In the early 1990s, the Department of the Army abandoned its Skill Qualification Test (SQT) program due primarily to maintenance, development, and administration costs. Cancellation of the SQT program left a void in the Army's capabilities for assessing job performance qualification. To meet this need, the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) instituted a 3-year program of feasibility research related to development of a Soldier assessment system that is both effective and affordable. The PerformM21 program has two mutually supporting tracks. The first is a needs analysis that will result in design recommendations and identification of issues related to implementation of a competency assessment program. The second track is a demonstration of concept - starting with a prototype core assessment targeted to all Soldiers eligible for promotion to Sergeant, followed by job-specific prototype assessments for several Military Occupational Specialties. Experience with the prototype assessments will influence elaboration of the operational program design recommendations. The present report describes the needs analysis work and subsequent Army competency assessment program design recommendations as they stand at the end of the first year of the PerformM21 effort. A variety of areas are discussed, including program goals and policies as well as test content, design, development, and administration considerations.

"October 2004"--T.p.

Introduction. Background -- PerformM21 -- The Army Test Program Advisory Team (ATPAT) -- Needs analysis organizing structure and process -- Overview of report / An overall vision of the Soldier Assessment Program. The program -- Supporting structure and functions -- Guiding principles / Test specifications. Challenges -- Available resources -- Job analysis -- Assessment methods -- Test specifications -- Getting it done / Test development. Challenges -- The basic process -- Other assessment methods -- Roles and responsibilities / Test delivery. Challenges -- Available resources -- What the DTFs will not be able to handle / Interfacing with soldiers. Soldier study guides -- General information -- Soldier feedback reports / Integrating the assessment program into Army systems. The command and cultural climate -- Organizational structure -- Personnel policy -- Education and training / Program evaluation. Evaluation methods -- Managing expectations / Conclusions and next steps / Appendix A: PerformM21 needs analysis organizing structure -- Appendix B: skill qualification tests: brief history, lessons learned, and recommendations -- Appendix C: review of the U.S. Air Force Promotion Testing Program -- Appendix D: review of the U.S. Navy Promotion Testing Program -- Appendix E: PerformM21 technology requirements.