Chapter IV 
CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL MROLLEES 
Before any thoughtful selecting agent attempts to appraise 
and select applicants for CCC enrollment, he seeks to discover what 
characteristics of applicants seem to make probable their success in 
the Corps. Determining and evaluating characteristics which contribute 
to successful CCC enrollment is one of the most difficult but clearly 
one of the most important responsibilities which rests upon each se¬ 
lecting agent. It is a difficult responsibility because it deals with 
personal qua l ities and depends upon human judgment. It is necessary, 
therefore, for selecting agents to educate and implement their own 
judgments. 
To determine whether an applicant is personally well fitted 
for the requirements and opportunities of camp life, a selecting agent 
must have established for himself a set of criteria. He must have in 
mind a group of personal qualities or characteristics which seem ordi¬ 
narily to result in successful enrollment in the Corps. Many selecting 
agents have individually listed these factors for their own use. Out 
of their experience comes a suggestive list of these characteristics. 
It is by no means a final list. It will serve its purpose well if it 
acts as a core around which the selecting agent will develop from his 
own experience a group of personal characteristics which seem to result 
in success in CCC enrollment. 
Four characteristics are advanced and described below. The 
order in which these items are set forth has no special significance. 
Maturity 
Applicants who are reasonably mature, both physically and 
socially, usually make the quicker and more satisfactory adjustment 
to CCC camp life. It is to be remembered that the largest number of 
discharges because of desertion occur during the first weeks of en¬ 
rollment. Camp commanders and selecting agents are agreed that these 
desertions are usually due to "homesickness" and immaturity. 
Maturity cannot well be judged by age alone. A selecting 
agent may immediately'recognize that a particular 17 year old youth 
is more mature than another 19 year old applicant. It is to be judged 
in large measure by the mental outlook of the youth. Extreme timidity 
may be a sign of immaturity. Indications of unusual dependence upon 
parents often reflects immaturity. Total lack of serious demeanor may 
likewise show that the youth is immature. 
Obviously a youth should be physically able to do vigorous 
outdoor work in order to merit selection. In this connection it is 
important to differentiate between a youth whose underweight is due 
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