108 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [vol.xv, 



In the disciplining of offenders the psychological rating of the soldier is considered. 



I would suggest that the psychological examination be very closely supervised by commissioned officers, and that 

 the ratings be supplemented with remarks pointing out any matters of special importance observed in the soldier. 



I do not believe that the results of the psychological examinations, as I have observed them, justify the expenditure 

 of the time and money used for that purpose. 



(14) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER, BASE HOSPITAL. 



The writer has had no practical and personal experience with psychological examinations as applied to the Army. 

 There is no doubt, however, as to the value of psychological examinations if thoroughly done by an expert. A thorough 

 psychometric test, however, requires not less than one hour's time to each person examined, making it almost an 

 impracticable procedure for application to a large number of soldiers, except in selected cases. 



To rate a man's mental capacity upon the basis of the usual army psychological examinations alone is hardly fair. 

 Many neurotic individuals, distinctly unfit for service, obtain high ratings in these psychometric tests. The tests, as 

 given, measure mental alertness rather than mental capacity and general fitness, and unless these examinations are 

 properly weighed in the light of the soldier's general ability, they are in a great many cases likely to injure rather than 

 to improve the service. 



The writer feels that with his limited practical experience in the application of the psychological examinations 

 to the Army he can not justly make any suggestions for improving and increasing the immediate usefulness of this work. 



REPLY (LETTER) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP LEWIS. 



It is considered that the psychological examinations are of great value as an aid in determining the proper placing 

 of the personnel of the command. They should be used as a guide, however, in conjunction with other means of infor- 

 mation, and not as an infallible rule. Examinations have proven of great value as follows: 



(a) As a basis for classification of men by company commanders for special duty, special training, tentative selection 

 of noncoms, officers, etc. While intelligence is not the sole criterion of a recruit's usefulness in the future, 

 and while an officer can undoubtedly classify his men after some acquaintance, the rating considerably expedites the 

 process of organization and classification. 



(6) Use of intelligence ratings by personnel officers as an aid in classifying men as experts, journeymen, or appren- 

 tices (a man of high intelligence needs less time to learn a given trade) ; and in assigning men to permanent organizations 

 in order to maintain evenly balanced groups. 



(c) Determination of mental age in cases of low or defective intelligence, thus giving a basis for recommendation 

 for rejection or for acceptance for full or limited service. 



(d) One of the most important services has been to assist in selecting candidates for officers' training schools. It 

 was demonstrated that a certain minimum of intelligence was essential to success in the training school, and that 

 candidates failing to reach a given psychological rating failed to receive commissions. Approximately 17 per cent of 

 the candidates of the fourth officers' training school were thus eliminated by purely objective standards with consider- 

 able saving to the Army. 



(e) Examination of men who are inapt or troublesome to organization commanders, thus giving a basis of recom- 

 mendation for discharge (on account of mental deficiency) or for transfer to the development battalion. 



(/) Assistance to the morale officer in the stimulation of morale. 



Suggestions for improvement are offered as follows: 



(a) The intelligence rating now conducted by the psychological board should be taken over by the Committee on 

 Classification of Personnel or whoever succeeds this committee. The classification of personnel according to intelligence 

 is more closely related to the personnel officer's work than to the medical service. 



(6) When voluntary enlistments for the Army are resumed, an officer trained in clinical psychology to be assigned 

 to each recruit depot. 



(c) It would seem that the psychological rating should be coordinated with the rating scale for officers, 

 in. so far as the intelligence rating is concerned. Experience demonstrates that where the intelligence rating is 

 done in accordance with instructions, it corresponds very closely with the alpha examination rating. If several officers 

 rate a group of officers it is found that the examination is the nearest single measure for the combined result. At best, 

 therefore, it is as good as the subjective judgment of superior officers and it has several advantages. It is objective and 

 impartial, and it is uniform. 



REPLY (LETTER) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP LOGAN. 



I have no recommendations to make as to ways of improving or increasing the immediate usefulness of this kind 

 of personnel work; this provided the present regulations on the subject are carried out. The difficulty which I have 

 found is that many soldiers and officers arrive at this camp without any indication of psychological examination. I 

 believe the examinations are valuable in organizing new units, and that the method of assigning men to these units 

 by occupation and psychological rating is far better than the old method of assigning men in bulk. 



A previous camp commander had already written: 



The psychological work done and being done by Captain in this camp has been consistently gcod and has 



proven of much practical value. 



