CHAPTER 2. 



THE OFFICIAL MILITARY TRIAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING. 



Section 1. — Provision of professional personnel. 



The decision of the Surgeon General thoroughly to investigate the relations of methods of 

 psychological examining to military needs was followed by systematic effort to discover suitable 

 ways of providing the necessary professional personnel for psychological service in tbe Army. 

 It was shortly discovered that the recently created Sanitary Corps offered opportunity for the 

 military appointment of psychologists. The Surgeon General decided that for preliminary trial 

 of psychological methods, a number not to exceed 16 qualified psychologists might be recom- 

 mended for appointment in the grade of first lieutenant in the Sanitary Corps, National Army. 



It seemed desirable, however, to secure the services of psychologists under civd appoint- 

 ment, in order that the necessity of commissioning a relatively large number of men for this 

 service should be avoided until the practical value of the methods had been demonstrated. The 

 chairman of the committee on psychology of the National Research Councd acting under the 

 direction of Maj . Pearce Bailey, responsible head of the work in neurology and psychiatry in the 

 Surgeon General's Office, proceeded to investigate for the Surgeon General the possibilities of 

 civil appointment. His inquiries led to the preparation of the following letter: 



August 3, 1917. 

 From: The Surgeon General. 

 To: The Secretary of War. 

 Subject: Eligibles for employment as psychological examiners. 



1. It is respectfully requested that the Secretary of War obtain from the Civil Service Commission, in accordance 

 with the needs and qualifications stated herein, a list of eligibles for the position of psychological examiner in the Army. 



2. These men are needed to serve as expert psychological examiners under the direction of medical officers, to 

 the end that a ' ' first line " army may be organized speedily. 



3. The requirements for appointment are thorough training in psychology and special training and experience in 

 the use of methods of psychological examining. Men holding the degree of Ph.D. in psychology or of M. D., or both, 

 who are professionally engaged in psychological work, are to be preferred. 



4. The work will be done in the military camps under the direction of officers of the medical department detailed 

 to supervise this work of examining and classifying according to ability. 



5. The period of employment probably will not exceed six months. 



6. Eighteen men are needed for immediate service. More may be required later. 



7. The salary should be at the rate of $2,400 per annum. 



W. C. Gorgas, 

 Surgeon General, United States Army. 

 [First indorsement.] 



War Department, August 7, 1917. — To the Civil Service Commission. 



The department requests authority for appointment without competitive examination unless the commission has 

 a register of eligibles available for these temporary positions. 



John C. Scofield, 

 Assistant and Chief Clerk. 



August IE, 1917. 

 The honorable the Secretary of War. 



Sir: In compliance with the department's request of August 7, indorsed on the Surgeon General's recommenda- 

 tion of August 3, the appointment of 18 or more men as expert psychological examiners, at $2,400 per annum under 

 the Surgeon General of the Army, is hereby authorized under section 4 of Civil Service Rule VIII, which provides 

 for job employment, as the probable period of employment is mentioned as not more than six months. 

 By direction of the commission: 

 Very respectfully, 



I.I. McIlhenny, 

 President, Civil Service Commission. 

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