I__. - International Military Testing Association

Upper Body Strength and Performance in Army Enlisted MOS
Elizabeth J. Brady and Michael G. Rumsey
Army Research Institute
Introduction
Cognitive testing for selection and classification purposes
has a long and distinguished history in the military services.
The link between cognitive ability and soldier performance has by
now been firmly established, providing a reasonably solid basis
for this type of testing.
The concept of screening on the basis of physical strength
capability is less firmly established. A solid empirical
foundation linking physical strength to overall job performance
does not as yet exis:. Yet for those jobs requiring lifting or
moving heavv n:,ysic?l objects, the question naturally arises as
to whether SC"'- llllllirnal degree of physical strength might be an
appropriate prerequisite.
This question began to receive special attention in the
1970's, as the number of women serving in the military, as well
as the number of specialties open to women, increased
dramatically. In 1976, the General Accounting Office recommended
that the services develop common physical standards for males and
females in specialties where physical strength attributes were
relevant to effective performance. In 1982, A Women in the Army
policy review evaluated the strength requirements of a variety of
jobs. Then, 1984, the Army began administering the Military
Entrance Physical Strength Capacity Test ('MEPSCAT) to each
applicant for enlistment at the Military Entrance Processing
Stations (MEPS). Results of the test were used for job placement
counseling rather than for determining an individual's
qualification for entering any particular job.
In 1987, the Army's personnel office, the ~. Office-of _. the ,,
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (ODCSPER), determinea tnat it
was time to review its physical strength screening process. The
question of most immediate concern was: are the benefits of
screening worth the effort? The initial approach taken to
answerina the o-uestion was to explore whether there was any
evidencedthat physical strength iimitations were perceived to
interfere in any substantial way with job performance in the
Army.
Presented at the meeting of the Military Testing
Association, November, 1990. All statements expressed in this
Paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the
official opinions or policies of the U.S. Army Research Institute
or the Department of the Army.
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