no. i.] PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 109 



At first, due to the innate conservatism of line and even medical officers, his task was a rather uphill one; but now, 

 largely due to his own energy and tact, and to the thoroughness and honesty of his work, practically all officers here 

 have been convinced of its practical value and unique assistance in rating, sorting, and disposing of the divers kinds 

 of men as well as officers who pass through such a camp. 



In addition to his ordinary duties of testing and rating the personnel of organizations, he has been employed in 

 making numerous special examinations, where the handling and disposition of men whose cases involved obscurities 

 of mental and physical peculiarity or weakness were in question. The lucid solving of such human problems by the 

 methods of his peculiar art and his personal acuteness and persistence have often relieved such perplexities. 



I consider such an expert and his specialty among the most useful aids lately given the Army toward the scientific 

 and nonwasteful utilization of man power. 



REPLY (LETTER) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP SHERIDAN. 



It is believed that the psychological test, when properly applied, is of great value. It is being used to some extent 

 in regiments as an aid in the selection of noncommissioned officers. In my opinion this should prove of great practical 

 benefit when more thoroughly understood and more generally applied. 



It is recommended that the division of psychology prepare and distribute to all officers of the Army, or to all 

 organizations, a brief list of the practical rules followed in these examinations with an explanation of the purpose of 

 these several tests. 



In normal times it is believed that recruits received at depots should there receive this test given by experts and 

 the ratings shown on their descriptive cards. Such recruits as may be received in companies, and who have not pre- 

 viously been tested, should be tested without delay in order that the records may be complete and the proper benefits 

 derived from this rating. 



Candidates for commission should be required to take the test and should not be accepted if rated lower than B, 

 except in special cases where fitness for special work is well demonstrated. 



Among the benefits to be derived from complete rating of a command is the possibility of averaging the intelligence 

 in the several units. It also enables selection to be made so as to provide proper intelligence for the various technical 

 services. There are many other advantages which are so obvious that it is unnecessary to state them here. 



REPLY (LETTER) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP ZACHARY TAYLOR. 



First. There seems to be a general impression among both line and medical officers to the effect that the psycho- 

 logical rating of officers and enlisted men is a good thing and that it gives a more or less accurate indication of a man's 

 mental capacity. 



Second. The officers interviewed do not seem to have a very complete idea of the extent to which this service may 

 be used or to appreciate what its possibilities are, the general impression being that it is probably a good thing, but that 

 it has not been put to any great practical use, and that it has not been long enough in use for anyone to form a definite 

 opinion. 



I would suggest that if it is intended for those who are directly in command of troops to actually use the findings 

 of the psychological board in assisting them to place men under their command in the places for which they are men- 

 tally capacitated, that some method should be devised whereby they could receive better instruction in the use of the 

 gradings and that the information secured by the psychological examiners be brought directly to their attention, 

 together with the conclusions which the examiner may reach in each case. In most instances the mere grading of a 

 man with a numerical rating does not indicate any particular thing to the officer who is in direct control of the man, 

 his assignment, and his work. 



It has come to my attention that the psychological gradings are entered only on a man's qualification record card, 

 which remains either at camp headquarters or at his regimental headquarters, and are therefore not in the hands of the 

 officer who has immediate control over the details and assignments which are given to the individual soldier. If it is 

 required that the company commander in every instance must go to regimental or higher unit headquarters to deter- 

 mine the psychological rating of the man under his command he is more than liable to permit this difficulty to cause a 

 neglect of the use of the psychological ratings, whereas if the ratings were directly in the hands of the company com- 

 mander at all times the use would undoubtedly be more nearly universal. I would suggest that some means be pro- 

 vided whereby results of the psychological test may be communicated directly to the organization commander who has 

 immediate control of the soldier and his assignments and that some means be provided whereby this rating can accom- 

 pany the soldier as a part of his permanent company or detachment record separate and aside from the entry made on 

 the qualification record card. 



REPLY (LETTER) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP TRAVIS. 



The camp personnel adjutant and his assistants have found the psychological ratings of great value in selecting 

 men for duty at the personnel office and in choosing noncommissioned officer material. 



In the filling of requisitions from the War Department, which require consideration of the general intelligence of 

 individuals or groups of men, the psychological ratings have been found to be of very great value. For instance, in 

 filling requisition 11,019, dated August 1, 191S, requiring the transfer of 1,700 colored troops to the 24th Infantry 

 for combat purposes, these 1,700 men were selected solely on their psychological grades. Company commanders 

 of this camp report that colored troops selected for combat service on a psychological basis of grades higher than 



