Page 28 - Biobehavioral Resilence to Stress

Prediction of Resilience 5

Concerns about the impact of screening on recruitment and training can
be addressed in the context of several other practical issues. First, there are
currently in place strict limits on the number of non–high school graduates
who can join the military. Given these limits, it is important to identify indi-
viduals who are most likely to perform well. Appropriate early screening could

be very beneficial in this respect.* Second, an even more important benefi t may

be that of reduced first-term attrition, which for decades has been recorded at

a level above 30%. Th is figure includes all separations, including those due to
medical problems, but more often than not, attrition is related to emotional

and behavioral diffi culties. If first-term attrition could be reduced by even just
a few percentage points, the U.S. military could save tens of millions of dollars
each year and fewer new recruits would be needed (General Accounting Offi ce,

1997). Last but not the least, effective early screening for resilience to stress
would promote the development of a more resilient military force in general.

Current Practice

During the 1980s and 1990s, more than $10 million were invested to develop
standardized screening instruments for military use. Workgroups and commit-
tees enlisted the help of top military and civilian psychologists. Th e instruments
they developed gathered biodata relevant to preservice adjustment, including
antisocial behavior and emotional distress (Adaptability Screening Profi le
[ASP], Barnes et al., 1989; Armed Services Applicant Profile [ASAP], Trent &

Quenette, 1992; Assessment for Security Positions and Enlistment [ASPEN],

Flyer, 2004). The intent of this effort was to assist applicant selection by screen-

ing prior to basic training. None of these tests ever became operational.
The National Research Council (NRC, 2006) issued a report that add-

ressed current military enlistment standards and critiqued preenlistment
psychological screening procedures that are currently employed by the U.S.
military. Unfortunately, most screening instruments currently in use are not

evidence-based. The NRC’s report acknowledged the diffi culty in conducting
systematic research in this area, noting that opportunities for relevant statis-
tical analyses are limited because “in some cases data are not entered into the
system; in other cases, data accessibility is limited due to privacy concern;
and in still other cases, relevant data on conditions and outcomes are not
linked” (pp. 143–144).
Early screening begins at recruitment stations when each applicant
completes a medical prescreen (Department of Defense [DoD] Form 2807-2).

* As preparation of this chapter neared completion, restraints were being adjusted to
increase the number of nonhigh school graduates who can join the U.S. Army. This
change would allow as many as 20% of new recruits to have a General Educational
Development (GED).

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