LETTER TO COLONEL(Sanitized) V FROM VERNON A. WALTERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R001900030015-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2003
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: August 17, 1972
• Content Type: LETTER

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17 August 1972
STATOTHR Dear Colonel
I should have answered our letter before. I have
STATOTHR spoken to both General and General
about your case and they have been looking into it. I
have a feeling that it is difficult to slow a bureaucratic
juggernaut. I will take another reading soon and will
be in touch with you again before long.
My new job is even more interesting and enjoyable
than I expected it to be.
I hope our paths cross soon again. With every
good wish for continued success.
Faithfully,
Vernon A. Walters
Lieutenant General, USA
STATOTHR
STATOTHR
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LEADING TODAY'S SOLDIER IN EUROPE
REMARKS By
GENERAL MICHAEL S. DAVISON
COMMANDER'IN CHIEF
U.S. ARMY, EUROPE AND SEVENTH ARMY
BEFORE THE
WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
25 MARCH 1972
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Director Read, Members of the Center, Distinguished
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: Fortunately when your Director,
Mr. Read, asked me to appear here, he very kindly consented
to let me stay within my area of competence or, at least,
what I perceive to be my area of competence -- speaking about
social issues and leadership problems in United States Army,
Europe. My assigned topic, Leading Today's Soldier in Europe,
is a broad one. In fact, it is so vast that I felt con-
strained to limit myself to three or four major points and
have the bloodletting occur in the question and answer period.
Because of the rather limited time available, I will attempt
to be brief, concentrating on the following major areas: Con-
cerned leadership, drug abuse, the racial climate of the com-
mand, and finally sum up with my estimate of the quality of
today's young soldier on the continent.
Before any meaningful discussion of Leading Today's
Soldier in Europe can begin, I believe it is necessary to
examine sociologically and demographically just what sort
of soldier it is we have to lead. First of all, the Army
in Europe is a young army with young ideas. According to
the 1970 United States Census, there are over 40 million
youths from 14 to 24 years of age in this country. They
represent twenty percent of our total population. United
States Army, Europe has over 120,000 of these young men aged
17 to 24. They represent almost 70 percent of our force.
These men, coming from a youth-oriented society, bring to
the Army their contemporary characteristics.
The overwhelming majority of today's youth come from
an urban background. Only a sprinkling -- less than 5 per-
cent -- come from the farm. The product of a rather affluent
society, our young soldier has spent most of his time in the
schooling process. He desires to conform to peer styles in
outward appearance, especially in dress and hair styles.
Incidentally, I might add, clothing manufacturers and wig
makers have been quick to respond. The young man is liberal --
more open-minded than his elders -- perceiving a greater need
for change. All this is tied in with his somewhat suspicious
and idealistic nature. He sees the Army as self-serving and
overly pragmatic. Yet, he is functionally oriented, seeking
practicality and usefulness of things and styles t at affect
his own life. Basically he respects demonstrated ability-
But he withholds his respect for persons of vested rank
until they have proven themselves.
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In discussing the Army as a social institution, let me
mention what I see as some fundamental problems existing
between contemporary society and the military.
The groundswell feeling in our Nation avows no more
Vietnams. Some segments of our public have lost sight of.
the role of an army in a democracy. They see us as being
in the killing business rather than as a national insti-
tution designed to preserve the peace.
Recent moves in our society toward more participative
social organizations have tended to democratize the military.
The nature and extent of communication and soldier partici-
pation within the Army structure is a major consideration.
The concept of an all-volunteer force tends to evoke
memories held by older generations of an inward-oriented
military structure of the type described by James Jones in
his book, From Here to Eternity -- a structure riddled with
harsh and dysfunctional discipline. The understanding of
discipline as viewed by the civil sector, or indeed by some
of our older Army members, therefore needs redefinition.
It must be divorced from the traditional view that fear,
punishment, and coercion are the only means available to
discipline a fighting force.
In United States Army, Europe, we are constantly striving
to erase this traditional, outdated view of discipline. It
has always been my basic premise in dealing with people that
almost everyone wants to do the best job he can.
Therefore, we have sought to achieve discipline through
positive actions. By that I mean the type of actions that
will generate the best sort of discipline there is -- self-
discipline. The creation of discipline begins with concerned
leadership -- the kind of leadership that perceives each
soldier as 'a warm, live human being and not a faceless file.
