BRITISH ARMY TRAINING

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1942, Page 6

BRITISH ARMY TRAINING

SELECTION OF OFFICERS.

LONDON, July 1

The British Army has adopted a new method of selecting officers, based on the American and German methods. Instead of the old system of a 15 to 20-minute interview, candidates take a three-day course, when they are treated as officers, and live in the officers’ mess with members of the War Office Selection Boards. The selection staff know the candidates’ numbers only, being unconversant with their previous records. Rigid military discipline is avoided, and every effort is made to put them at ease so that they will give of their best. The President of the Board interviews all candidates and forms his own opinion, while commanding officers who are visiting the school may interview them, watch them in action, and also, forma personal opinion. A psychiatrist sees all “borderline” cases, while in the case of technical arms, a Lieut.Colonel from each technical arm sees the candidates’ records as to the suitability of their technical qualifications. Candidates are not interviewed by the testing officers who live among them, and thus have the opportunity of testing them under natural conditions. Physical fitness is regarded as most important, and also the ability to think and act. Tests call for intelligence, and ingenuity. They frequently reveal the presence or lack of physical or moral courage, pertinacity, or dash. Natural leadership is tested by situations in which each candidate is given the command of six or seven others. He must solve the problem designed to show whether he can appreciate the situation and make a reasonable, quick and sensible plan, give clear practical orders, and see them , put into action.

Finally, a conference is held, at which each candidate is fully discussed, every member of the Board giving his opinion. Thus, the verdict is the result of a many-sided observation and examination of the man in a variety of circumstances. Verdicts tend to be more impartial and also to react to a higher standard of accuracy. The tests are designed to assess the candidate’s fundamental ability and character, not merely the extent of his military knowledge; That includes a psychological test, with patterns which must be arranged in order, the problems becoming increasingly difficult and, demanding commonsense for solution. After a cross-country run, which induces a bodily condition comparable with the strain of war, the men are given a simple problem of organisation which they must solve. Ingenuity and pertinacity are tested by an obstacle course, including a ten-foot palisade and tightrope. ’ Successful candidates are divided into three classes—outstanding, Grade A, going into the O.C.T.U. immediately; Grade B must wait for a vacancy; while Grade C are placed in a reserve for training when no A or B men are available.

General Sir Roland Adam, who is Adjutant-General, stated that an average of five per cent, of all candidates get A grading.

It is estimated that there are more than a hundred definable qualities of leadership, some of which can be acquired by training, but others are largely innate.