Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System (TAPAS) Exam Ability to Predict Proficiency and Performance among Naval Academy Produced Marine Corps Officers

Abstract

Approximately 25% of the midshipmen who graduate from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) receive a commission in the United States Marine Corps. The selection process examines a midshipman's academic, leadership, and physical performance during their time at USNA, along with a Marine-led summer training called Leatherneck. We examine Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System (TAPAS) scores obtained during Leatherneck to determine if facets can improve the Marine Corps service assignment selection process. In addition, we examine individual facets to determine if they predict The Basic School (TBS) performance for USNA-produced Marine Officers. We found that adding TAPAS to data that the Marine Detachment (MarDet) considers for the selection process is likely to provide only a meager improvement. However, there are several TAPAS facets, such as optimism and academic achievement, that are positively correlated to performance at TBS, as well as sociability, which is negatively correlated to performance at TBS. Furthermore, combining the TAPAS data with existing selection metrics for the MarDet, we see an impact in the ranking positions for USNA-produced officers at TBS. While the data is significant, we recommend further studies to determine the full extent that TAPAS supports predicting performance for officers at TBS and potentially the success of Fleet Marine Force.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2022
Accession Number
AD1185064

Entities

People

  • James C Jr Newman
  • Monica L Compton

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Army Personnel
  • Attrition
  • Business Administration
  • California
  • Data Analysis
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Information Science
  • Management Personnel
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Selection
  • Psychological Tests
  • Psychology
  • Regression Analysis
  • Schools
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • United States Naval Academy

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.
  • Naval Personnel Management