Predicting army cadets’ performance: The role of character strengths, GPA and GMA

The purpose of this study was to examine how well a set of 12 character strengths (Leadership, Integrity, Open-Mindedness, Bravery, Teamwork, Persistence, Social Intelligence, Love of Learning, Fairness, Self-Regulation, Perspective and Creativity) will predict academic performance (AP) and military performance (MP), compared to high school grade point average (GPA) and general mental ability (GMA). The study sample comprised 123 army cadets of two cohorts from the three-year bachelor's degree programme at the Norwegian Military Academy (NMA). GPA predicted AP (r = 0.32, p ≤ 0.05), but not MP (r = 0.14, n.s.), while GMA correlated significantly with neither AP nor MP. All 12 character strengths correlated significantly with MP (rs ranging from 0.27 to 0.65), and all except for Fairness correlated significantly with AP (rs ranging from 0.18 to 0.58). An average score of the 12 character strengths showed incremental validity beyond GMA and GPA in predicting both AP and MP. Our results suggest that character strengths should be considered when selecting and training army cadets.

Military Performance

In Chapter 6 the various strands of the study come together as the actual performance of the Gulf armies is appraised. Given the limited involvement of GCC countries in military operations, the available evidence to base judgments upon their battlefield effectiveness is slender. Therefore, the analysis integrates lessons that may be learned from training and large-scale exercises GCC armies have participated in. To understand Gulf armies’ deficiencies, special attention is paid to the instruction and cultural aspects of the most prestigious military specialization, pilot training. In the second section the scant foreign deployment of Gulf militaries is examined, with special emphasis on the UAE, the only GCC army with extensive experience in this area. The bulk of this chapter centers on the ongoing civil war in Yemen in which the Saudi and Emirati armed forces have played a major role, thus allowing us the opportunity to assess their performance.

Resilience as a Protective Factor in Basic Military Training, a Longitudinal Study of the Swiss Armed Forces

For recruits, basic military training (BMT) can be experienced as a stressful episode in which relevant protective factors such as resilience might be essential for successful completion of the training. The present study examined whether resilience would act as a protective factor during BMT in the Swiss Armed Forces. To this end, we conducted a cross-sectional and longitudinal study of resilience and psychological burden. At the beginning of the BMT and at week 11, 525 male recruits (mean age: 20.3 years) completed a series of questionnaires covering demographic information and assessing resilience, perceived stress and mental distress. In parallel, their superiors rated recruits’ military performance in week 13. Dropout rates were also registered. Cross-sectionally and longitudinally, higher resilience scores predicted lower scores for perceived stress, mental distress, and better military performance. Higher self-rated resilience was moderately associated with military performance, as rated by recruits’ superiors. Resilience scores, perceived stress and mental distress did not differ between those recruits continuing their BMT and dropouts. In support of our assumptions, resilience acted as a protective factor during Swiss Armed Forces BMT.

The Development and Impact of Hong Taiji’s Artillery Corps (1631–1643)

This study retraces the development of the Later Jin/Qing artillery corps between 1631 and 1642, examines the factors that led to its success, and evaluates its military and socio-political impact. The newly established artillery corps, under the direction of the talented Hong Taiji, learned effectively from its participation in sieges and developed the relevant military knowledge. By 1642, it had turned from an auxiliary force into a full-fledged unit that played a decisive role in siege warfare. The success of the Qing artillery corps greatly facilitated the Qing conquest of China (1644–1683). Moreover, the military performance of the artillery corps in the time period led to the multiple expansions and the ultimate institutionalization of the Han Eight Banner Army (baqi Hanjun).

Predictive Genetic Testing by the U.S. Military: Legal and Ethical Issues

ABSTRACT Introduction Precision medicine is a significant component of the military medical vanguard. One area of growing interest involves predictive genetic testing (PGT)—which can be used for both medical evaluation and operational planning. Predictive genetic testing is likely to play an increasingly important role in the military, in terms of both medically related testing to predict the risk of disease or injury and testing for non-medical traits that may be relevant to military performance. Materials and Methods This article describes predictive tests that currently are in use by the military or that might be of interest to the military. The article also explores the risks and benefits associated with PGTs, describes the ambiguities in the current laws and directives governing the military use of PGT, and proposes a set of guidelines for the use of PGTs by the military. Results There is no publicly available law or DoD policy that prevents the military from conducting PGT before or after accession. Currently, the only genetic testing routinely employed by the U.S. military is for medical purposes. In addition to non-routine genetic testing to diagnose genetic diseases and conditions, the military also uses targeted testing for predictive purposes. As additional predictive genetic tests are developed and become widely used, the military can be expected to employ those that are of relevance. Predictive military genetic testing of active duty service members could reduce their risk of illness and injury, improve their physical and mental fitness, enhance the health and well-being of the unit, make mission accomplishment more certain and efficient, and reduce medical and other costs for the military and veterans. Moreover, individuals with genetic variants that might enhance the likelihood of successfully completing a military mission could be preferred for certain positions or assignments, such as special operations. At the same time, there are risks that genetic information may be used for improper purposes or may stigmatize service members. Conclusions Predictive genetic testing is likely to play an increasingly important role in the military, in terms of both medically related testing to predict the risk of disease or injury and testing for non-medical traits that may be relevant to military performance. In instances where PGT meets standard scientific measures of validity and utility, test results can be used to promote the health and welfare of individual service members, units, and military missions. In cases where PGT does not rise to the level of meeting standard scientific criteria, officials should proceed cautiously in incorporating the information into clinical care and military decision-making. There needs to be an appropriate method of collectively calculating risks and benefits. Moreover, although military directives prohibit “unlawful discrimination,” this term has received no elaboration in any publicly available military pronouncements. This lacuna should be rectified to provide proper guidance to service members, medical personnel, and the public. Although the promise of PGT may compel military officials to consider ways to maximize the use of test results, the risk of undermining military goals with unverified uses also should be considered appropriately.

The SOCOM Spiritual Fitness Scale: Measuring “Vertical” and “Horizontal” Spirituality in the Human Performance Domain

Few spiritual scales are tailored to the work of human performance, few enfranchise non-theists, and few simultaneously capture both vertical and horizontal aspects of spirituality. To address the gap, the Consortium for Health and Military Performance partnered with the US Special Operations Command to develop the SOCOM Spiritual Fitness Scale. The scale is reliable, valid, psychometrically sound, and capable of generating comprehensive group and individual profiles to aid chaplains in program development/assessment and tailored spiritual coaching.

Why It Is Important to Be Cautious in the Analysis of Military Organizations: A Reply to Hasselbladh and Ydén

This article is a reply to a recent publication by Hasselbladh and Yden in this journal, entitled “Why Military Organizations Are Cautious About Learning?” They argue that there is good reason for military organizations not being very successful in organizational learning. Based on historical experiences related to the military’s bureaucratic character and specific task environment, they argue that military organization’s hesitation to learn is not necessarily dysfunctional. This reply refutes this assertion as it is not based on sufficient knowledge of organizational learning in general, but more importantly because it “scholarly” legitimizes the impeding of attempts to improve military performance in the broad sense of the word.