A PROGRAM FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CAREER CORPS IN THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01826R000400090033-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 25, 1998
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: December 10, 1951
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2001/08/07 : CIA-RDP80-01826R000400090033-7
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1.0 December 1951
W21ORANDtJM FOR: Executive Secretary? Career Service Committee
SUBJECT s A Program for the Establishment of a Career Corps
in the Central Intelligence Agency
1. It appears to me that the best way by which the Urdted States
can obtain and retain a group of individuals c c apetemt in the complex
and difficult field of intelligence is to establish a career corps
in the Central Intelligence Agency. I think this. is particularly true
of those who must become proficient in the highly specialized technical
fields which .are basic to a successful intelligence organization,
2. By law the operating elements of the Central Intelligence
Agency, with the exception of certain facilities of the Office of
Operations, are foreign service activities and. must be akle to move
their personnel easily and often quickly in order that ever-changing
situations which occur throughout the world may be rapidly and adequately
melt, This requires persons of high moral caliber and above average
ability motivated by more than monetary return who are willing to spend
a considerable portion of their lifetimes away from the United States,
In order to gain a broad concept of the international intelligence
operation and not lose intimate touch with the techniques and problem
of field operations they must be willing to accept rotation of assign-
ment between different parts of the world and Washington with the
resultant disruption of domestic arrangements and the personal monetary
lose which reassignments invariably involve. There should be no
"palace guard".
3.. The only way that ccmq,etent, effective intelligence specialists
and executives, can be created is by a program. of rotation of assignment
of duties through the years with the c ansequefl ; enhancement of the individual's
over-all knowledge and judgment, To affect this and at the same time
retain a high standard of morale, the grade or rank and consequent pay and
authority must be in the individual rather than the job held, which is the
principal difference between Civil Service and a commissioned services
There is also a strong psychological factor inherent in an officers corps
which tends to increase effort to do well and retain membeushipe An
esprit de corps can be built up which will increase the effectiveness of
the organization and provide a motivation beyond the monetary and security
benefits obtainable..
he In order for the United States to have an effective Intelligence
Corps,, individuals must be mining to give up. the major portion of their
lives to this work with all its hazards, security inconveniences and
anorgmity. The benefits of being a member of the proposed career corps
m*et offer sufficiently strong personal inducements to attract and to retain
Approved For Release 2001/08/07 CIA-RDP80-01826R000400090033-7
 Approved For Release 200 LO j P80-01826R000400090033-7
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personnel of the high caliber necessary for the successful prosecution
of the national intelligence effort throughout the working years of
their lives, equal or greater benefits than now available to the
officers of the Foreign Service of the State Department or those of the
military service must be offered.
5. The creation of a career corps should be based on the
establishment of an Intelligence Service modeled along the lines, of the
Foreign Service of the State Departments as modified by the reeamnenda-
Lions of the Hoover Comiission, or one of the commissioned services such
as the Public Health Service, the Coast and Geodetic Survey or those of
the Defense establishment. The Civil Service system, the practices of
which the Central Intelligence Agency presently follows, does not
adequately meet requirements for overseas service set forth above, and I
do not believe that it is entirely adequate or provides a sound basis
for gaining the broad knowledge and experience required in the domestic
offices.
6o To summarise, it is rq opinion that:
(a) The establishment of a career corps is essential
to the successful prosecution of the activities of the CIA*
(b) Civilian personnel practices or those of the
Civil Service system are not suited for an intelligence
service career carps,
(e) Adequate inducements and benefits must be provided
in the proposed program to attract and retain individuals of
high caliber.
(d) An Intelligence Service should be established modeled
along the lines of the State Department's Foreign $ a'vice or the
commissioned services of the military establistm-tit, with equal
or ereater benefits.
Approved For Release 2001/08/07 : CIA-RDP80-01826R000400090033-7