COURSE REPORT: PREPARING FOR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT, 19-21 JULY 1976

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01590A000300110001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 17, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 23, 1976
• Content Type: MF

Approved Fgelease 2002/11/04: CIA-RDP79-01599,A000300110001-1
CONFIDENTIAL
2 3 JUL 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Training
25X1 C
SUBJECT Course Report: Preparing for
Overseas Assignment, 19-21 July 1976
25X1A
1. The three-day Preparing for Overseas Assignment
(POA) No. 6-76 was conducted 19-21 July for 17 students.
Phase I--Administrative, Cover, Medical, Legal, and Cultural
Differences that affect employees serving abroad--was held
in Room 1A-.07, Headquarters, on 19-20 July. Because of the
small number of students in the course going overseas 25X1C
25X1A Iwas conducted on a tutorial basis in the am er
of Commerce Buildin on 21 July. The overseas assignments
25X1A of the class are 25X1A
The content of the course was similar to
previous runnings, and the stated objectives were achieved.
The Special. Overseas Orientation course followed on 22-23 July
at Headquarters.
a. Student Partici anion: All of the course
sessions had students asking many questions. The two
sessions with the highest level of questioning were the
presentations by the Office of General Counsel, with
numerous queries on taxes and leases, and by the Cover
and Commercial Staff. There were no major deviations
in student participation from established patterns.
b. Student Concerns : Many questions were raised
by the class on the subject of Cover. Student concerns,
as in the past, were related to the administrative
problems and inconsistencies that many felt have long
existed in the Agency's cover system. A few officers,
for example, explained that they had recently returned
25X1A
a? stated tnat ey were aware o e many pro e
Approved For Release F/ E - h79-01590A00030011
25X1
 Approved Forjtelease Q F/ ft 1t79-0156fi@O00300110001-1
25X1 C
25X1 C
25X1A
and that these have been under study for quite sometime.
They also discussed the recent changes agreed to by the
Agency
c. Course Objectives: The class members were
provided with a course evaluation for each of the two
phases which included a numerical scale to determine
how well in the student's estimation the course met its
objectives. On a scale of 1 to 7 (7 being the highest),
the average for the class for Phase I was 5.5, and for
Phase II it was 6. Student evaluations gave the highest
ratings to Joan Wilson, Foreign Service Institute, on
"Living in a New Culture" in Phase I and to 25X1A
OTR for his tutorial on 5X1C
The lowest
ratings were for the presentations by the Central
Processing Branch and the Benefits and Services Division.
d. , Observations: There is some duplication of
subjects and speakers between this course and the
Special Overseas Orientation course (SOO). Some of the
students had previously attended the SOO and had heard
some of the same presentations. Others were scheduled
to attend the next running of the SOO which followed on
Thursday and Friday. Also, some of the students were
scheduled to depart for their new assignments within
two weeks, and therefore, the coverage on topics of
packing and shipping household goods along with other
topics was too late for them.
e. Results of Ch~ari es: For the first time, POA
and SOO were sc e u ed baack-to-back and held at Headquarters.
Scheduling the courses back-to-back is more convenient
for the students in that they have one full week of
training rather than three days here and another two
days several weeks or a month later. However, it does
not solve, but rather increases the problem of duplication
previously mentioned.
f. Problems: The topics of "Life Overseas Today,"
"Benefits and Services While Living Abroad," "Cover,"
and "Mental and Physical Health" are covered in both
the POA and the SOO. The Office of Medical Services,
the Office of Personnel, the Office of Training and the
Staff all provide speakers, in many
instances e same speaker, for both courses. The POA
is designed for employees going overseas for the first
time, and the SOO is designed for all employees scheduled
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2002/11/04 :2CIA-RDP79-01590A000300110001-1
 Approved For,,,Release 20(/ D#/I9-01599,pE000300110001-1
for an overseas assignment, resulting in a larger
number who need to take the SOO. This further compli-
cates the scheduling and topics for coverage between
the two courses.
g. 'Contemplated Changes: A meeting will be held
by the Chief, Intelligence and Midcareer Branch, with
the chairman of the Special Overseas Orientation course
to eliminate wherever possible the duplication in
subjects covered and in speakers used and to coordinate
future runnings of the courses.
h. 'Data: Class enrollment in Phase I was 17,
including two dependent wives and one dependent husband.
Of the 14 staff members, 9 came from the DDO: EA - 3,
EUR - 2, AF - 2, LA - 1, and ISG - 1. In addition,
three officers were from the Office of Technical Service,
one from the Office of Security, and one from the
Office of Political Research. Phase II had an enrollment
of four. The course participants ranged in age from 23
to 43 with an average age of 30.7; the grades ranged
from GS-04 to GS-13 with an average grade of 8.3;
length of Agency service was 3 months to 26 years and
averaged 6.5 years.