It is the kind of leadership that recognizes that each soldier
possesses hopes, aspirations, and beliefs -- and also carries
with him his own bag of problems. If the leader then gives
each soldier a job he is trained to do and in which he feels
productive; if he provides him decent living conditions --
both in physical plant and social environment; if he promotes
racial harmony; if he controls alcohol and drug abuse and if
he provides wholesome off-duty recreation, then the leader
has created the conditions in which discipline will grow
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naturally and in which unit pride will flourish. At the
same time, the leader must be sufficiently stern to eliminate
the malcontents and misfits who militate against the develop-
ment of good discipline.
It has been our goal in Europe to create an ambience
of understanding so that the majority of our soldiers want
to do the best job they can. It seems to me to be the only
rational approach to achieving a ready, disciplined force
of high professional quality.
We are not alone in this problem of finding the best
means available to motivate youth toward desired courses of
action. In earlier times there were fairly reliable tech-
niques for psychologically motivating American youth toward
certain goals. It is questionable today whether these tech-
niques are still effective -- or even valid. I contend that
American leaders in all categories -- political, professional,
commercial, military -- will face increasingly severe pro-
blems in motivating their constituencies in desired directions
.in the future.
Dr. Janowitz has stated, and I quote: A combat ready force
fully sensitive to its heroic traditions and under closest
operational control can be trained and maintained without
brutality, personal degradation or mickey mouse disciip e.
Unquote. Gentlemen, I could not agree more. I see that as
my mission. Its realization rests with concerned leadership,
and resolution of the middle management difficulties of
getting the indifferent, young, short tour lieutenant and
the inadequately prepared NCO really involved with today's
soldiers.
The normal approach to correcting such difficulties
lies in the execution of professional training programs at
all levels. Such programs are underway. Of greater concern
and even greater importance is to change inflexible attitudes
on the part of change-resistant supervisory personnel. This
is where the character traits of young soldiers must be
recognized.
There are many important youth traits that have existed,
I suppose, since the creation of man. Idealism, liberalism,
and individualism are characteristics which all o icers and
older NCO's should understand. It is the otter traits of
our soldiers -- produced in large part by demographic
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changes -- which require greater understanding. I refer to
the trauma often caused by urban living, mass education,
mass communications media, and affluence.
New techniques of leadership and greater research are
required. Commanders in Europe are instituting novel ap-
proaches specifically geared to our changing times. Some
examples are enlisted men's councils, racial relations
seminars, alcohol and drug abuse workshops, human relations
councils, case study instruction of leadership techniques
and dramatic productions on race and drugs -- traveling
road shows.
In the area of research we have a group of seasoned
battalion commanders developing attitude surveys with the
technical help of Control Data Corporation. Many of the
findings reached thus far are not startling. This is reas-
suring because it means most commanders are operating with
the correct set of priorities.
Examples of some of our survey findings are:
Living Conditions -- The primary aim of the lower grade
enlisted men living in barracks is to achieve privacy.
Entertainment -- Young soldiers express a preference
for entertainment of a sedentary type.
Education -- Desires for learning are directed more
toward practical skills than improved general education.
Services -- Courteous treatment ranked highest in
need of improvement.
Personal Commitment -- Young white soldiers considered
pride in one's beliefs as most important, whereas the young
black soldier considered wanting to do well and the desire
for self-improvement as more important personal goals. We
have also used CINECOM of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to do
attitudinal surveys to assist us in further understanding
of the racial problem and soldier attitudes towards it.
There is much to be done in this field of research.
The characteristics of youth who become our recruits and
career soldiers are continuously changing. We must be care-
ful not to generalize. Our youth are not an homogenous
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group. According to Dr. Moskos, and I quote: The noted
value characteristic of youth could be construed as a kind
of set of values toward which many youth are moving, rather
than a description of a totality in the immediate present.
Unquote.
We could certainly use some help in these research
areas. Perhaps a few graduate students who work for Dr.
Janowitz or Dr. Moskos could spend a year with us? We
couldn't pay them -- but if they are in a reserve unit, a
call to active duty might be appropriate. I assure you
that challenging positions can be arranged.
You have received numerous reports, from a variety of
sources, concerning drug abuse in the military. Having
dealt closely with the problem in both Vietnam and Europe,
perhaps I can place this matter in better perspective.
Although drug abuse is not a new phenomenon, the relatively
recent sharp increase in the illicit use of drugs, particu-
larly among young people, is a matter of grave concern.
The problem is certainly not unique to the military. On
the contrary, it appears that, for the most part, we are
experiencing a condition which is relatively widespread in
our society as well as in many societies throughout the
Western world. Our studies, for example, indicate that
approximately three-fourths of our soldiers who have been
or are involved in drugs were first exposed before entry
into military service. Nevertheless, we acknowledge a
special responsibility to protect our soldiers from the
dangers of drug abuse, and to help those who have a drug
problem.
