A NEW CONCEPT IN MEDICAL STAFF OVERSEAS SUPPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06180A000200070003-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 3, 2002
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: August 13, 1962
• Content Type: MF

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13 August 1962
MOMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Medical Staff
SUBJECT : A New Concept in Medical Staff Overseas Support
(a) Memorandum For C/M3 from Chairman, Medical
Technicians and Administrative Panel dtd 31 August
1961, subject: Same
(b) Oral Request from C/MS to C/0D/) 10 August 1962
For Comments on Reference (a)
1. The expansion of medical technician and medical service officer
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is an evolutionary process. It is not a revolutionary action nor one
accomplished by wishing or saying it is so. Fortunately, time and
experience have been favorable to the hopes and ambitions of the medical
technicians, as the Panel has described them. This does not always mean
that hopes in terms of function, contribution, responsibility, and
authority have been or will be necessarily matched by comparable wage and
classification action. In general, I view the Panel's expressed hopes
favorably, however, medical technicians and service officers, and lay
administrative personnel must not become unrealistic to the point of
believing they can hope to exceed the overall value of a physician in a
medical environment nor regularly that of others who have devoted their
lives to intellectual, academic, and business achievements in other
environments. Their hopes are only to be realized on an individual basis
and not on a unionized mass program basis. Each will at individual rates
gradually rise above others as his total competence matches the existing
circumstances. Some have risen and will rise above their true competence.
In each case, time will seem endless, but each will have to learn that there
comes a time when he has reached his proportional limit for the rest of his
life.
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SUBJECT: A New Concept in Medical Staff Overseas Support
2. At this time, there are several comments relative to specific
paragraphs found in reference (a). Paragraph 3A (1) and (2)s Physicians,
as it is proper for them, continue to study the overseas clinical support
program. It is quite evident that change and expansion continues. Recently,
medical technicians have been added to several stations and several new
independent duty medical technician assignments have developed. The technicians
are accepted at some stations on an independent duty basis where a physician
would not be accepted. The technicians are accepted at some stations by
and non-Agency physicians, where an Agency physician would
not be accepted. These observations indicate that a static situation does
not exist and that it is always possible even greater numbers of senior
clinically qualified men may be needed in the future.
3. Paragraph 3B (1) and (2): Dual-role assignments are desirable
and several have been enjoyed by medical technician and service officers.
At this time such are in effect at and I and 25X1A2D1
one with 11 be operative shortly. One must remember there are
enders a non-medical problems related to this concept. If an
assignment calls for a major function of a security, finance, or personnel
nature, all qualified persons with a prime background in the subject
capability needed must be excluded while a prime trained medical technician
overrides them. It is not a likely management process. But, if a medical
technician has had pertinent training and is in the right place at the right
time and does demonstrate his competence,then, it is quite likely he will
be considered favorably for a simi.ler dual assignment in the future. Each
occupational category has its numbers, prerogatives, and jealousies; none
can rightfully be expected to surrender them any more than medical technicians
and service officers welcome an invasion of their numbers and assignments.
If sufficient advance planning and training is permitted and exchange of
personnel assignments at Headquarters with other components can be arranged,
the basic essentials will be in order to overcome the obstacles and to
afford an opportunity for future dual-role assignments.
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SUBJECT: A New Concept in Medical Staff Overseas Support
probably approved list for the January 1963 class. There is little
question but what the non-medical graduates of the training course would
be able to learn in a few weeks the minimum that might be needed of a
medical nature in order to do quite well medically with a dual assignment.
5. In spite of the difficulties and obstacles which are both real
and apparent, the Panel should not overlook the remarkable accomplishments
of about 30 percent of the technicians now on duty Men are
proving themselves to be capable in a variety of fields essential to the
Medical Staff contribution to the Agency. They have already become
exceedingly attractive to clinical, administrative, and I lelements.
Some of them no doubt will gradually achieve higher goals by training,
doing, and studying, but others will not because they will occupy themselves
with wishful thinking. Fourteen, to name some, have already done far
better for themselves than even they could have hoped for themselves when
they began Agency employment.
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