The “Right Stuff”: Personality Tests and the Five-Factor Model in Landing Craft Air Cushion Crew Training

The purpose of our investigation was to determine if personality testing and a five-factor model could improve the selection of Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicle operators. Vehicle operators for the LCAC are currently selected on the basis of their performance on a computer-based psychomotor selection system. The various psychomotor tests in the selection system have demonstrated predictive validity in LCAC crew training. Certain personality characteristics may also be involved in the LCAC vehicle operator training success. In fact, various researchers have found that personality testing may improve the selection of Navy/Marine Corps aviators. There is increasing evidence that a five-factor model may be useful in describing the personality characteristics involved in training success. We believe that a five-factor model may improve the selection system used for LCAC vehicle operators. A principal component analysis with varimax rotation was conducted to determine the underlying structure of the Adult Personality Inventory (API) with 168 LCAC crew candidates. The resulting factor scores were then entered into a series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses to determine the relation of the personality factor scores and the performance-based test to an underway grade in training criterion. The results indicated that one personality factor, openness, significantly improved predictions of the criterion (p < 0.05). Based on these results, we believe that personality testing may improve the selection of LCAC vehicle operators.