Personnel Research For Officer Candidate School

The objective of the CADET LEADERS Task is to develop and refine psychological measures for use in primary officer selection and evaluation programs, specifically in selecting students for the Reserve Officer Training Corps, the Army Officer Candidate Schools, and the U.S. Military Academy. Technical Research Report 1146 describes selection procedures now in effect for each of the programs and states the research basis for the measures used. The report also surveys current research requirements for officer procurement programs recently expanded by Act of Congress, research needed to adapt selection procedures to current OCS training requirements, and special studies for the USMA. Continuing research has resulted in the development, operational implementation, and refinement of tests of mental ability, physical proficiency, and leadership used in selecting cadets and officer candidates. Two new forms of the ROTC Qualifying Examination, RQ-8 and RQ-9, developed to screen students for admittance to the Senior ROTC Division (Military Science III) were implemented in the spring of 1966. A Basic ROTC Examination developed and validated for screening MS I students will be available for operational use in the fall of 1966. Further research will be undertaken to increase the effectiveness of screening and selection programs in conjunction with an intensive study of officer and leadership qualities as they emerge at the USMA and after commissioning.