Stress and performance during and after Officer Candidate School

Abstract

Related military performance during and after Officer Candidate School (OCS) to interview and questionnaire measures of stress and personality (e.g., the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale). A company of 69 candidates was studied early in training, just prior to graduation, and after 6 mo on duty as officers. It was found that psychiatric interview ratings of stress and change in coping style related to class standing in OCS but not to subsequent military performance. Personality and maturational variables were related to performance after OCS. Motivational distortion by candidates and initial impression formation by superior officers appeared to be factors in determining OCS class standing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)