In approaching this goal, we have found that the most
important factor in drug abuse is the abuser -- not the
drug itself. In this regard, I believe that the basis of
our drug abuse prevention and control efforts must be a
humane and compassionate concern for each man as an indi-
vidua . This, then, is the underlying philosophy of our
drug control efforts in United States Army, Europe. We-
place primary reliance on education and find that two
distinct target audiences we have must be reached. First,
we have the officers and noncommissioned officers. These
people require - basic information concerning the character-
istics and effects of drugs, the causes of drug abuse, and
the development of effective drug control programs in their
units. But, most importantly, we must convince our officers
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and NCO's that the drug abuser is a person with a problem
who needs help and is not simply a criminal who show d be
punished.
In the second category, we have our young soldiers --
that is, those who are most prone to becoming involved in
the drug scene. For these young men we attempt to provide
factual information concerning the physical, psychological,
and moral implications of drug abuse, so that, at least, if
a soldier is into drugs or thinking about getting in, he
can make an informed decision about his conduct. In this
regard, we have found that the standard approaches to train-
ing, such as lectures, briefings and brochures, simply are
not effective. Credibility is a problem. The standard
establishment" approach to the topic simply turns off the
young soldier.
As a consequence, we rely heavily on the use of peer
group members who have special training or who have used
drugs and are now motivated to help control drug abuse.
These young men staff our drug counseling facilities; they
participate in seminars and workshops, and give theatrical
presentations on drug abuse. They act as advisors to their
commanders concerning the drug problem in their units and,
in some cases, serve on a full-time basis as members of
small, mobile teams which provide education and counseling
throughout the command. Our military physicians and chaplains
also play an important role in drug abuse prevention. In
many instances, they serve as members of drug information
and education teams which provide education and counseling
services for our troops. They are only effective, however,
when they are suitably motivated and properly trained and,
most importantly, can vibrate on the same frequency with
the young soldier.
Although a solution to the drug problem is not yet in
sight, we believe we have a much better understanding of
the problem now than we did a year or two ago. We know
that it is not overwhelmin , and we are encouraged by recent
data which suggests our efforts are meeting with some success.
During the second half of calendar year 1971, the number of
identified drug users was down. Prior to that, there was
a steadily rising trend. WWhile far from being an absolute
determinant, this down-turn is encouraging. On the other
hand there are disquieting indicators that the use of
opiates, while very small on a percentage basis, is never-
theless increasing.
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Having discussed concerned leadership and drug abuse,
what about the most important of our socio-military pro ems?
What about the racial climate in United States Army, Europe?
Clearly the deep-seated problems associated with race re-
lations are not subject to quick or easy solutions. But I
believe that these problems can be tackled effectively by
the Army -- and we are trying to do so.
Our Race Relations/Human Relations/Equal Opportunity
Program has top priority among many essential efforts. We
have sought the counsel of outstanding black leaders --
Robert Brown of the President's staff, Nathaniel Jones of
the NAACP, and Harold Sims of the Urban League, for example.
In order to round out our thinking and obtain feed-
back from the grass roots level, soldiers and dependents
are consulted. I've sought out and discussed this problem
with a number of the so-called "black militant leaders"
in the command. I'm convinced we are on the right track,
but the train has only commenced to move and it is a long
way to the end of the line.
As a social institution, the Army has certain ad-
vantages over the civilian sector to effect change. We
have the tools to do the job. We have the command struc-
ture. Our decision makers are close to the action. We
can set a shining example. Such statistical indicators
as we can devise in this subjective area are promising.
Organized confrontations of authority and between racial
groups are becoming rare. Reported assaults by blacks
against whites have decreased significantly. There has
been a decline in the number and influence of black dissi-
dent organizations and racially oriented underground
newspapers.
