No.i.] PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 105 



90 per cent) are favorable. Of the 23 letters and indorsements quoted below, 12 are definitely 

 favorable, one is definitely unfavorable, and one is favorable on condition that the work be done 

 in a more advantageous maimer. 



Whereas in the first instance, as mentioned on page 25, company commanders in National 

 Army cantonments were favorable to psychological examining in 75 per cent of the cases, com- 

 manding generals, on the whole more familiar with the psychological service and in possession 

 of the critical judgments of numerous subordinates, reacted favorably in more than 90 per cent 

 of the cases on record. 



REPLY (LETTER) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP GREENLEAF. 



The work of the Division of Psychology has been very carefully studied by the undersigned, and the following 

 conclusions have been arrived at. 



The system used, which is practically a mathematical determination of the intelligence of the soldier, is very 

 satisfactory, and the results are, as far as can be determined by such means, fairly accurate. 



The following criticisms should be made of this work. In the first place, the psychological department works con- 

 siderably under the impression that their determinations should be used as the controlling factor in the assignment 

 of officers and the appointment of noncommissioned officers in the Army. This can not be, for the simple reason that 

 a man's character or initiative can not be determined by any such test; and frequently a man of high intelligence has 

 not the other attributes necessary to make him a really efficient officer. Furthermore, this work is now being done 

 by quite a number of men whose entire time is supposed to be taken up by these tests, making an expense to the 

 Government which is not justified by the results obtained. Also, this department should be criticized on the ground 

 that higher psychology, which is the study of the men more in detail and at length, is not attempted by this depart- 

 ment, and therefore a great deal of the real value of psychological study is lost. 



It should not bo understood that this criticism is destructive, but it is considered that the work, as conducted by t 

 the Psychological Division as at present ordered, is too narrow to give real value to the Government, and if it should 

 be continued a wider application of such psychological work should be attempted and a departure made from the 

 solely mathematical determination of intelligence. 



REPLY (LETTER) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP HANCOCK. 



Reference letter from A. G. 0. dated November 22, 1918. In order to make the desired report of more value I 

 have called on the various officers here most concerned in the training, instruction and handling of troops for an ex- 

 pression of their opinion of the value of psychological examinations, together with any suggestions that these officers 

 might have as to ways of improving and increasing the usefulness of this work. I enclose herewith separate reports 

 from 14 different officers, which I think will be found of interest and value. It will be noted that of the 14 reports only 

 one is unfavorable to a continuance of this work. 



In my opinion the work has a distinct value in connection with the training of recruits, and especially in the case 

 where large numbers of untrained officers and men must be organized and trained with a minimum of delay. In this 

 camp psychological examinations have been found of considerable value in connection with the selection of noncom- 

 missioned officer material, and also in the selection oi men for attendance at various schools. These examinations are 

 found of value in sorting and classifying the men in the various companies to which they may be assigned, in that 

 it permits of the immediate separation of the mass of recruits of which the company is composed into different groups 

 of varying degrees of intelligence so that each group can receive special treatment according to its peculiar needs. 

 In this way the progress of training is facilitated. * * * 



In conclusion I deem that the psychological examination of officers and enlisted men, especially where these 

 examinations can be held as promptly as possible after induction into service, has a distinct and practical value in the 

 training of troops especially where time is a factor and it is necessary to utilize the services of inexperienced officers 

 in the organization and training of large bodies of men. 



The following are the 14 reports referred to in paragraph 1 of the preceding reply: 



(l) FROM THE CAMP SURGEON. 



(a) It is believed that the psychological examinations have a definite and considerable value in the rapid deter- 

 mination of the mental acuity of enlisted men and officers entering the service. It is believed that iu the absence of 

 personal contact and experience with an officer or enlisted man, the psychological rating offers the best method of 

 judging at once the possibilities of that officer or enlisted man. 



(b) In purely medical work the psychological examination of every officer and enlisted man has a definite value 

 in that cases of subnormal mentality and many cases of mental disease are detected thereby, and as a result are referred 

 for more definite examination to the neuro- psychiatric examiner. 



(2) FROM THE CAMP PERSONNEL ADJUTANT. 



At the present time psychological ratings are being used in this office principally that we may have another line 

 on a man in selecting him in filling requisitions for specially qualified men. 



I believe, however, that psychological ratings could be made of very great use, and, as I see it, there are two main 

 ways in which these ratings could be used to advance the efficiency and usefulness of the machine gun training center. 



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