PICKING RECRUITS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 198, 22 August 1942, Page 6

PICKING RECRUITS

FRONT LINE TROOPS PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST (0.C.) SYDNEY, August 18. Ten per cent of recruits need phychological investigation and three to five per cent are mentally unfit for oversea service, declares a Brisbane 'psychologist, Dr. N. V. Youngman, in an article in the Medical Journal of Australia. Dr. Youngman, who is in charge of the psychological examination of recruits, shows that the psychologist can pick out men who, although physically healthy, will never make good soldiers and never be fit for the front line.

The method can also be used to pick out men who would probably make the best officers and from among whom, after training, officers could be chosen.

The psychological test is similar to that so widely used in the American Army, where a psychiatrist has been appointed to every 3000 to 5000 troops besides those to assist and lecture to the recruiting boards.

The need for the careful assessment of the mental state becomes more urgent because the diminishing pool of manpower, together with the increased mechanisation and individual isation in the army demands the full utilisation of each individual.

. "This applies not only to the fighting services, but to the home front " says Dr. Youngman. "The absorptipn of poorer types into the industrial machine must bring in its wake increased accidents and compensation problems."

Many improvements could be made at the recruiting centre. The best solution, Dr. Youngman thinks, would be the institution of permari r r V' ,V >oarc ls with a reference panel of full-time specialists.

In the meantime at the main camp absorbing recruits for the Australian Imperial Forces, the procedure instituted is for recruits entering the camp to be subjected to a group psychological test and an individual 'questionnaire test.

The psychologically unfit are sifted out and either discharged or given positions in keeping with their abilities. Doubtful ones are reeXir.S?' after six weeks' training . The system which Dr. Youneman is endeavouring to institute more widely aims at:—

1- Excluding the obviously unfit. • 1 lacing men only in a position in keeping with their capabilities Considering disabilities in usefulness and mental caJioie of the men.

4.—Excluding apparently sound men who will break down under service conditions. tv,o lt^' S v^ nly hen the immensity of the pioblem is realised that practiSU me . a >? ures be ta ken to cope «hQn Vh s3 i ys • Youngman. "We shall then know that men with the greatest gifts will guide our affairs and each of us will have a place in SfPX„ W1 ? hiS abilities. There will then be no criticism of the planners of our strategy, nor of the disposal milltary machine at their

At the same time, my thoughts are tinged with regrets, like thosl of many others dealing with militarv matters, that the set-up of 5 organisation makes the adoption of apparently worthwhile measures extremely difficult." b