COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 2012
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: June 27, 1951
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/19: CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6
OfficeMemorandum o UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
FROM
SUBJECT:
Mr. Lyman B. Kirkpatrick
Chief, Communications Divi.si.on
Commun-i cations Personnel
DATE: 27 June 1.951
1. For your information, attached is a copy of my memorandum
to the Assistant Director for Special Operations concerning the
shortage of personnel*
is working on the problem.
Attachment
is cognizant of this situation.and
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/19: CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/19: CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6
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.4G > s C Of, Cc.;:t,:anicatione Division
ztiono Porconnol
1. ahia in in Ca_rthor reference to nny proviouc t:oror.acki ro1nxtive to
critical rnrrconnol citun.tion ;rcin tho Co.:uinicationc Divi:cicc. I
1:,_.vo c ;--11:~ tica 11y pointed out on rurmorouc occasions durin the nn-,t ye,-I::?,
~.. ;xcui 1y on 13 Soi7tcr 1cr and 6 Docombcr, 19SO, that the Ccw:::~;riie t
?~ i ,ion could not moot its obliU nano unless C{C etic ctoj~c vol c t[2. on Vo
...'cyic?r~ tho ncodna m r ,ornol. I -,aviced tho Cor ^n~.~zic, ti on : oa_?c. in J;:Y :?y'
of th:ie year of this ei i .tion. i o~~ovor, porconnol in . cufii.c10:1t q ' U
r ;
have not 'aeon forthcoming up to this tiro.
2. X t` rich to c &rice You at this tirO that the Div'i pion c""_t"J.noii T117i
.Lt';
cc - v c c lil.I C. _kc~.Q ~ _` 'f5 c 0 ~i~2E: ~" 4077 w.Cu V. ii"? .'3
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O -ho :toy 0c:-oC ic 11y to 'ino o C01ior C+'C ';j'i]rjoct q i1 i` 12 `;
` ?.?_': 'L_ .. v :4icn. A review of the incroaco is not porconnol c tr cn;, th of
Capision c j-r1nr- the past el .T months loads to no other conclu .`Lea L w thn ?'-.:s
*SCyouonn3l ,a7.n hae boon incuffic? on t to keep . Paco with the ti ncrea; in c r: ?:~
:'ho ;app 13 rapidly increasing daily.
3. r?~e situation will be alleviated to only a criu,ll do c.-00 chot1
a..- ?:.'o.iimato1y= porcomiel now in procooc enter on duty within Vii n -U 7'C'?
The individuals will need a conetderablo period of training and
C4'1net be conoic eroc1. i=odiatoly. usable upon their entrance on duty.
4. Aa an emergency r,teaeuro, it is strongly reco:: mended that
7o:;itiVe ntop be taken at this tiro on a priority bade to obtain enlio tcci
viii t-2rT %"%ercoanol. It Is intonciod to 11n0 ouch rorconnol In cu~:?: art Of
i)r o jcc t n in 11ti12'ope and the P/ar r :a !"lae
r;'?osc~r~t Su 'iiciont to provide for thoco additional
> oroonnol. It ic, thorofo:o, roquoct,:d that action "ran taken to :~.crc e t _ a
and to procure=vallfiod high npcod radio operators end teollnicinas
from the military service. to.onable this Division to fulfill Ito oblig .tionc
in xrrpo_ if of GPO projects,.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/19: CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/19: CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6
MEMORANDUM FOR:
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V1 SOO,
23 June 1951
"The lack of personnel in the Communications Division,
particularly in training pools and overseas has reached such
serious proportions that it appears doubtful whether present
commitments can be met and communications activities vital to
the support of the operations of the Central Intelligence
Agency properly carried out. The authorized T/0's established
for the support of communications activities of this Agency
have not been adequately filled since my assignment here nearly
two years ago, and records indicate the same situation has
existed since the organization of the Agency in 1947.
As a result of the chronic personnel shortages in this
Division, sound personnel rotation and training programs
designed to build a strong cadre of communications officers
experienced in intelligence communications have suffered
considerably. Morale has been adversely affected by the
uncertainty of the length of assignments due to lack of
replacements; operations have been hampered and in some
cases adversely affected. Many worthwhile programs and
projects have been worked out only to fail of implementation
or lose their effectiveness because suitable personnel were
not available in sufficient numbers to prosecute and support
them.
On 17 July 1950 (Tab A), I wrote the Director expressing
my concern over the anticipated difficulties which might arise
in the procurement of personnel and asking for the assignment
25X1 25X1 of a quota of members of the Armed Forces. On
18 August 1950 (Tab B), I asked for= enlisted ]personnel
25X1 for eventual assignment in support of
communications activities. On 13 September 1950 (Tab C),
I wrote the Director expressing my deep concern over the slow-
ness with which the personnel requirements of the Communica-
tions Division were being met, and pointed out my fear that
operations could not be supported unless procurement and
processing of personnel at all levels was greatly accelerated.
Subsequent to the memorandum of 13 September 1950, frequent
status reports were submitted to the Chief, SED and to the
AD/SO pointing out that a serious situation continued to
exist and urging that procurement and entrance on duty of
personnel be expedited. On 18 September 1950 (Tab D) and
again on 16 Decer:iti.er 1950 (Tab E), I submitted suggestions
for means by which procurement and training of personnel
might be expedited. On 31 January 1950 (Tab F), I informed
the OSO/OPC Communications Board of the serious situation
existing and of the fact that I believed the Communications
-Division would be unable to support projected activities
with the personnel presently a_v .il1ab e. buriIn
recent
months the lack of net incr gqfn GprfijW~Wat ns personnel
tadnfar. ,ha Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/19: CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/19: CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6
NOW :9 6'L' Now
has been the subject of many discussions and conferences.
On 20 June 1951 (Tab G), I advised the AD/SO that the
Communications Division was no longer able to meet properly
its commitments with the personnel available to it and suggested
that as an emergency- measure military personnel be obtained
on a priority basis.
After careful consideration of the entire problem and
lengthy discussions with my staff, it is in my opinion that
the underlying cause of the present difficulties is lack of
the assignment of a sufficiently high priority to the procure-
ment an ocessing of Communications personnel. In view
of the existing vacancies in the Communications Division,
T/O, it does not appear to me -,"zt sufficient effort is being
expended to provide the required personnel support for the
Communications Division.
I recommend that consideration be given to one or more
of the following proposals:
A task force be organized in the personnel
office consisting of a sufficient number of procure-
ment officers and assistants to assure the complete
coverage of all schools and colleges in the United
States particularly state universities and small
colleges as well as technical institutes and schools
of a similar type.
That general information bey made available to
prospective employees as to the type of work and
opportunities to be expected together with a true
picture of the interesting as well as difficult
aspects of CIA communications as a career.
That publicity be given to the opportunities
afforded Communications personnel in the Central
Intelligence Agency and a series of articles be
published in periodicals likely to be read by
students glamorizing the work of the intelligence
communicator. I think if properly handled, the
mention of the Central Tntelligence ALYencv would
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That contractual arrangements be made with leading
radio schools providing for procurement, holding,
and training of communications personnel for the
Central Intelligency Agency. This proposal has been
made before but has not been implemented.
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/19: CIA-RDP84-00499R000700130028-6