This study considers the effects of ability, attitude, and pressure on army writing. A survey questionnaire was designed on the basis of a review of the literature on causes of organizational writing problems; this was administered to 168 army officers attending the Army Command and General Staff College. An entire class at the Command and General Staff College was also tested with a standardized English composition examination. The testing indicated that army officers were, as a group, average writers, although a significant number (18.5%) were below national minimum writing standards. The causes of writing difficulties were found to be a complex combination of educational deficiencies, neutral attitudes toward writing, rather than positive ones, and inadequate management practices, leading to doubt and confusion about writing objectives. (Author/AA)