Introduction:

Analysis on the importance of performing optimum selective process of candidates Armed Forces officers and NCO´s.

Objetive:

To assess the frequency of the psychological evaluations performed to candidates officers and NCO´s and the variables involved, as well as to describe the normative context and the difficulties that may arise.

Material and method:

Observational, transversal and retrospective study of candidates officers and NCO´s declared as “provisionally not suitable” according to the Armed Forces Personality Inventory (IPFAS) carried out during July and August 2016. These people were assessed at the Reconnaissance Unit located in HCD Gomez Ulla in order to determine if they met the medical exclusion criteria according to existing legislation.

Results:

114 candidates out of a total of 1542 (7.39%) were identified whose scores indicated personality misadjustments. For these individuals, the assessments consisted of clinical interview and Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. 32 candidates were found “not suitable” (2.07% of the total).

Conclussions:

It would be convenient to take benefit from personality measurements provided by IPFAS in order to select future commanders based on possession of personal qualities or attributes related to professional success, regardless of the medical assessment exploring mental pathology, as well as coming up with a solution allowing to take a decision on the suitability of the candidates that distort and invalidate the tests as a consequence of a social desirability abnormally elevated.