INSCOM GRILL FLAME PROGRAM (IGFP)

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP96-00788R002000250058-1
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
November 4, 2016
Document Release Date: 
May 12, 2000
Sequence Number: 
58
Case Number: 
Content Type: 
MF
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP96-00788R002000250058-1.pdf241.78 KB
Body: 
Ti N1 AnrYrnvcrl Pnr Rclcncc 9nn ~AW , ; (~ QA ng _ MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SUBJECT: INSCOM GRILL FLAME Program (IGFP) 1. (U) Definitions. VVUKKIIV'G PAPER a. (U) Psychoenergetics. The study of informational and energetic processes associated with paranormal mental functioning. An older term commonly used in relation to such phoenomena is extrasensory perception (ESP), which includes telepathy and clair- voyance. b. (U) Remote Viewing (RV). One of many (apparent) sub- processes of psychoenergetics which pertains to the specific human ability to acquire and describe, by mental means, information blocked from ordinary perception by distance or shielding, and generally believed to be secure against such access. 2, (S/NOFORN) General History. a. (S/NOFORN) The US intelligence community has been involved in evaluation of psychoenergetics since 1972. Earliest involvement 'btA was directed toward aAtassessment of Soviet/Warsaw Pact psychic research. b. (S/NOFORN) Prior to September 1978, the 902d MI Group, US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) had begun pre- liminary threat assessment of Soviet/Warsaw Pact psychoenergetics research in an effort to evaluate Operations Security (OPSEC) ramifications via-a-vis US Forces (GONDOLA WISH). C. (S/NOFORN) In September 1978, INSCOM was tasked by ACSI, DA to establish a program to examine potential use of psychoenergetics for intelligence purposes (GRILL FLAME). Initially,.. specific interest was focused on that element of psychoenergetics identified as Remote Viewing. ASSIFIED EY: MSG, OACSI, DA DAMI-ISH, DTG 200 Jul 78 96-00788R Q2 p58 l X0 Approved For Release 2001/04/OtNf J 1A1t1RVil\Lf! DA"DED GRILLFLAM Approved For Release 2001 - 788ROO2OOO25Qb"igNG PAPER d. (S/NOFORN) In vlew..o (then) concurrent DARCOM and MIA (thru FTD) contract involvement with Stanford Research Institute, International (SRI) in the area of RV training, funds contributed by ACSI, DA and INSCOM were allocated to DARCOM for the purpose of "satelliting" initial INSCOM personnel training on the extant DARCOM/SRI contract. e. (S/NOFORN) Due to involvement of several diverse military services and DoD civilian agencies in psychoenergetics investigation/ training, a DoD level joint working group (GRILL FLAME Working Group) was established under the auspices of Dr. LaBarge (then Under Secretary of the Army) for coordination purposes. 3. (S/NOFORN) INSCOM GRILL FLAME Program Development. a. (S/NOFORN) In September 1978, INSCOM was tasked by ACSI, DA to establish a training familiarization program using specially sel- ected INSCOM personnel, establish. RV intelligence collection tech- niques, and to establish a system for responding to intelligence col- lection requirements so that RV produced data is quickly and efficiently used. b. (S/NOFORN) Screening/selection of prospective INSCOM RV personnel was accomplished during the period December 1978 to February 1979 employing a general sketch of personality traits. which had been observed/compiled by SRI. 251 INSCOM personnel in the Baltimore-Washington area were considered, 117 of these were interviewed. Of 30-40 highly prospective candidates, 12 were finally selected based solely on their respective future assignment avail- ability. In February, SRI researchers in conjunction with IGFP management selected six of the final 12 candidates for training based on personal interviews conducted at Ft. Meade, MD, Of those selected, a cross section of professionals from the three general intelligence Approved For Release 2 0788ROO2000250058-1 WORKING PAPER Approved For Release 2001/0 ; 1 788RO020002WO,G PAPER collection disciplines (HUMINT, PROTINT, and SIGINT) was achieved. c. (S/NOFORN) In-house (INSCOM) familiarization/training of the RV personnel in SRI RV protocol to prepare for their SRI training sessions began in February 1979. During the period April-October 1979, 170 RV training sessions were conducted. During the period April-June 1979, six RV personnel were progressively cycled to SRI for 5 consecutive RV training days each, during which they received training in RV "beacon" technology. During the period July-December 1979, five of the original six RV personnel were returned to SRI for two weeks each for further "honing" of individual abilities observed during their earlier training sessions. During this training cycle, emphasis was placed variously on "beacon", geographic coordinate, and 35mm slide,Tpreeognitive 35mm slide techniques. d. (S/NOFORN) In the absence of subsequent SRI training activity, IGFP in-house training of new RV personnel has occurred on an as re- quired basis as personnel shortages have arisen. 4. (S/NOFORN) IGFP Operational Summary. a. (S/NOFORN) Commencing September 1979, IGFP initiated oper- ational sessions directed against "real world" intelligence gaps at a low level, and concurrant to on-going training activities. This pos- ture was abruptly modified in November 1979 with the onset of the US hostage situation in Iran and a JCS request for IGFP collection assistance. Since then, IGFP has been fully operational in its response to "real world" US intelligence needs, and has conducted 317 operational sessions toward that end. Of these 317 RV sessions, 142 have been performed in direct support of JCS requirements stemming from the US hostage situation. The remaining 175 RV sessions have been in support of NSC, CIA, ACSI, DA, and INSCOM analysts. b. (S/NOFORN) During the period 17-25 April 1980, a total of Approved For Release 2001/04/0*.CIN W9A-U88ROO2OOO25OO58-1 f R1friv ;AlXD Approved For Release 2 - 96-00788R002000:01 G PAPER 28 RV sessions were conducted which were targeted against the. US hostage situation; comprising the sole mission of the IGFP during that period. 20 of these 28 sessions occurred during; the critical 23-25 April 1980 period when, as a result of special. JCS request, IGFP staff and RV personnel were assembled in a "safe site" to pro- vide full time around-the-clock collection of data.. At this time, IGFP continues to support JCS at an approximate frequency of 2 RV sessions per week. C. (S/NOFORN) As of 22 January 1980, IGFP has been operating under a Task Force structure comprised of 8 INSCOM personnel spaces taken "out of hide". The Task Force configuration is scheduled to last until July 1981, at which time a thorough review/evaluation of the effort will be performed to determine viability as a formal. collection activity. INSCOM's attempts to program increases in personnel spaces to prepare for the eventuality of formalization of the effort began with the FY 82 Program Objectives Memorandum (POM), in which an initial space enhancement of 12 personnel spaces was proposed. n Approved For Release 200 00788R00200WAK1 PAPER