TRANSMITTAL OF STAFF STUDY CONCERNING THE PERSONNEL CEILING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R001100050003-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 5, 2002
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 7, 1952
• Content Type: MF

MAR 7 1 952
I IUMM UM FOR: Deputy Director (Plans)
Transmittal of Staff Study Concerning
the Personnel Ceiling
ICE: DD/P memo of 11 February 1952, Subject:
Personnel Ceiling
1. In response to the query contained in referenced memorandum
respecting the effectscf the personnel ceiling upon the current and
planned operations of OSO, there is transmitted herewith a staff study
comprising a general analysis of the subject. The various problems
posed by the inconsistency between the present ceiling and our opera-
tional objectives are presented, together with our considered recommenda-
tions for solution.
2. Specifically, the study points out that any ceiling must be
directly related to approved Tables of Organization to provide a firm
basis upon which to plan, direct, and organize our operational activities.
Since there is no discernible relationship between the two at the present
time, much operational indecision and uncertainty in the planning field
has resulted. Our primary recommendation, therefore, is that Tables of
Organization and ceilings be brought into a direct relationship con-
stituting Agency acceptance of OSO personnel requirements.
3. As a corollary to this recommendation, we request acceptance
of a revised Table of Organization basing our contention for what may
appear to be special consideration in this regard upon the fact that
the average rate of growth of the Office during the past year (Head-
quarters and field) has averaged Q persons per month which demonstrates
that 030 has observed the necessity for restrained recruiting.
Acting Assistant Director
Special Operations
Attachment
Staff Study
cc: ADD/P(A)
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.~DKc9likl~~ ~s'3" fE:'1v~Y8a
MAC 7 1952
TO: Deputy Director (Plans)
FROM: Acting Assistant Director for Special Operations
SUBJECT: Application of the Personnel Ceiling
to the Office of Special Operations
1. PROBLEM'.
a. The personnel ceiling established on 21 January 1952 is not
considered by OSO to be in consonance with either present or planned
commitments and functional responsibilities of this Office.
b. If the ceiling is maintained, damage may well result to signi-
ficant operations, even though this may not become apparent immediately.
Operational plans, and the planning function itself, are, moreover dis-
located by the inconsistency between the present and contemplated Table
of Organization on the one hand and the personnel ceiling on the other.
2. FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM.
a. The Office has never been staffed to a point commensurate with
its responsibilities, which have recently been increased, while the
personnel ceiling as applied virtually coincides with the personnel now
on duty or in process. (Annex 1)
b. In the preparation of this study, the ever-present necessity
for more efficient utilization of current personnel assets has been fully
reco
nized
It
h
l
g
.
s
ou
d also be remembered, however, that this Office has
long endeavored to create a permanent and secure espionage organization
through gradual expansion of its operational coverage. Should the list-
ing of some of the following operational tasks appear to be a citation
of initial efforts at perhaps too late a date, the plain fact of the
matter is that OSO personnel assets are spread too thin at the present
time to meet many of the most rudimentary requirements of the profession.
c. A number of functions of common concern to all the elements of
the DD/P complex have been assumed by OSO and cannot be adequately or
efficiently discharged without additional personnel. A certain number
of the necessary people can, of course, be obtained through mutual ad-
justment between contributing Offices; nonetheless, adequate handling
of the function in contrast to past neglect will, in most cases, require
more persons than have previously been committed.
C7
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DATE REVIEWERf
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e. Respecting staff functions peculiar to OSO, there are some, such
as Intelligence Audit and Requirements Control, which are considered essen-
tial to the management of current operations in their present scope and
magnitude but which are not yet manned at all. Other units with partially
filled Tables of Organization, such as the Operations and Plans Staffs,
are functioning with a minimum of personnel and a maximum work load.
Personnel requirements in the former category are estimated to be 0
while the requirements of the latter, being a derivative of our funda-
mental approach to the operational problem, cannot well be estimated owing
to the very uncertainty of that approach in terms of personnel.
f. In as much as the necessary expansion of operational and support
facilities for the coverage of priority targets and the exploitation of
targets of opportunity create a constantly increasing demand for replace-
ment personnel, there are a great number of projected operations directly
and adversely affected by the ceiling. Among the activities of immediate
urgency are:
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and each comment numb
before further routing.
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
esignations should be used in the "TO" column. Under each comment a line should be drawn across
h
t
s
ee
ered to correspond with the number in the "TO" column. Each officer should initial (chi
1
5 1 DD/P
25A1*
L ,iZ,
ROOM
NO.
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
MAR 7 19b2
I have asked .!WWf/P(~) to give me
an opportunity of discussing this
Paper when he has had tine to study
it. If you want an) one else from
our staff to attend such a
FORM NO. 51-10
FEB 1950
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? EN PRINTING OFFICE