BRIEFING NOTES ON ORR AREA FAMILIARIZATION AND FACILITIES SURVEY TRAVEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00680R000100020100-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 15, 1998
• Sequence Number: 100
• Publication Date: February 6, 1959
• Content Type: NOTES

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Ch/G/PR 6 February 1959
SA to Ch/G/)
Briefing Notes on Area Familiarization and Facilities Survey Travel
A. Area Familiarization
1. The purpose of area familiarization travel is to increase and
strengthen our its' capability to produce priority foreign intelligence.
Area familiarization travel functions as a sophisticated form of training
directed at specific Agency needs.
2. The first-hand, trained observation by an analyst of the
characteristics of terrain, vegetation, ethnic types, urban and rural
settlaaeent, elm activity, and other significant elements of a foreign
landscape serves uniquely to up-date and round out concepts acquired through
formal education and previous travel. Previously- determined assumptions;
are confirmed, or replaced, by observed fact and the analyst observes those
facts as parts at a total picture. No is enabled to sea the "mi.x," to
identify the major realztionsbtps involved, and to only henceforth a
truer mental picture in his work.
3. In the case of geographic intelligence, area familiarization
travel constitutes a continuing and essential training activity. The
Boaegrapbic analyst is called upon to examine the location, id entity, and
areal inter-relaticusihip of significant physical and cultural features
and to interpret the results in tigttly-facused reports that fulfill
a variety of aaeaar ors and field wads. Since his research is directed
at describing euvirt ernt, its accuracy and effectiveness depends on his
attaineent of personal and current familiarity with the area treated.
in the arca+d+sase3.+c field, this familiarity is made possible by foreign
travel and field work *maiexr grants from foundations and the Federal
Goveawmant (Fuibright), and by sabbatical leave. In the CIA, it is
rides possible by the area familiarization program. In each case,
there is no substitute for the travel performed; a foreign area cannot
be of actively viewed fr a the United States.
#. The geographic iaseteal3 i game analyst undertakes through travel
to fill the gapes in his area knowledge, gain perspective, sbarpon his
critical face ulties, and generally up-date himself. If he coxco et
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(as in the case of i inland China) actually enter the foreign area
of interest, he can observe neigbboring areas which are most nearly
analogous to it in the key elements of terrains climate, population,
and culture. For exaemple, travel in Taiwan and the New Territories
permits study of types of landforms, vegetation, and mature that
are similar to those of areas in South China. Travel in northern
Thailand provides excellent opportunities to observe elements of Dtiao,
Lohu, and other triba>Ll. --and their associated village patterns
and es-that have only recently migrate from South China.
Such travel is at least as valuable as the study of available aerial
phot4graphy of China itself. A real appreciation of a rural village,
the intimate relationships betw paddy cultivation and terrain,
the actual appearance of forest types, and the ease or difficulty of
clandestine travel under specified conditions cannot be fully obtained
until the researcher has been there.
5. The effect of area familiarization travel is to insure
continuing capability of to undertake research an problem in
which understanding of the foreiga area concerned is important.
flesear eh in support of Unconventional Warfaree, evasion and escape,
targeting and special operations is particularly demanding of area
expertise. Substantial area knowledge is required also in the
production of accurate and timely research for estimates, current
reporting, and the ES. In aborts area familiarization travel serves
to maintain essential research capabilities and assure ti's readiness
for wartime loads.
S. lili,t
1M MMn v.
1. The purpose of facilities survey travel is to familiarise
intelligence analyets and. technicians with the problems, capabilities,
and outlook of their consumers, suppliers, and counterparts abroad.
Such traveal contributes vastly to reduce field-head dquarters conflicts
and to facilitate more realistic programs of support and coordination.
2. Facilities survey travel is required in primarily to :
Conduct liaison with ~ and guide the on coaspa nt 25X1 C8a
thereof (eeconamic intelligence and travel folder).
b. Guide Strategic Branch, 25X1A6a
a. Review and maintain technical relations with major map
publiaEFls and cartographic installations.
d. Comeduet liaison with Theater
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The first two categories of travel cited above require
no discussion as they constitute necessary elements of the management
of an established field activity.
i. The third category relates to 's cartographic and mapping
inteUi responsibilities, an essential part of which is the
meinteeOaaie of an sass of f 0reign experimentation and aceopplisbmsnt
in these technical fields. 'fide quality of CIA's maps and production of
mopping intelligence bas benefited substantially in the past through
these visits MA discussions, and there is no reason to believe that
they hill]. not continue to be valuable to us.
5. Visits to Theater Oammumds (particularly OUGM) and other
fereigh posts serve to facilitate Coordination of production, differentiation
of similar tasks, and mut*l support. Field research and reporting
personnel have much of value to contribute to the viewpoints and perceptions
of headquarters snalysts, and throu& briefings epee to be better able to
reeognitae COMM Problem and to Cooperate with CIA in joint action to
salve them.
25X1A9a
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