DISCUSSION OF AREA TRAINING WITH AREA DIVISION REPRESENTATIVES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00634A000100040039-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 29, 2002
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: August 17, 1959
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2002/08/22 : CIA-RDP62-00634A000100040039-0
17 August 1959
25X1A9A
SUBJECT: Discussion of Area Training with
Area Division Representatives
following FE officers for lunch on 13 August:
help of FE/EXO, I met with the 25X1A9A
1. In response to my informal request for an off-the-cuff sampling
of Far East Division opinions on area training and through the generous
FE/EXO
C/FE~
C/FE
25X1
25X1A6A
All of these officers have had extensive Headquarters and overseas
experience, and their backgrounds include personal knowledge of
25X1A6A s well as their current areas of interest. I asked to talk
with such individuals because I believed their areas, as are Africa
and the Middle East, are ones for which directed or guided area back-
ground preparation is particularly necessary.
2. This discussion was not meant to supersede that which already
had been arranged by LAS with the FE Training Officer.
3. Prior to the luncheon meeting 0 stated his own belief 25X1 A9A
that, rather than attend regularly scheduled classes, FE preferred that
its overseas assignees accomplish recommended and in some cases
directed reading of carefully selected books and other area or subject
background materials. OTR assistance in selecting such materials, in
preparing bibliographies or area reading kits, etc. would be appreciated.
There is apparently a growing feeling within FE that area and language
training is more important--for newly-assigned case officers from other
areas, anyway--than extensive operational or project-by-project briefings
which they could better receive after arrival in the field.
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4. The above-named, three officers iterated remarks, 25X1A9A
emphasizing the essentiality not only of thorough area orientation but
also of language training. With respect to area readings, one branch
chief in FE goes so far as to maintain a small, highly-selective branch
library and to give tests on the required reading. The prescribed reading
also includes books, reports, and studies pouched in from the field,
but more use probably could be made of OCI publications (handbooks,
weeklies, dailies). Although the branches have been selecting their
own materials (from CIA Library Accessions Lists, book reviews, and
other bibliographies), OTR assistance could be valuable.
5. Two of the three officers advised that, based on the reactions
of trainees sponsored by them, the QTR area training classes attended
by these trainees fell short of expectations and were not of great value,
that in some instances the material was "trite" or very generalized, and
that some of the speakers seemed even less familiar with the areas than
the trainees! (I gained the impression that shorter courses with lecture-
discussions led by true experts and following up on required readings
might come closer to the mark.. ,) These officers had received and
noted the announcement of the new Overseas Effectiveness Course,
evinced interest in this new (for the Agency) technique for area study,
but had made no effort to come up with candidates for training.
25X1A6A 6. With respect to language training s endeavoring
to or hopes to have all of its personnel o ng overseas a e at least
25X1A6A six months' training inE I Obviously, even with inten-
sive study, one cannot become fluent in six months, but at least a
foundation and some understanding will have been gained. This points
up another and very significant factor directly affecting area-language
training in particular, to wit--the area desk does not receive its new
personnel sufficiently in advance of replacement time to permit the
optimum ops training and area-language study necessary really to pre-
pare its people for their overseas assignment. The problem is one of
planning and lead-time. To begin with, it is strongly recommended
that the Field Reassignment Questionnaire and its Headquarters
equivalent) be completed and submitted one year prior to the end of
either a field or Headquarters tour.
7. All agreed, naturally, with the efficacy of introducing some
area training into language study courses. They supported, too, the
primary-and-secondary language concept but did not believe that it
would be practicable, under our current planning system, to attempt
to apply and enforce any rule requiring that a set percentage of indi-
viduals at a station have the area language. (A second language or
English might suffice, even though a command of the area language
is most desirable.)
SBBT
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8. I should like to iterate that these personal opinions were
expressed on a purely informal basis and do not reflect an official
FE policy toward area-language training. They may be useful to
OTR/LAS in developing its course plans but should be augmented by
further and more exhaustive coordination with FE as well as other
area divisions.
25X1A9A
Chief, Plans and Policy Staff
cc: DTR
C/LAS
D/Area Studies/LAS
D/Language Training/LAS
SECRET
Approved For Release 2002/08/22 : CIA-RDP62-00634A000100040039-0