LETTER TO STANSFIELD TURNER FROM JOHN M. ALFORD, III

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05S00620R000100040126-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 3, 2010
• Sequence Number: 126
• Publication Date: April 30, 1977
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2010/02/03: CIA-RDP05S00620R000100040126-8
3^ ."Pril 1077
Seventh Company
United States " Taval Academy
Annapolis, '-`aryl and 214.12
Admiral Stansfield Turner
Director of Central Intelligence
Trashington, D.C. 20505
Dear Admiral Turner:
Permit me to express my sincere appreciation for Tour comments
on educational doctrine at the Naval Academy. Professional
training, no doubt, is the essence of an education of a
Naval Officer. Yet, the most significant error in t',-
Academy's approach to education is that it does not stress
that education is a continuing process. There is an
inaprropriate devotion to detail in the academic disciplines
here, and this engenders a disdain for any large-scale
thinking. Best characteristic of such disdain is the
nglish program at the Academy which. neither fosters
a significant interest in literature, nor teaches the 571-udent
ho--, to comm-nicate effectively. The ability to communicate
is essential to all levels of authority. The Acade r,~,:>t
emphasize the learning process, and engender an environment
in which it will. flourish.
In response to your query, my father is Rear Admiral John P".
Alford. His approach to a liberal education has influenced
me considerably, and the stimulus for this project result
of the disparity of perception between m-,., approac' arid
academy's. I shall be most happy to provide the conclusions
of this project'to you when completed later t?-,is year.
'again, \.dmiral, thank. uou for providing -^ur insight and
corm ents on this matter.
Ver,y/re-pectf
Approved For Release 2010/02/03: CIA-RDP05S00620R000100040126-8