Took the ASTB-E today and here's my experience.
Before the test began, I was informed I may be sent to a separate testing location (Santee) as the network was unreliable that morning. I requested the address from the proctor in the event I was sent but was dismissed by the proctor (Rosi), this is an important detail for later.
As soon as the exam started in the cubicle office environment, it became clustered with countless individuals entering the same room talking loudly, laughing without interruption, and slamming chairs on the ground.
It got to the point that I physically had to stand up in the middle of my test (mechanical comprehension) and walk to the chief in order to request that individuals be removed from the room as I could not concentrate whatsoever on the test. This constant banter happened all throughout the OAR portion of the exam, not just this one section. As a result of needing to speak to the chief, I was unable to finish the Mechanical Comprehension portion of the test as my time was wasted making that request to the chief (who did nothing to quiet those around me down prior to my request).
Once the performance section began, the main proctor administrating the test started to gossip about me with an officer in the cubical next to me. I do not have the officer's name but I know she is above the pay grade of O-2 (or above) with a SWO pin. The proctor (Rosi) was talking about how she dislikes working with enlisted members, and found my request to ask for the secondary address "outrageous as its not my fucking job to be a tour guide". The officer responded by saying "Who asked you for the address? This guy? Yeah get him out of here after this".
Rosi later remarked to the officer, "I'm going to tell the Navy to stop sending me these people as it's not my fucking job". All while I'm trying to conduct the performance test in the next cubicle to them. Another individual came up behind me (I did not see who he was) while in the middle of the emergency procedures portion and started shouting, "No way this guy is practicing being a pilot, can I try for fun right after him? Come on it'll be fun!" He made more remarks unrelated to me but still in my direction in a yelling manner. His yelling prohibited me from hearing the multiple audio cues during the performance exam.
Once the ASTB was over, I went to thank the proctor for her time and she disregarded it and said "Yeah, get out of here".
Hearing the gossip completely threw me off as I was being targeted by the staff (including an officer), unable to concentrate due to the countless distractions present in the room, my focus mainly turned to what was happening all around me instead of what was in front of me. I expected going into this exam to be fully concentrated and relaxed but instead, I found myself in an elementary school environment with no care for my future as an officer and a complete lack of acknowledgment of my presence as the gossiping and breakroom-like shenanigans occurred right in front of me.
As a result, I achieved far lower results due to all the distractions. It's absolutely bullshit this happened to me this morning. I am going to work with my chain of command to file a formal complaint and see what can be done about voiding this test and retesting in a different location as soon as possible as the deadline for SNA is soon in Nov.
Don't let bullshit like this happen to any of you. Those entitled recruiting staff members won't get away with bullshit like this.
