Differences in Time-Sharing Ability between Successful and Unsuccessful Trainees in the Landing Craft Air Cushion Vehicle Operator Training Program

Abstract

Improved entry requirements for selection to the U.S. Navy landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vehicle operator training program are needed. Several automated cognitive, personality, and psychomotor selection tests are under evaluation. This study analyzed trainee performance involving a combination of compensatory tracking (CT) and digit cancellation (DC) tasks. Successful trainees performed significantly better than unsuccessful trainees in most of the task measures. Performance differences approached the 0.05 significance level in the single-task DC but not in the single-task CT. In dual performance, where CT and DC were performed simultaneously, successful trainees' time-sharing abilities were significantly better (p < .05). Additionally, DC and CT/DC time-sharing measures correlated with training grade. These findings suggest that a test of time-sharing ability has the potential to predict LCAC training program outcome. Test results and implications for training are discussed.