no.i.] PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 41 



Section 3. — Appointments and promotions in the Sanitary Corps for psyclwlogical service. 



The appointment of a number of psychologists, not to exceed 16, in the Sanitary Corps, 

 was approved in September, 1917; these officers were to have the grade of first lieutenant. 

 In addition, two officers were appointed for service in the Office of the Surgeon General — Maj. 

 Robert M. Yerkes to organize psychological examining, and Lieut. Arthur S. Otis to have 

 charge of statistical work. 



In the plan for extension of psychological examining to the entire Army which was approved 

 January 19, 1918, provision was made for 132 commissioned officers, distributed as follows: 

 27 majors, 51 captains, 54 first lieutenants. It was assumed that the Division of Psychology 

 would be permitted to secure this officer personnel in accordance with approval quoted on 

 page 29 of this report. 



One of the early activities of the Psychology Committee of the National Research Council 

 and subsequently of the Section of Psychology, Surgeon General's Office, was the gathering 

 of pertinent information concerning men who might be considered for appointment in the 

 Sanitary Corps. Data concerning more than 600 applicants for psychological appointment 

 were secured, properly classified, and filed. The psychological staff of the Surgeon General's 

 Office was therefore prepared, when the need for additional officers presented itself, to recom- 

 mend qualified candidates. During January and February recommendations were made in 

 order that a group of 50 student officers might report for training at Fort Oglethorpe. Subse- 

 quently this number was increased to 79, which is 53 less than the number of commissioned 

 officers approved by the War Department. 



In accordance with the plan of the division, qualified psychologists were to be recommended 

 for appointment as rapidly as arrangements could be made for their training at Fort Oglethorpe. 

 This was extremely difficult because of interference of academic and other professional obliga- 

 tions. It would have been possible to recommend immediately on authorization the total 

 number of 132 psychologists, but in order to secure so large a number it would have been 

 necessary to accept many men of relatively poor equipment as contrasted with certain of the 

 men who were willing to enter the service as soon as they could make suitable arrangements 

 with their institutions. 



Another immediate reason for delay in the commissioning of psychologists is found in 

 the temporary postponement of recommendations. A short delay occurred in March and again 

 early in April; a delay of several days was occasioned by the request for appointment in the 

 Sanitary Corps of a large number of men for the gas service. About the middle of April the 

 Division of Psychology was notified by the ranking officer of the Sanitary Corps that recom- 

 mendations might be made. As it was important to secure appointments for approximately 

 50 additional psychologists to report in May for the training course, the necessary papers were 

 prepared and as rapidly as possible placed in the hands of Lieut. Col. W. D. Wrightson; but 

 before action had been taken on any of these recommendations by The Adjutant General, the 

 Division of Psychology was requested to present an estimate of its personnel requirements 

 during the year 1918. In response to this request a personnel table was prepared and submitted 

 to the officer in charge of the Sanitary Corps. 



Before estimate of the required personnel had been submitted, the Division of Psychology 

 was notified that, pending careful investigation of the personnel of the Sanitary Corps, and of 

 requirements for the various kinds of work provided for by the corps, no recommendations 

 for appointment or promotion would be received by The Adjutant General. 



Since this additional and indefinite delay threatened to interfere most seriously with the 

 training of a sufficient number of competent psychologists, and thus to render impossible 

 satisfactory compliance with the instructions of the War Department that all drafted men and 

 all company officers should be given psychological examinations, the following special request 

 for authority to recommend 50 additional psychologists for appointment in the Sanitary Corps 

 was addressed to The Adjutant General of the Army. This letter was written by Maj. Yerkes 

 and transmitted by Lieut. Col. W. D. Wrightson, chief officer of the Sanitary Corps. 

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