LIBERALIZED RETIREMENT FOR CIA PERSONNEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04718A002800040012-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 31, 2002
• Sequence Number: 12
• Content Type: REPORT

Approo For Relelse 2092/06/28 : CIA-RDP7*4718A002800040012-6
JUSTIFICATION
1TAB
LD_2
 SECRET
Approved For Relee 2002/06/28: CIA-RDP78-04718A002800040012-6
LIBERALIZED RETIREMENT FOR CIA PERSONNEL
This is a request for appropriate legislation to authorize a more
equitable retirement plan for employees of the Central Intelligence Agency
who are required to perform their duties under circumstances considered to
be unique in the civilian Federal service.
This proposal was submitted to Mr. H. Eliot Kaplan, Chairman of the
Committee on Retirement Policy for Federal Personnel on i . December 1953
for the consideration of that group. (Consider a reference to the official
attitude taken by the Kaplan Committee when and if such is made available
to the Agency.)
This Agency has instituted a professional career service, which in-
volves, among other things, a concept that employees are required to serve
where and when they are needed in the best interest of Agency activities.
In performing their assigned duties, many of these employees frequently
are subjected to conditions which differ markedly from those generally
typical of Federal employment. In the course of their careers with this
Agency many employees will serve overseas under various cover restrictions
which have an abnormal influence on their living habits. These individuals
are likely targets of forces inimical to the best interests of the United
States and are thus continually subject to potential hazard. In the event
of war or civil disturbance in their area of assignment, they become
immediately susceptible to attack or seizure. In addition to these general
hazards, many of the Agency employees are required to perform duties which
are hazardous in themselves. Also, certain of our personnel are required
to serve at unhealthful posts in the course of their career with the Agency.
The overseas activities of many CIA employees require a combination
of mental, physical and psychological characteristics which are found in
diminishing proportions as employees advance in age. This is particularly
true among employees who have been engaged in such activities for an
extended period of time. In order to permit an infusion into the organi-
zation of younger personnel who have the desired qualifications, and
also to permit the equitable separation of older personnel, the older
Agency employees should be permitted to retire at an earlier age than
would be possible under the current Civil Service Retirement Act, and
this retirement should be on the basis of full annuity. Retirement on a
full annuity basis is considered equitable since many of these individuals
would suffer financial hardship in converting to other employment,
considering the specialized nature of their official activities and the
limitations imposed on divulging any information pertaining to these
activities.
Accordingly, it is recommended that legislation be enacted to permit
the retirement of the personnel referred to above on full annuity at an
earlier age than is permitted under the existing Civil Service Retirement
Act. It is recommended that, within the general framework of the present
Civil Service Retirement Act, personnel serving under the conditions
Approved For Release 2002/06/fO-F2DP78-04718A00280004eO1iO#6
 SECRET
Approved For Release 2002/06/28 : CIA-RDP78-04718AO02800040012-6
w
previously indicated receive extra service credits. Under the attached
proposal, an individual's age requirement for voluntary retirement would
be reduced by six months for each year of his overseas service. Moreover,
the age requirement for his voluntary retirement would be reduced an
additional two months for each year of such service at an unhealthful
post. In computing years of creditable service for retirement purposes,
an employee would receive a credit of lz Tears for each year of his over-
seas service and an additional credit of 7 year for each year of such
service at an unhealthful post.
This request is consistent with the precedents established by the
Congress in authorizing liberalized retirement plans for certain other
groups having similar requirements within the Federal service. The
Congress has authorized liberalized retirement plans for Foreign Service
personnel and for personnel whose duties involve the investigation,
apprehension or detention of persons suspected or convicted of offenses
against the criminal laws of the United States. Under the Foreign Service
Act, Foreign Service officers having twenty years of service who have
reached the age of fifty years are entitled to retirement. Such individuals
are also granted additional service credit for time spent at unhealthful
posts. Special retirement for investigative personnel is provided by the
Civil Service Retirement Act of 1930, as amended, which provides that such
personnel may retire at age 50 when they have rendered at least 20 years
of service. This Agency believes that a special retirement plan for
certain of our personnel is consistent with the intent of Congress as
expressed in the two pieces of legislation referred to.
Although the retirement plan proposed by this Agency is more liberal
than that presently authorized by the Civil Service Retirement Act, it is
less liberal than the retirement plans of the Foreign Service, or of the
military services. Since a given employee in the course of his employment
with the Agency would serve overseas only a portion of his time, retirement
at an extremely early age would almost certainly be precluded.
Tab D2
Approved For Release 2002/06/5i(-&k1RDP78-04718A002800040012-6