Psychiatric Objectives in the Army: William C. Menninger. Amer. J. of Psychiatry, CII, 1945, pp. 102–107.

This paper by William C. Menninger was presented to the largest class of medical officers ever to graduate from the School of Military Neuropsychiatry. He stresses the fact that the psychiatrist now has increased responsibilities because his profession has become good newspaper copy. He also points out that even among his medical colleagues psychiatry has grown in scientific stature. He then discusses the effective utilization of manpower within the army and the psychiatrist's rôle in this situation. He does not, however, point out that the psychiatrist is generally noneffective in his battle with the administrative officers in solving mutual problems. Menninger claims that tremendous strides have been made in the field of psychiatric therapy in the army and while it is true that progress has taken place along these lines, it is a sad commentary that at this date the director of neuropsychiatric consultants still hopes that in the future special facilities will be available to the army planned and designed to meet the neuropsychiatric problem. In closing, Dr. Menninger admonishes his students to remember they are doctors first, last and always. It would be of greater value to the army if the brass hats would remember that too.