I__. - International Military Testing Association

Aptitude-Oriented Replacement of Conscript Manpower
in the German Bundeswehr
Retrospective View
S. B. Schambach
Federal Office of Defense Administration, Bonn, Germany
In 1990, the Psychological Service of the Geman Federal Armed Forces (GFAF) is celebrating
a very special jubilee: The Aptitude and Placement Examinations (EVP) for Draftees at the
Subregion Recruiting Offices have been carried out for 25 years.
Before the EVP was introduced, manpower requirements of draftees had heen met solely on the
basis of medical fitness, the final assignment of a position being controlled by a lot system. At
his muster, each draftee obtained a rank number chosen at random. The slots for replacement
were assembled in a list and also given rank numbers. The draftees were called up by the order
of the list until the slots were filled. For numerous assignments, though, only men were called
up who had a specified civilian occupational training.
The effect of the lot system was that many men of restricted medical fitness were assigned jobs
which they were hardly apt for, while well qualified men failed to be called up for service. In
contrast to this, the increasing standard of technical equipment of the forces required higher
ability of the assigned manpower. In public, criticism of the call-up “lottery game” was growing.
It was for these reasons that in 1965 the Aptitude and Placement Examination was instituted to
be taken by each draftee who was found medically lit at his muster. For the examination method,
the US-American “Army Alpha Test Battery” formed the model, a modified version of which
had already been successfully applied to army volunteers.
The EVP comprises a sophisticated biographical questionnaire mainly referring to interests,
skills and general performance factors, but its core is a test battery covering the areas of general
ability and educational level, perception and reaction, mechanical and electrical engineering
comprehension, as well as some further faculties related to specialist functions. In defined cases,
a group situation test or an interview with the psychologist, or more test procedures can be
applied.
The same test battery is applied to army and air force volunteer applicants (except officer
applicants) in order to facilitate psychological diagnostics for those applicants who are liable to
compulsory service as well. The test battery for volunteers includes additional test procedures.
Table 1: Aptitude and Placement Examination for GFAF Draftees (EVP)
Biographical analysis, with special regard to performance factors, interests and activities, school
and occupational training
Test battery: General intelligence and educational level, technical comprehension (mechanical
and electric engineering), perception-reaction capacity; under defined circumstances also:
Perception tests, group situation test, interview, etc.
Evaluation of behavior characteristics and expression in writing
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