Attachments:
1 - Student Roster
2 - Course Schedule
3 - End-of-Course Data
(ONFIDENTJAL
25X1A
Approved For Release 2002/11/0 : CIA-RDP79-0159OA0003001 10001 -1
 Approved For Release 2002/11/04: CIA-RDP79-0159OA0003001 10001 -1
Next 3 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2002/11/04: CIA-RDP79-0159OA0003001 10001 -1
 Approved F elease 20 1111 #9IT~QP79-015! 000300110001-1
OFFICE OF TRAINING
INTELLIGENCE INSTITUTE
PREPARING FOR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT
"NO. 6- 76
19, 20, and 21 JULY 1976
ROOM IA-'67
HEADQUARTERS
COURSE CHAIR ?I11N :
25X1A
Room
Chamber of Commerce
Extension
25X1
TRAINING ASS
N T:
25X1A
Room 921
Chamber of Commerce
Extension
25X1
{~rr~~ii~,~rp I rm
Approved For Release 2002Aq 64 :'CIA-RDP79-01590A0003001
10001-1
25X1
 Approved For Re lse 2002/11/04: CIA-RDP79-01590AA600110001-1
CONFIDENTIAL
COURSE OBJECTIVES
PHASE I: Overseas Service for CIA
Participants are expected to:
(1) learn about the administrative,
cover,.medical and legal factors
that affect CIA employees serving
abroad; and
(2) increase 'their ability to cope
with cultural differences that
may be encountered in host countries.
25X1 C
Approved For Release 2002/IANF I $FfI'~ MUg-01590A000300110001-1
 Approved F elease 200 I . VkIMP79-015 1000300110001-1
Preparing for Overseas Assignment No. 6-76
25X1A
Monday, 19 Jul,
0330-0345 Registration
0^45-0900 Introduction To The Course
Following a brief explanation of the course
objectives and schedule, participants will
introduce themselves to the class. Of parti-
cular interest is previous overseas experience
and-current destinations.
0900-1000 Life Overseas
Deputy Tor
OOperations Training
I I who has served eighteen years
in - ne i.eld, will reflect on how life
overseas has changed since he joined
CIA in 1951. Fie' will draw from his own
experiences in suggesting some of the
advantages and limitations you may
encounter in your new assignments.
1015-1045 Reading: Transplanting Your '?ousehold
This afternoon?s panel discussion on
moving to an overseas assignment will
be based on this article. You are
encourage to prep are for the question-
and-answer exchange.
-16-45 -1145-- Legal '? esponsibilities
D 900 1OOO
ul-
IIAJ249CI20 ~t, General Counsel
An Agency lawyer will review the legal
documents, including the will, power of
attorney, insurance policies, etc., that
you should have in hand prior to your
departure. He will also alert you to the
responsibilities, such as federal and state
tax returns, that you will have during your
tour.
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
Approved For Release 2002 D V ?I$QQ79-01590A000300110001-1
 Approved For R se 20024 4 .j 79-01590A 300110001-1
Monday, 19 July (Continued)
1145 Lunch
1300-1400 Good iealth--Your First
Priority
Office o
Medical Services
25X1A'
An experienced overseas officer will
suggest how you can best insure good
mental and physical health, and attempt
to set some old myths straight.
1415-1515 Living in a New Culture Joan Iri.ison
ogre gr.evice
Institute.,
Department of
State
Culture shock is a very real phenomenon.
It involves the impact of unforeseen
problems besetting us when moving from
one. cultural environment to another..
Our speaker will suggest some of the
more difficult areas of adjustment, and
indicate ways in which we can better
prepare ourselves for living and working
abroad.
1530-1630 Trans2lanting"Your
Household
A panel-of experienced travelers recently
back fror_a overseas will offer useful
advice on moving to'a foreign country.
You are encouraged to ask questions.
25X1A
Approved For Release 2002/1Ct(gl4FJAqM-01590A000300110001-1
 Approved F%Welease 2QCMf'll/J Tc BDP79-015000300110001-1
Tuesday, 20 July
0830-0900 Readings: "A Guide to Self-Taught Skills
in Cross-Cultural Communication"
"Culture Shock and the Problem of
Adjustment to New Cultural Environments"
"Characteristics of American Culture"
1045-1145
1''A&AAa) Iq
Central Processing
Mile t, en ral
Processing Branch
The speaker will review the organization
and functions of the various components
of the Central Processing Branch and
discuss how each assists you in your
overseas processing. welcomes
your personal questions--if he does not
know the answer, he will try to direct
you to someone who does.
1015-1130 Overseas Benefits and
Services
Bene f its any.
Services Division
The benefits and services, including
Federal Employees Life Insurance and
Federal Compensation, that you can
expect to have while living abroad will
be reviewed.
1130 Lunch
1300-1400 Cover--'':shy and How?
The function and rationale of working
and living under cover will be explained.
During this session, we will divide into
two groups--based on your specific cover
assignment--in order that your individual
questions can be answered in greater depth.
1415-1630 Film- Jaries Bostain--A Cross-Cultural
Commentary
A scientific linguist, Foreign Service
Institute, Department of State, will discuss
the peculiarities of the American culture
vis-a-vis contrasting verbal and non-verbal
communication, and social ethics and values.
cj 5
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
eolav
Approved For Release 200 UQ4 =RlDP79-01590A000300110001-1
 5X1A
Approved For Release 2002/11/04: CIA-RDP79-0159OA0003001 10001 -1
Approved For Release 2002/11/04: CIA-RDP79-0159OA0003001 10001 -1