VIETNAM NATIONAL ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500450040-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 5, 2000
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: April 9, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/09/11: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500450040-5
U.S. Oftici?1s Only
CO3';FIDca_1 A7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Indochina (Vietnam)
PLACE ACQUIRED
(6r SOURCE)
DATE ACQUIRED
(l+Y SOURCE)
Vietnam National Ariny
25X1X
National Army in the field and iu trainirg.
2. They are, in general, a pretty sloppy Dutch of soldiers--lazy, uninterested,
badly trained, and unhappy. In the Mast year there has been progrene and
noticeable improvement. However, it it still considered a catastrophe to be
drafted. The period of service for dratted men three or four years ago was
18 months. It is now three years and almost certain to be extended. Morale
to very low.
tt,. ,..I+*t,... Cf +w. .... _ ...~. .
enthusiasm.
The nationalist army is woefully Finort of officers, but one of the few bright
spots in tae picture is the Officern Candidate School at Dalat.
4. 'Me boat of the native soldiers were two battalions of Hoa He
taken into the nationalist army In LCC 53. These pooplo came from a reiigiouq'
political group ahicL controls large rice lands in South Vietnam. They are
snappy, well-trained soldiers
there two battalions had changed sides five times
sines 19 , but they were merconaries in the true sense of
the word and not Communinte.
2L/E:
234. i 53../E.
2,3.1 521 /F.
U.S. Officials Only
CONFIL,NTIAL
j nAYT
25X1X
25X'1 X
25X1X
25X1X
25X1X
TL's report :e for the use t9lthln the USA of the Into111ganoo oom)nontd of the Depertmonto or
Agencies 1ndIohted above, It is nct to ba ttar.:??tittod overseas v.'ithout the cvncurretro of thn
oriffir,ittng oflloo through thow h.u itant Dlracto: of the 01!'.2p, of Colle't:on and Dissominat:on, CIA.
Approved For Release 2000/09/11: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500450040-5