The Promise & the Challenge of Technology-Facilitated Methods for Assessing Behavioral & Cognitive Markers of Risk for Suicide among US Army National Guard Personnel

Research Paper Title The Promise and the Challenge of Technology-Facilitated Methods for Assessing Behavioral and Cognitive Markers of Risk for Suicide among U.S. Army National Guard Personnel. Abstract Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death for Americans in 2015 and rates have been steadily climbing over the last 25 years. Rates are particularly high… Read More

The Assessment Process & The Illusion of Validity

When assessing candidates for their potential to be officers in the Israeli Defence Forces, Daniel Kahneman (2011) coined the phrase ‘the illusion of validity’, which he states was his first cognitive fallacy. Daniel states: “I coined the term “illusion of validity” because the confidence we had in judgments about individual soldiers was not affected by… Read More

Linking Difficult, Great, Easy & Small

“Do that which is difficult, while it is easy.” Sun Tzu That’s the crunched version, others include: “Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” “Plan for what it is difficult while it is… Read More

Charting the Development & Validation of a Physical Fitness Test & Maintenance Standards for Canadian Forces Diving Personnel

Research Paper Title Phase III Report: Development and Validation of a Physical Fitness Test and Maintenance Standards for Canadian Forces Diving Personnel. Abstract The objectives of Phase III were to develop a physical fitness test battery and maintenance standards for Canadian Forces Diving Personnel, specifically Clearance (Cl), Ships’ Team (ST), Port Inspection (PID) and Combat (Cbt) divers. Phases I and II were… Read More

Quantity & Measured versus Quality & Judged

“In fact, quality, not quantity, becomes the watchword. But quality must be judged, not measured.” (Bleecker, 1986, p.98). Reference Bleecker, S. (1986) Taking the Factory out of the Office. Computerworld: The Newsweekly for the Computer Community. XX(24), pp.95-104.

Is There Any Correlation between Physical Fitness Tests & Performance of Military Tasks?

Research Paper Title Correlations between Physical Fitness Tests & Performance of Military Tasks – A Systematic Review & Meta-Analyses. Purpose To help evaluate the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and ensure a future test is associated with Soldiers’ performance of common physical job requirements, the USAPHC applied a Systematic Review (SR) methodology to identify and synthesize published… Read More

Joining the Military & Your Future Job: Assigned or Chosen?

Having browsed a number of military and military-related forums regarding recruitment and selection, I noticed the same (two-part) question popping up: Do they assign you a role, or do you choose the role yourself? If you apply as an officer but don’t succeed (e.g. insufficient leadership skills) do they encourage you to apply again as… Read More