Army probes alleged exam cheating

[unhappycamper]

Army probes alleged exam cheating
By Bryan Bender and Kevin Baron, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent
July 22, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The Army is investigating whether thousands of soldiers cheated on promotion exams, including tests of how to operate high-tech weapons, by obtaining the answers from unauthorized websites run by fellow soldiers, according to Army officials.

The Globe found sites offering copies of more than 1,200 different exams from military correspondence courses with the answers provided. One site said it had 500,000 hits per month and thousands of registered users. Message boards on the sites suggest that soldiers know they are violating the rules, while some of their comrades rebuke them in Internet chat rooms for cheating the system.

Some of the tests cover such highly technical matters as how to operate the guidance system on a Patriot missile, including measuring firing angles and elevations. Other sensitive areas include how to distinguish between US troops and enemies using aerial photos; how to conduct a patrol in wartime; how to keep armored vehicles in proper formation in battle; and how to protect classified documents. The sites, with names including Shamschool.com and Armyfocus.com, are free or charge a small fee.

ShamSchool describes itself as "soldiers helping soldiers" and says the ques tions and answers it provides are "intended as a reference only." In an e-mailed response to Globe questions, the operator of ShamSchool declined to comment. But in a posting yesterday he said he created the site to help fellow soldiers exchange information and "now I am being used as a scapegoat for everyone cheating on these tests."


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uhc note: Yet another symptom of *'s never ending wars.

[dsc]

1. the cheating is bad enough

but this is also a major security threat. In the wrong hands this could be a total disaster.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Well, yes, if they're posting classified info

Then they (posters and web site hosts) are perhaps looking at some prison time.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. These sites sound like "study groups"

The soldiers still have to take and pass a test, right?

The sites seem like a good way to acquire knowledge. How are these sites different than preparation sites/classes/tutors for ACT's GSAT's LSAT's or a million other standardized tests?

Questions and answers from past and present tests. I'd call it "preparation".

Our education system is heading this way, under "no child left behind". The Test is King.

If the Army doesn't administer tests in a monitored setting, then they must expect people to use "open book" methods to answer the questions. And all their harrumphing about ethics is just window-dressing. They probably don't really want people to fail the tests, as they want to retain people.

[Recursion]

4. The exams are always proctored

I think the problem is that people will go to the site after taking one of the tests and post all the questions from it. People do it with stuff like the SAT, GRE, and TOEFL too.

[izzie]

5. They are just like other people. Their was a man who did a study

on this. A few people will always be good and do the right thing and the rest of the people will do what they can get away with. The man even had it down to steps in what one would do and why. Great study. After living in the military society for years I would say they are pretty normal.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. If they want a promotion they should do like the generals who don't

study anything or know anything do...they just lie to congress and the media, torture a few folks and kiss george bush's ass and they get another star ASAP if not sooner.