Participation by minority group soldiers and de-
pendents in community activities has increased. Equal
Opportunity staff officers have been appointed and are
working full time at all levels of command from my head-
quarters down to brigade. Human Relations Councils operate
at battalion level and in many of our companies. A Com-
manders Notebook on Equal Opportunity and Human Relations
has been distributed which contains guidance for leaders
at all levels. Fifth and Seventh Corps have traveling
race relations road shows which depict examples of pre-
judice and dramatize the need for mutual cooperation
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between all races. We have an excellent library of films
on black history, social attitudes and other pertinent
subjects. Another innovation is a program called operation
Awareness in which we bring to Europe successful black and
other minority group leaders for rap sessions with our
troops. We have had a series of meetings with officials
of the German Government to solicit the cooperation and
understanding of the German population regarding the race
problem. Officials at all echelons have responded imagi-
natively and sympathetically. Chancellor Willy Brandt set
the tone a year ago in a nationwide television app~for
tolerance and equal opportunity. Defense Minister Schmidt
repeated that appeal last June and September and again
last month. I have personally discussed the issue with
the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gustav
Heinemann, and with Helmut Schmidt. Additionally, I have
spoken to the Minister Presidents of all Laender, or
German states, in which we have American troops. German
officials are now taking the initiative in promoting
interracial contacts. At our request, the German Press
Council is recommending to its members that they not re-
fer to the color of American soldiers in reporting inci-
dents unless it is actually pertinent to the story. There
has already been a 40 percent decline in such citations.
Housing referral offices have been set up throughout
Germany to assist our soldiers in finding nondiscriminatory
housing. We require, in fact, all persons seeking offpost
accommodations to work through a housing referral office.
Even in the face of a critical shortage of rental units,
restrictive sanctions are applied when racial discrimi-
nation is evident. Likewise, business establishments and
places of entertainment which are guilty of racial discrimi-
nation are placed off-limits to all our soldiers.
I have thus far dwelled on the positive accomplishments
of our Equal Opportunity-Program. I do not want to mislead
you. We are far from our goal and much hard work lies ahead.
Our black soldiers believe we are honestly trying, but they
are waiting for positive actions at the lowest working level.
For most soldiers, the world begins and ends within
his company, and his personal welfare is dependent directly
on his company commander. At the moment, too many of our
company commanders are bewildered and confused and lack
real understanding of how to deal with their black soldiers.
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They lack comprehensive background and training in contem-
porary social dynamics. There is too much ethnocentrism
amongst NCO and officer leaders. The net result is a failure
in quite a few units to enforce a single standard of fair
and equitable treatment for all soldiers. The black soldier
who has been heartened by policy pronouncements on high can
be frustrated by the failure to act at his own level.
The ability or inability of our Nation to achieve an
all-volunteer force will, in the final analysis, rest on
public attitudes. Based on my observations of Army draftees
and volunteers over these past thirty-odd years, I submit
that national service is not repugnant to the majority of
the young men of our country.
Yet, there are those who would say that the young men
of today's Army are unequal to the task -- that they lack
the motivation and discipline of military men of bygone
days. They detect a decadence in today's young men. I
will read an expression of that thought -- and I quote: I
see no hope for the future of our people if they are to be
dependent upon the frivolous youth of today, for certainly
all youth are reckless beyond words and opinionated much
beyond their years. When I was a boy we were taught to be
discreet and respectful of our elders, but the present youth
are exceeding wise and impatient of restraint. Unquote.
That view was expressed by the Greek poet Hesiod and was
written 900 years before the birth of Christ.
It has been my experience, based on lifelong contact
with American fighting men, that no soldier has ever entered
into a line unit of the Army better trained, better educated,
better motivated when properly led, or more capable, than
the young soldier of today. The challenge rests with us,
the commanders, to give them the kind of leadership they
deserve. I believe that our country still needs an army
and, if this is so, it must be a good one.
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 P R 0 f: s T
REYKJAVIK.... BRUSSELS.... TOKYO.... BEIRUT....
> > Keep your weather eye on areas of the world that are rated "secondary" in
Washington. These are the _Wn..a_~aloIangt~ Ck.. pT aft.s.-
Take Berlin. That is a primary area. A Soviet move on Berlin could bring
confrontation with the U.S., even big war. So Russia is easing tensions there.
Take Bangla Desh--East Pakistan. Definitely a secondary area for the U.S.
So Russia went all out there to back awinner--India. Our report of the gains
Russia has just made in that area starts on page 14.
Look around at other secondary areas. There are plenty such in today's
world--potentially dangerous, but rated in Washington well below Berlin, Cuba,
Korea, Vietnam, the Mideast as crisis areas. To take just one group...
> > Iceland, the Faroe and Shetland Islands, the Norwegian coast are not yet
rated by-Washington as primary areas of crisis. These points bound the
Norwegian Sea a body of water north of Britain and many times larder than the
M?Fw?d.'_.:F.. .. 'XMfiC':Tf^t ;nHt+feS-.: '^4d?.i?:~'X:SeF' _.hY?:i~?.:S'.LL^:xa$.ral[lt#a-...u~.'_:e~i35b`??., - '9XmC+,!4+