these roles is physical fitness and mental resilience — not academic aptitude. That said, higher CO scores look good on paper.
Combat operations require arithmetic for fire control and navigation (AR), speed and pattern recognition for tactical decisions (CS), and mechanical/equipment understanding (AS). The combination tests the fast-thinking, practical problem-solving that direct combat demands.
Score Benchmarks
Jobs That Require CO
3 MOS in our database require a CO score. Listed highest-to-lowest requirement.
How to Improve Your CO Score
Subtests ranked by impact on your CO score. Improving the top-ranked subtest first maximizes cross-composite benefit.
The most trainable component. Word problems with real-world context. AR also feeds GT, EL, FA, G, A.
Practical equipment knowledge. Combat troops maintain and operate vehicle-mounted systems.
Pattern matching under time pressure. This is the least coachable subtest — practice the mechanics, not the content.