112 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Vol.xv, 



REPLY (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP DIX. 



The continuance of these psychological examinations by psychological officers is not recommended. They are 

 expensive and consume considerable time. Few cases are discovered by the psychological officers which would not 

 be found by the neuro-psychiatric board, regimental medical officers, or company officers. 



Because of the purely mechanical nature of these examinations and the lack of personal contact they are of little 

 value in determining whether or not a recruit is of the proper material to be transferred into an efficient soldier. 



It is thought these examinations can be made by the regular medical personnel. 



REPLY (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP DODGE. 



(Indorsement forwards a report of the chief psychological examiner, giving information concerning psychological 

 service in the camp.) 



REPLY' (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP GRANT. 



I have been in contact with this work too short a time to give a valuable opinion on the value of the psychological 

 examination. I can see, however, a great value in it, and concur in the recommendations of the camp surgeon. I 

 especially agree with him in that the enlisted personnel working under the psychologists be neither transferred nor 

 frequently shifted, as it disrupts the efficient working of the office. 



The recommendations of the camp surgeon referred to are as follows: 



Psychological examinations as conducted at this camp have been of the greatest value to the service. By their 

 group examinations they locate the mental defectives and materially assist the neuro-psychiatrists in arriving at 

 diagnoses of certain doubtful cases. The special work they are doing weeds out at the physical examination many 

 of the men who would later have to be discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability. 



The work of the psychologists is of very great value to the personnel division, as it assists them in determining 

 whether or not men have sufficient mental ability for positions to be filled. 



It is suggested that the psychologist be given time to examine the new draft increment before they come to the 

 medical boards. This is now being done here, as this will enable the neuro-psychiatrists to eliminate many low- 

 grade men; also that the enlisted personnel working under the psychologist be not transferred nor frequently shifted, 

 as it takes weeks of training to accustom a man to do this work satisfactorily. 



REPLY (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP HUMPHREYS. 



In the opinion of the undersigned, the work of the Division of Psychology in this camp has been very satisfactory 

 and the results such as to fully justify the time and energy required to make the examinations. It is believed that 

 the greatest value of these examinations will be in connection with the bringing of large groups of men into the service 

 for periods of intensive training, as the psychology test affords, in the shortest possible time, a means of grouping the 

 new men into classes based upon their intelligence. The undersigned has no suggestions to offer at this time looking 

 to the improvement or the increased usefulness of this work. 



REPLY (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP KEARNY. 



My own opinion, based upon observation at three camps, is that organisation commanders believe the system is 

 all right when they secure good men, and all wrong when they receive poor men. 



I believe the system is advantageous on the whole in assigning men, in the first instance, and picking out desirable 

 men; but when it comes to the less desirable and less educated men a»great deal of dissatisfaction results. 



Moreover, some men who pass a very poor examination are often good men and prove valuable in practical work; 

 others who pass fairly good tests prove of little value. 



I am of the opinion where haste is necessary in picking out and assigning men the psychological examination is 

 of much assistance, but am of the opinion also that the final test by the man's actual work in the organization is the 

 valuable one. 



REPLY (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP LEE. 



My opinion as to the value of psychological examinations at this camp is expressed in the inclosed memorandum 

 prepared at my request by the camp personnel adjutant, and forwarded by me to the chief psychological examiner 

 under date of September 5. 191S, as indicated. 



The usefulness of the work of the psychological examiner would probably be increased if all cases of possible 

 feeble-mindedness among enlisted men were regularly referred to him for diagnosis. Such cases are found among 

 prisoners of limited intelligence, men recommended for assignment to development battalions whose deficiency may 

 be due either to permanent mental incapacity or to temporary retardation, men recommended for rejection or dis- 

 charge from the service by reason of feeble-mindedness. 



The psychological examiner is now working along these lines, as well as in the assigning of mental ratings to 

 enlisted men in general, but instructions should probably be issued establishing such work as a part of the regular 

 routine. 



The memorandum referred to follows : 



The functions of the psychological examination now in use are threefold: 

 1. To aid in eliminating the mentally unfit. 



