Two men I knew, back in '59 were called to the office without warning and told they were being sent on an initiative test. They were told to go and get Elvis Presley's autograph and it was up to them how they did it. They had time to get into civvies then off to the American zone they went.
The tests were stopped soon after this I remember. It seems that some people were being a little too enthusiastic, stealing cars etc., and the Germans weren't too happy about it.
Does anybody have any information on these tests?
(Oh, they got Elvis's autograph by the way and were photographed with him too!)

I remember those initiative tests well and took part in atleast 2 that I remember.
Great fun.
Nothing much to say about them. They were aimed primarily at junior ranks, working in pairs, who were given an objective to be performed over a maximum of 48 hours [usually 1800 Friday - 1800 Sunday]
Dress was civilian clothes and the use of public or military transport was forbidden, civil and military law was to be adhered to at all times.
The one I remember best was whilst at Scarborough Bks Osnabruck when we were tasked with making our way to the Möhne Dam to collect the local Burgermeister's signature and take a sample of water from the dam.
This we completed with ease having 'thumbed' our way there and back with overnight stops with the Belgian Army in Werl.
Other tests followed where we were not so lucky with transportation.

Cheers Paddy,

From the lack of response I was beginning to think the initiative tests were exclusive to our Regt.
Our CO at the time was a ferocious Korean War veteran and inclined to cut through the bullshit and treat his men like soldiers.
(Imagine, having a picture of yourself and Elvis in those days !)

brum

Last time we had an iniative test we had hiked for a couple of days in the Harz mountains, whilst on Summer Camp. On the 3rd day the RSM said "go back to camp". With that he got in his Landrover and disappeared. 3 of us saw a town not far away, hiked into it, got into a taxi and got back to the campsite before the RSM! (in fairness, he had a puncture on the way though). We were never set iniative tests again.

We had something like that at 20 Bde Chris, One Saturday morning a bunch of us singlies were round ed up and taken to the biesterburg. We were dropped off and told to make our way back to Hobart, We just wandered into Lemgo and caught a train to Detmold. LOL.

i only ever done one initiatve test,during NI training in senalager in the early 70s the oc thought it would be a good idea to have an E&E/initative test combined,we were to be dropped off in groups of 4 on the western side of the tuterburger wald, [spell check required]we were to make our way over night to the west in time for breakfast the next morning,we arranged to be picked up by the cook spent the night in bks and reported for breakfast next morning,we could not understand why the oc was in such a bad mood. it was worth the 3 days jankers.

I recall a couple of lads were set off on an initiative test "to get an audience"with Elvis Presley".They not only got the audience,he took 'em out to dinner too!Been a fan of Elvis ever since!
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Don

I'm assuming that was when Elvis was doing his national service then Donald.

Your mob sent blokes looking for Elvis too, Donald ? There must have been a queue forming !

brum

Appears a lot of the initiative tests back then involved Elvis somehow. When did the guy ever manage to do any work or assignments? Nice he was so accessible, though. Can't imagine any of the artists today A) doing their stint in the army or B) being as accessible as that.

Mind you, it was a different era. In today's world an Elvis would be a target for some Al-Qaida nutbar or something....

Frankly my biggest initiative test as a singly was getting up to get into work in the morning.

I think that could be said about most of us Jim. An even harder test was to make breakfast before muster.

Ah well, I didn't have to attend muster parades Ivan, the joys of being a Staff Clerk.

Funny thing,hated Reveille whilst serving,now can get up at 0600hrs without blinking an eyelid!I think that Elvis was singled out as he was a very nice guy,and did his NS while most wriggled out of it!And yes,in this crazy world of today he'd most likely be confined to barracks!
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Don