STRESS OF OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R002400160022-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2007
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: May 23, 1980
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007/11/13: CIA-RDP83M00914R002400160022-9
23 May 1980
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Medical Services
FROM:
SUBJECT:
r
Chief, Center for Counterterrorism and
Crisis Response
Stress of Overseas Assignment
I. As you are aware, our Staff has been involved in
preparing people for overseas assignments in the context
of the increasing threat of international terrorism. In
thi.s~work we have dealt with both new and experienced
employees from all Directorates. During and following
crises, we have had the opportunity to observe the reactions
of a number of involved individuals. TDY travel has allowed
us to observe personnel in a number of stations around the
world.
2. The increasing hostility to Americans abroad, and
particularly to US government officials, has increased the
level of anxiety among both employees and their families.
Specifically, the threat of violence has become more
generalized and unpredictable. No longer is it sufficient
to calculate the risk. to oneself or one's family in terms
of a known enemy; real sources of danger include terrorists,
criminals, and mobs, all of which can occur, it seems, at
any time and at any place. At the same time, there is the
perception (real or imagined) that the USG is less able
and/or less willing to afford adequate protection to its
employees, viz. increased dependence on inadequate host
government resources, apparent ambiguous policy statements,
etc. In many cases employees successfully employ denial
in dealing with this stress for themselves, but their
problems become all too apparent in their concerns for
their families.
25X1
CONFIDENTIAL
. Approved For Release 2007/11/13: CIA-RDP83M00914R002400160022-9
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Approved For Release 2007/11/13: CIA-RDP83M00914R002400160022-9
3. More generally we have found that families are
playing a greater role in employee feelings about overseas
assignment. For years spouses have had a difficult role
of supporting employees by performing a number of opexational-li-I
functions about-which they know very little. Spouses are
becoming less tolerant of this exclusion and want greater
recognition. At the same time there is the increasing
inc-AA ence of spouses having independent careers; it is a
rare overseas assignment where one of the family's careers
does not suffer.
4. In the past the glamour of living overseas, as
well as significant financial benefits, helped employees
deal, with the above general problems as well as the more
specific stresses of particular locations (such as the
culttral problems women have in the Middle East). Conditions
have now changed so that the major benefit we hear from
employees about serving overseas is that it takes them away
from the problems at Headquarters. However, the problems
at Headquarters contribute to the stresses overseas insofar
as o.fE:icers in the field feel they are getting insufficient
support from Headquarters.
5. Increasing the financial rewards of overseas service
may reduce, but will not eliminate, the effects of the above
stresses. Its more direct effect would be to signal:a
reversal of the perceived trend to downgrade overseas duty
exemplified by the Congressional and Treasury pressures to 25X1
reduce allowances and tax benefits.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2007/11/13: CIA-RDP83M00914R002400160022-9