INTELLIGENCE WAR GAMES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R001600120015-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: September 1, 1965
• Content Type: MF

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Approved For Relea3e 2003/03/28 : BEN 80B01676R0Q,i001200
its--tor for Ante lllg+rer e
.
?p*ty Director for Plans
q " i"-gamins as lush.
op ty r=irercter foz. ' cience & i
Leputy recta"' for *txpport
DIOCUMPE
C.eeral Counsel
1AeP*Ctor ' ener'ai
the Joint 1" er cars)** : gea y of t
Intel'ltgettce War Carnes
&$ccutiae r-egistsy
1965
i. The q ?1iar wa ecs y F?ase-w. r s eef whether the
should sponsor pe io fc W&:-'gamins of intelligence situations. The
Deputy T ,erector has asked some of yo: o: your reco rc .eo-J tkofi.
Ve he coostderec this rn tttes ith some caa'e axed has eci: a that,
in the lit of the cur., out -ovorld eitua ttorx io; . the a; t mpett. require-
Ls ior- ;anpowo t, we will niat at this time ins a take to ;ponsoi
of staff ie spensor:eg a rtes of COW-war games au the
cer month. a b.hey-ee that full i.:art=ictpatioo by the
irk these cola-wax games may well be an a4equate substitute for
*tgnate as the focal point for lisi*on with the Jo
: ctsi o guncy-spon$octd wa.r-ga r inl =
your Cooperation witl~. the Wer Plans staff, #WI
.gerncy, will be apprec its .
which h
t ar C:
Xaee"ukio
LKW:rcr:31 Aug 65
Distribution:
1 - each adse
1 - LKW chrono
Cl -If / 6)
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12 AUG 1965
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Intelligence War Games
REFERENCE: DDCI Memorandum, dated 16 July 1965;
Subject: Mr. Kirkpatrick's Memorandum
on Intelligence War Games
1. Although I am in agreement with Mr. Kirkpatrick's belief that
the Agency would be better prepared for crises if it periodically partic-
ipated in more intelligence war games, I do not believe that the Agency
itself should sponsor intelligence war games either exclusively inside
CIA or by CIA in conjunction with other agencies at this time.
2. If we had sufficient manpower I would be happy to explore Mr.
Kirkpatrick's proposal for additional war gaming; however, in view of
our present ceilings and priority commitments, it is recommended that
such exercises be continued only at the present level.
Desmond i z era
Deputy Director for Plans
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Execu ive ilegis4xy
L g
16 July 1965
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
Deputy Director for Plans
SUBJECT: Mr. Kirkpatrick's Memo (attached) on
Intelligence War Games
Before I show this memorandum to the Director, I would
like to get your individual reactions to the proposal. I am
a bit uncomfortable with the implication that the Agency can
conduct such war games in vacuo. In any event, I would ap-
preciate your advice.
25X1
Attachment - ER-65-4036
Richelms
Deputy Director
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15 July 1965
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT : Intelligence War Games
Eq o,3G
1. As a by-product of the planning exercise for the Agency
in which I am now engaged, it becomes strikingly clear that one of the
weaknesses in our present operations is a lack of intelligence war
gaming.
2. As a matter of background, I would note that Recommenda-
tion No. 3 of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in
1956 urged that there be greater participation of CIA in war gaming.
Since that date CIA has participated in war games, both national and
on a theater basis. These have proved to be valuable, even though
unpopular.
3. In working on the long-range plan, and particularly in
studying intelligence assumptions, it becomes apparent that there are
many contingencies which could occur and which would necessitate
rapid action on the part of CIA, including such things as redisposition
of personnel, viz. the Dominican crisis. I believe the Agency would be
much better prepared for these crises if it periodically engaged in
intelligence war games. These could be conducted either exclusively
inside CIA or by CIA in participation with the other intelligence agencies.
Some of the contingencies which could be war gamed might be very
remote from the point of view of possibility, but nevertheless would
provide valuable experience, while others could be events which
definitely will take place.
11
Each of these studies would revolve primarily around internal develop-
ments in a particular country, 25X1
would definitely have regional e ec s. Or, on a broader scale, what
would be required of intelligence if Communist China sent forces into
the Vietnam war? Have we given any serious consideration as to what
our reaction would be should the Soviet Union seek a much closer
relationship with the U. S. , including possible liaison with the intelligence
service and even exchange of information on Communist China?
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4. I would suggest that consideration be given to assigning
to the War Plans Staff of DD/P the responsibility for sponsoring
periodic war gaming of intelligence situations.
25X1
,Wyman 13. it pa ric
SURET
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT . Comments on Mr. Kirkpatrick's Intelligence
War Game Memorandum
1. I heartily agree with Mr. Kirkpatrick's conclusion
that the Agency should participate periodically in intelligence
war gaming. However, I do not believe that the CIA should
attempt to conduct its own in-house games or even to organize
and sponsor a series for interagency play. War gaming, of
the type outlined by Mr. Kirkpatrick, already is programmed
for the Washington community by the Joint War Games Agency
(JWGA) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the CIA is partici-
pating this week in a first FY 1966 JWGA game which projects
the current Vietnam situation.
2. On 21 July JWGA representatives briefed the Executive
Director and other senior Agency officials on the FY 1966
game program and invited full CIA participation, including
the sponsorship of games, suggestion of game topics, and
preparation of scenarios. The same invitation has been
extended to the DCI in a recent memorandum from the Director
of the Joint War Games Agency.
3. I recommend that the Agency increase its participation
in the programming and playing of JWGA cold war games. We
have already recommended to Colonel White that the War Plans
Staff of the DD/P act as broker for arranging Agency partici-
pation. This Staff already is the Agency focus for partici-
pation in other joint games and exercises and maintains
continuing liaison with the JWGA. The substantive responsi-
bility for game play and for scenario planning, however,
should be conducted by the appropriate line component. The
Office of National Estimates, for example, would be directly
involved in developing scenarios, and suggesting broad topics
Fr~bnrv~
_,;
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for game consideration such as those outlined by Mr. Kirkpatrick.
With the proper degree of participation in advance planning
for the annual JWGA program, we can achieve the intent of
Mr. Kirkpatrick's memorandum without embarking on a unilateral
Agency war games program, and do so more realistically. The
DD/I has considerable to gain from participation in such a
program. We are prepared to support any component charged
with Agency responsibility in this field.
25X1
PAUL A. BOREL
Acting Deputy Director for Intelligence
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i CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
TO
NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIALS
1
Ex. Director
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Deputy Director for Intellige
nce
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Deputy Director for Plans
i/JUL `v
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ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
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DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
Remarks :
FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER
FROM: NAME. ADDRESS AND
DATE
Richard Helms, DDCI
6/7/65
pp 1 ,[ a se
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FORM NO. 237 Use previous editions
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