Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-02-06
psychological Tests of
Soldiers By Medical
Officers
BY Gait. H. D. Ryman, 10Th F. A.

BY Capt. n. D. Ryn1an, 10th F. a.
Last fall the war department issued
circular of instructions to COM
mandlng officers for the selection of
candidates for officers training camps.
This circular stated five qualifications
upon which the selections were to be
based. There are as follows:
The eproportionate weight or value
being indicated by the number after
it: Physical qualities, Is; intelligence,
15 military leadership, 15 character,
Is; general value to the service, 40.
This scale was tentatively adopted
in order that there might be a uni
form basis upon which selections
xnight DE made. On careful study it
will be found to cover the field of ne
cessafy qualifications quite thorough
ly, h1lt this scale or any other scale
will not eliminate entirely the errors
Of judgment that will be made by any
one using it. The correct rating Of
the candidate win depend upon the
degree Of Judgment, honesty, and care
used by the officer or officers making
the rating If the officer making the
rating is 8 good judge of human nature
and close observer his ratings will
amount 70 nothing.
II he Is not honest they will be
worse than if not made at all If he
takWes and injustice where none is
intended
The use of psychological tests, which
ere not new and are founded on a
scientific basis, eliminates errors of
judgment that may be made, as the
individual undergoing the tests, makes
his own rating, by the accuracy and
rapidity with which he performs them.
The apparent simplicity Of the tests
viii lead many who do not understand
the modus operandi or the manner in
which their Importance or value is de-
termined, to think them to be childish
and Of no Importance
These or similar tests have been
used by psychologists for number of
years and their value has been defi~
nitely determined by many of our
large corporations, which in the last
three or four years have used them in
selecting men for responsible posi-
tons The school boards of many of
our large cities are using them in the
schools to the end that children who
were formerly Leld back because they
could not grasp some one subject are
now allowed to go ahead in those that
they can grasp and are given special
attention in those that their mental
peculiarities do not enable them to
getting encouragement today where
formerly they were discouraged, and
the more universal the use of the tests
becomes the more useful will our
schools become.
What is true of the use and value of
the tests IN the corporations and the
schools is also true of their use and
value in selecting officers to lead and
command the men OF our army.
Many men are physically excellent
but are not leaders, or are not able to
grasp and apply knowledge; many are
physically all right and have excellent
educations but are not leaders or adj
illustrators; many would make good
leaders but lack the physical ability to
stand up under a strain; or one may
be an ideal man for leader OF men
and have an excellent education but
have no sound character. being dis
loyal, unreliable, dishonest or lacking
in a sense Of duty.
1t is easy to see that to place a man.
having the combinations mentioned