CHAPTER XIII 

 PERSONNEL SELECTION AND TRAINING 



Importance of Special Training, 



Since it is a truism that equipment is no more effective 

 than the people who use it, the selection of Navy sonar per- 

 sonnel and their training in the operation and maintenance of 

 sonar gear, constituted an important part of Division 6's 

 program. 



Training in the use of sonar equipment was particularly 

 important for two reasons,, First, there was the complexity of 

 the gear itself. Second, in the ordinary course of service, 

 opportunities to use the gear in actual operations were likely 

 to be few and far between. The first reason emphasized the 

 neea for a solid grounding in sonar work; the second made it 

 necessary to supplement initial training with periodic re- 

 fresher courses. 



At the outset, it was realized by both the Navy and NDRC 

 that the quality of the Navy's echo-ranging gear was much 

 better than the training of the operators who were to use it. 



Following preliminary discussions between NDRC and the 

 Navy, Capt. Lybrand Smith, Assistant Coordinator of Research 

 and Development, on 3 October 1941, wrote to Dr. F„ B. Jewett, 

 Chairman of Division C, in part as follows: 



"Everybody concurred in the opinion that it is desirable 

 to study and formulate aptitude tests for personnel who are to 

 be trained for the operation of sonic ana supersonic apparatus 

 and to formulate improved training programs for such persons. 

 Therefore it is requested that NDRC undertake this work." 



Responding to Capt. Smith's request, Dr. Jewett on 

 6 November recommended to NDRC acceptance of the project, and 

 Dr. Conant wrote acceding to the Navy's request on behalf of 

 the National Defense Research Committee. 



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