MANPOWER AND PERSONNEL ASSESSMENT BATTERY
Abstract
The annual cost to train a Sailor has been steadily rising, requiring the US Navy to maximize its success in recruiting, classifying, training, and retaining the best possible cadre. The task of identifying valid predictors of military occupational specialty (MOS) performance has challenged the US Military for years. Antiquated, inefficient, and imprecise predictive tools result in unnecessarily elevated costs because selection procedures struggle to optimally match Sailors with MOS; they also struggle to identify the success-based self-motivation necessary for continued commitment and learning. Given the tasks (e.g., modernization, utilization of new technologies, and high degree of job specialization) and challenges (e.g., Sailors reduced training and increasedworkload) faced by the Navy today, the personnel selection process should utilize cost-effective and portable means to select the most promising applicants and aid their placement into MOS paths that maximize their talent. Here, we propose to develop the means to that end: The Manpower andPersonnel Assessment Battery (MPAB). The novelty of the MPAB is in its combination of virtual reality (VR) technology wi of the art eye-tracking technology and comes with two VIVE controllers to monitor hand motion. It supports Unity software and will be able to integrate with additional hardware to track the biometric data (e.g., heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, respiration, electroencephalography). Importantly, the MPAB is designed to be administered repeatedly underdifferent circumstances, to gauge maximum performance, and to capture learning potential with both cognitive and biological indicators. For baseline data, we will collect a saliva sample for genome structural variant analyses and whole epigenome (DNA methylation) profiling. During each of the three experimental sessions, we will collect saliva samples to assess changes in the hormone levels (cortisol and testosterone) and protein/enzymatic content (alpha-amylase). The MPAB will create a unique opportunity to assess manpower multidimensionally while the individual is engaged in a VR environment. Also, we will integrate hardware and software that can track sleep patterns,diet and nutrition, and mindfulness to model a variety of situations that may arise while performing Naval jobs. The proposed work is a collaboration between academic and business enterprises that will be managed by the University of Houston on a schedule with specific deliverables. This includes the MPAB prototype, multilevel datasets of complex human performance in VR, and abundle of relevant data analytics. The MPAB is designed to select candidates to optimize the match between applicants and the Navy and operators and specific Naval occupational specialties. The use of expert Sailors multidimensional profiles in the data-analytics will permit individualized Navy vocation counseling. This will decrease the costs of unproductive training and premature terminationof services while increasing the returns from learning that focuses on strengths and compensates for weaknesses. The MPAB is constructed to be continuously developed to ensure that new VR tasks can be added and the battery can be used to develop deep Naval mastery/expertise and maritime acumen on a career-long learning continuum. Future applications may include the ability to identify specific fligl forces teams, or ground combat elements that are best suited to achieve mission success based on friendly, enemy, and environmental variables. The MPAB will substantially impact the Navys capabilities to recruit, train, and retain Sailors who are both suitedfo
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112207
Entities
People
- Elena Grigorenko
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Houston System