No.i.] PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 113 



2. To assist the personnel adjutant in re-interviewing and selecting men of special qualifications required by War 

 Department requisitions. 



3. To assist the organization commanders in selecting men for responsible positions. 



In a replacement camp the first two are naturally the more important * * *. As high as 3,000 men may be 

 handled in one day * * *. 



The newly drafted man is usually examined on the day following his arrival. Report of the results of the exami- 

 nation is promptly made to the personnel adjutant and the chief medical examiner in the mustering office. Those men 

 whose ratings indicate that their intelligence is so low as to render them unfit for military service are given a special 

 examination by the examining board and where the medical examination confirms the finding of the psychological 

 examiner, the drafted man is discharged from draft as unfit. In this way the psychological examination materially 

 assists the medical board by weeding out those mentally incompetent. 



Upon receipt of the reports from the chief psychological examiner the personnel adjutant causes the grade to be 

 entered on the qualification card. In selecting men for the various requisitions the intelligence rating is always con- 

 sidered and greatly assists the personnel officer in making his selections. On the re-interview by the personnel officer, 

 as in case of the physical examination, the psychological rating is never taken as final It serves as a guide rather than 

 the determining factor as men are often found to be skilled in a particular line and qualified to fill certain requisitions 

 in spite of a low psychological grade. * * * 



The officer candidates in the central officers' training school are all given the psychological examination, and the 

 grade is used both in their training and in the final selection of those qualified for commissions. 



The psychological examinations of recruits, officer candidates, and in certain instances of officers have been 

 efficiently handled by the chief psychological examiner, and his assistants. It is believed the advantages outlined 

 render the examination extremely worth while. 



REPLY (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP MEADE. 



I am of the opinion that the psychological service is an excellent thing. 



During the present war officers are thrown in contact with large numbers of other officers and enlisted men, to whom 

 they are complete strangers. It is impossible to quickly form a knowledge of anyone's ability. Time, personal asso- 

 ciation or accident may show that a certain officer or enlisted man is worthy of advancement. We are constantly 

 looking for intelligent men. The psychological test gives us something to start on, and I have used these psychological 

 ratings on many occasions in the absence of a knowledge of the individual concerned. While I am firmly of the opinion 

 that the psychological rating is excellent among new men. it does not take the place of the final judgment formed of 

 an individual by personal contact and observation under difficult conditions. I would, therefore, consider it of the 

 greatest importance for a just test of new men to subject them first to the psychological test. The final decision with 

 reference to men who have passed such test will depend upon the result of the judgment formed of the individual after 

 sufficient time had elapsed during which they were under observation. From my experience in different camps, I 

 am of the opinion that enlisted men who rate below A and B class should not be considered as candidates for the 

 officers' training schools. 



REPLY (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP PIKE. 



I regard the work done by the Psychological Board as being very valuable. I, myself, have taken this examination 

 to satisfy myself of its efficacy. 



It affords a quick and accurate method of selecting men for officers' and noncommissioned officers' training schools, 

 training cadets and otherwise, when a high grade of intelligence is desired, and of sorting out the mentally defective 

 and those who are fitted only for limited service, or are worthless to the service. 



This service can be improved by bringing it into close cooperation with the personnel work on classification and 

 using these ratings in connection with skill tests and occupational ratings. 



REPLY (INDORSEMENT) FROM COMMANDING OFFICER OF CAMP SEVIER. 



The values of psychological examining in this camp are : 



(a) In the prompt discovery of men whose superior ability recommends their advancement. 

 (6) In the prompt segregation in Development Battalions of intellectually inferior men whose inaptitude would 

 retard the training of the unit. 



(c) In furnishing measurements of mental ability which may be used to equalize the mental strength of the various 

 companies and regiments within a given arm of the service. 



(d) In selecting suitable men for various army occupations or for special training in technical schools. 



(e) In eliminating the feeble-minded. 



(f) In giving a prompt reliable index of a man's ability to learn, to think quickly and accurately, to analyze 

 situations, to maintain a state of mental alertness, and to comprehend instructions. 



The ways of improving and increasing the immediate usefulness of this new kind of personnel are: 



(a) To continue the work along established lines, so that our new Peace Army may be adequately equalized with 

 regards to mental strength within the various companies and regiments within a given arm of the se-vice. 



(b) To combine the psychological service, as now conducted, with the division of personnel so that future assign- 

 ments, occupational or otherwise, may be made with due knowledge of the mental ability of the individual so assigned. 



