SELECTION OF DEFENSE COLLEGES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01826R000700120008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: February 23, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : Cl 0-01826R000700120008-8
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23 February 1956
TO. Chairman. CTA Career Council
SUBJECT: Selection for Defense Colleges
Recommendations for the approval of the CIA Career Council are contained
in paragraph 6 page 3.
1. PROBLEM:
To devise an orderly system for the selection of candidates to
attend the senior Defense Colleges and the Harvard School of
Business Administration.
2. ASSUMPTIONS :
a. Attendance at senior staff training schools broadens the individual's
perspective, uncovers and develops his potential, and makes him an
executive of greater value to the Agency. It also gives him personal
contacts which he would not otherwise have. These contacts can be
advantageous to the Agency in the future.
b. Individuals who attend senior staff training schools are considered
to be the personal representatives of the Director of Central Intelli-
gence and are in a position to act as "ambassadors of good will" on
behalf of the Agency. In Defense College circles the Agency is judged
in part by their competence, potential, and behavior.
3.
a. All of the Defense Colleges, for all practical purposes, allot to
CIA a quota for candidates. In some, however, the quota is believed
to be flexible and vigorous representations by CIA would probably
serve to enlarge the quota, provided suitable candidates were avail-
able. The quotas at present are as follows:
National War College
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Naval War College
Air War College
Army War College
Armed Forces Staff College
Harvard School of Business Administration
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 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP80-01826000700120008-8
SUBJECT: Selection for Defense Colleges
ba At present candidates are selected in the following manner, in
accordance with 24 October 1955:
(1) All staff employees and staff agents who are eligible
and conform to certain broad criteria are invited to
make application;
25X1A
(2) Their applications are forwarded to the Director of
Training, with or without the recommendation of the
Head of their Operating Component and/or Career Service;
(3) The Defense Colleges Selection Panel screens the applicants,
conducts such interviews as are deemed necessary and makes
recommendations to the CIA Career Council;
(4) The Council reviews the recommendations and forwards a list
of candidates and alternates to the DCI for his approval; and
(5) The DCI selects the candidates and personally nominates
them to the Commandant of the Defense College concerned.
e In the Armed Forces and in civilian agencies of the Government (with
respect to the National War College in particular) selection is made
by a Board appointed for the purr.ose which screens and reviews
eligible candidates who have been nominated by the chain of command
In some services aDplications by individuals are prohibited; in some
they are tolerated; in all they are discouraged.
dy. DISCUSSION :
ae Many extremely good man have been sent to Defense Colleges in the
past although on some occasions there has been a dearth of suitable
applicants. This is undoubtedly due to the reluctance of some senior
supervisors to encourage qualified persons to apply, to the lack of
sufficient advance planning and lead time on the part of potential
applicants and supervisors. to the fact that five of the seven schools
concerned are located outside of Washington and to a lack of sufficient
individual career planning on the mart of the Career Services
bo In order that final selection may be on a more competitive basis it is
necessary that a larger number of nominations be available to the
Defense Colleges Selection Panel. At the same time it is recognized
that preliminary screening can best be done by the Career Services
themselves,who are responsible for career planning for their personnel.
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SIIDJMTs Selection for Defense Colleges
c. As much lead time as possible, a full year at least, is desirable
in order that Individuals may make plans for themselves and their
families and that supervisors may make plans for replacements. It
is also desirable that alternates be selected in case the principal
is unavailable at the last minute or to provide for additional
candidates in the event additional slots become available. Alter-
nates nominated in one. year could be considered as "front-running
contenders" the following year, if they are still available.
5.
The Panel concludes that the following procedure should replace
that in forme at present:
a. The Deputy Directors (Intelligence), (Plans)o and (Support) each
will nominate to-the CIA Career Council, at least one year in advance,
candidates for each College equivalent in number to Zo times the
number of slots available.
bo The nominees will be drawn from those recommended by the several
Career Services under the jurisdiction of the three Deputies. The
Career Services will have reviewed all eligible persons for whom
they are responsible and also will have considered the names of any
persons who may have applied. Applications may be accepted by the
Career Services'but will not be accepted by the Defense Colleges
Selection Panel.
The Defense Colleges Selection Panel will screen the nominations and
recommend to the Council candidates and alternates for the current
sessions of the Colleges and projections for future sessions where
possible.
d. The Council will recommend to the Director candidates and alternates
for the current sessions, The Director will make the final determina-
tion.
R.EONMENDATIONS
It is recommended:
a. That the procedure in paragraph 5 be adopted.
b? That the Defense Colleges Selection Parcel prepare the necessary
issuances to put this procedure into effect and that they be
published after limited coordination.
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 5CIA-1 1,000700120008-8
 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP80-018
SUBJECT: Selection for Defense Colleges
25X1A9a
25X1A9a
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Acting Director of Training'(;'
Alternate for DTR, Chairman, Defense Colleges
Selection Panel
Deputy Director of Personnel
for Planning and Development
Alternate for D /Pers , Member
Chief. P ' in and Program Coordination
Representative of the DD /P , Member
Aasistent to DD/I (Administration)
Representative of the DD/I. Member
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