No.i.] PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 117 



made a practice of giving no rating of "expert" in the skilled trades except in connection 

 with a psychological grade of C or better. Sometimes in filling a special requisition calling for 

 high-grade men of a given trade, they selected only the men of that trade having the highest 

 psychological ratings. At a later date more definite information as to the probable intelligence 

 of various occupational groups was furnished to the Committee on Classification of Personnel 

 by the psychologists (see pp. 819ff.). One psychologist from the division, Maj. Hayes, was 

 assigned to the trade tests laboratory at Newark to assist in the development and standard- 

 ization of trade tests. 



In numerous cases, where requisitions called for the transfer to another camp of negro 

 recruits capable of becoming noncommissioned officers or of filling other positions of special 

 responsibility, personnel officers made their selection solely on the basis of psychological rating. 

 Occupational qualifications were often of no significance in these cases since so large a per- 

 centage of the men were farmers. Dependence was frequently placed upon the ratings in 

 the assignments to stevedore regiments, pioneer infantry, labor battalions and the like. 

 Psychological ratings were commonly used by personnel adjutants and commanding officers 

 as a check upon the appropriateness of assignments of men to development battalions. Not 

 only were psychologists' recommendations for special assignment closely followed in most 

 camps, but the ratings were sometimes also used to prevent too numerous assignments; thus, 

 in several camps where organization commanders were considered overzealous in raising the 

 standard of their organization by such transfer, orders were issued from headquarters that 

 no man should be transferred as inapt without consideration of his psychological rating or 

 in some cases without joint recommendation of transfer by psychologist and summary court 

 officer. 



Use of psychological grades in the balancing of mental strength of organizations has been 

 mentioned in the account of the examining at Camp Lee in the fall of 1917 (Part II). More 

 intensive and systematic application of this principle was made later in several camps. (See 

 camp organization at Camps Kearny, Pike, Logan, and Cody.) The similar practice of assign- 

 ing remainders from the depot brigade to special organizations such as antiaircraft and other 

 machine gun battalions, artillery parks, and the like, after occupational needs of these organ- 

 izations had been satisfied, was even more common. In several camps psychological examina- 

 tions were made a final part of the special examination to determine fitness for overseas duty. 



SERVICES TO JUDGE ADVOCATES. 



As mentioned above, psychological ratings were sometimes consulted by company com- 

 manders in considering cases of misconduct before court-martial charges should be made. 

 Either independently or in connection with psychiatrists many offenders were given a special 

 psychological examination to furnish courts-martial with evidence as to the responsibility of 

 an accused. In several camps all stockade prisoners were examined as a matter of routine. 

 Capt. Norton and Lieuts. Folsom and Lincoln were detailed for some months to assist in a 

 complete mental and social survey of the entire prisoner population at Fort Leavenworth 

 Disciplinary Barracks. By order of the Secretary of War all conscientious objectors were 

 given special psychological examination. A summary of the results of these examinations is 

 presented elsewhere in this report (see pp. 799ff.). 



SERVICES TO THE MORALE BRANCH OF THE GENERAL STAFF. 



Activities of the Division of Psychology played an important part in bringing about the 

 organization of morale work. The chief of the division used every opportunity to promote 

 interest in recommendations submitted by Col. E. L. Munson to the Surgeon General relative 

 to "the need for a systematic plan for the psychological stimulation of troops in promoting 

 fighting efficiency." To this end he organized two conferences for the discussion of the 

 problem of controlling morale, and in addition provided members of the General Staff with 

 pertinent information. 



As commanding officer of the medical officers' training camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., 

 Col. Munson later had opportunity to put his ideas into effect. Under his instructions Maj. 



