Army Officers: An Investigation of the Present Officer Career Structure
Abstract
A study was made to examine the present officer career structure and identify points of significant changes in career direction, the data base of these changes, and the places to introduce differential measures of officer performance. Policy and guidance documents on career development were reviewed and interviews were conducted with career management officers. This information was utilized for a logical analysis of these procedures and outcomes in terms of their relationship to problems of evaluation of individual performance and potential. The current Army officer career structure can be viewed as a multi- step/multi-path system with the various steps and paths closely related. This career structure creates a situation in which an officer can, early in his career, be 'lock stepped' into a negative career progression. The data base used to make career decisions was found to be limited, but the technology for development of an expanded data base does exist through the development of the following: (1) a more comprehensive file of valid evaluative measures; and (2) a systematic method of collecting evaluative information which would insure timeliness and universality.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADA077753
Entities
People
- Ronald G. Downey
- William H. Helme
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences