Follow-Up of the Officer Evaluation Center

Abstract : The Army conducted an Officer Evaluation Study at Fort McClellan, Alabama, in early 1960's where about 900 first and second lieutenants underwent three days of evaluation of their technical, administrative combat and leadership skills. Over 2000 measures were taken from performance on 15 exercises. These observations yielded 341 variables which were reduced by factor analysis to 8 factors. In 1981, almost 20 years later, a follow up was conducted. Results showed that OEC summary variables did yield significant discriminant functions and small improvements in prediction of officers military career success over chance for groups of career vs. single-term (2 year) officers.