Suitability Screening Test for Marine Corps Air Traffic Controllers Phase 2

The objective of this research effort is to assist in the selection and screening process of Marines for ATC duty through the development and validation of non-cognitive profiles of successful US Marine Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) in both the Operating Force and the ATC Schoolhouse. A previous technical report detailed the validation process in the Operating Forces; the current phase of the project aims to validate the Marine Air Traffic Controller - Suitability Test (MATC-ST) in predicting success at the ATC Schoolhouse. Hierarchical regression analyses suggest that two variations of the MATC-ST accounts for 29% and 24% of the variance, respectively, in schoolhouse cumulative GPA and provides incremental validity above and beyond the use of the ASVAB scores in selection for success in the ATC Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) school. A suitability profile which can predict success at the ATC MOS school greatly increases the efficiency of the personnel pipeline and relieves the burden of unproductive training by providing early detection of Marines who are and are not likely to graduate or perform satisfactorily as ATCs. MATC-ST implementation can improve the Marine ATC screening process through better schoolhouse performance, better operating forces performance, and increased diversity through fair, valid screening improvements. The original document contains color images.