Towards a Tri-Service Model of Selection for the Australian Defence Force

摘要

The Defence Reform Program has seen the integration of all personnel management functions into one program, the Defence Personnel Executive. With the intent of achieving greater commonality, efficiency and operational capability, the Defence Personnel Executive is working towards a number of Tri-Service initiatives including the development of a Tri-Service platform for recruitment and selection to the Australian Defence Force. This paper summarizes the development of this platform including the identification of a Tri-Service model of applicant screening, interviewing and testing. Specifically, the paper reports on the proposed application of two computer-based tests drawn from the British Army Recruit Battery (BARB) as part of an up-front screening battery. Results on BARB obtained from a sample of applicants for commission and enlistment to the RAAF are reported, and for a small sample of RAAF trainees and cadets validity coefficients yielded by the BARB tests and composite scores are compared. The Defence Personnel Executive (DPE) was established to achieve efficiencies by integrating the personnel functions of the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force. As part of that reorganization, the three single-Service psychology organizations were amalgamated into a Defence Force Psychology Organisation (DFPO). Since the amalgamation, the DFPO has been working to achieve more cost efficient selection procedures that will prove effective in providing the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with the best available personnel. The new selection procedures include two-stage testing at Australian Defence Force Recruiting Units (ADFRUs). Under this model, all applicants for entry to the ADF will be administered the same general ability tests. Applicants for occupations in which there are inherent requirements for specific abilities or previous learning will proceed to second-stage testing with relevant aptitude and/or achievement tests.