AERO MEDICAL STAFF (AMS) PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00285R000100190029-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2002
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: September 25, 1969
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2003/01/28: CIA-RDP75B00285R0,W100190029-0
OSA-2690-69
25 September 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Aero Medical Staff (AMS) Personnel Responsibilities
The AIMS Aerospace Physiologist and Evasion and Survival
Superintendent's responsibilities are defined in the following
paragraphs and the rationale by which these individuals are
physically located in the Headquarters.
1. Aerospace Physiologist Duties..
a. Initiates and monitors research and development
programs in the life sciences area as applicable to
high performance manned aircraft.
b. Performs necessary research and development of
life support equipment, ejection seats, parachutes,
pressure suits and oxygen equipment.
c. Contracts for the development of personal equip-
ment required to fulfill the mission, and monitors and
closely coordinates industrial contractor efforts in
research and development of life support equipment.
d. Directs and monitors field level life support
programs with respect to:
(1) Procedures employed for supporting aircrews
and their personal protective and survival equipment.
(2) Equipment utilization, test, and maintenance.
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(3) Providing specifications for the acquisition
of new, improved, modified, or replacement items.
(4) Training of aircrews in aviation physiology,
personal equipment, and survival.
e. Participates in the indoctrination and training
programs of the field level life-support sections.
f. Participates in accident investigations as required.
g. Supplements field life-support personnel' during
deployments, if required.
h. Monitors activities of the Air Force and other
services in the field of personal equipment, ejection
seats, survival equipment, and parachutes.
i. Personally participates in environmental testing
of experimental life-support equipment.
J. Serves as contract technical monitor for all life-
support contracts coordinating closely with CMD/Compt/OSA,
D/M/OSA
k. Writes technical and status report on all the above.
1. Participates in low-pressure chamber flights at
Detachment G altitude chamber. This requirement seldom
will exceed three (3) flights per month occuring periodically,
all of which can be accomplished in a two-day period. It
is important to note that a great deal of money will be
saved by conducting pressure suit flights at the D a
ment
2. Evasion and Survival Superintendent: 25X1
a. Plans and organizes survival activities: Develops
and improves procedures for instruction of aircrews in
survival techniques,
25X1
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c. Inspects and evaluates survival and rescue
programs to determine compliance with directives and
policies. Examines rescue and survival equipment to
determine adequacy and readiness for use in environ-
ments such as arctic, desert, mountain, tropical and
water areas. Evaluates resuce-recovery techniques
employed by rescue/recovery personnel. Maintains a
current library on worldwide basis to have appropriate
material where required.
d. Tests and evaluates parachutes and aerial
recovery equipment techniques.
e. Conducts liaison with military and Agency
personnel concerning survival, evasion, escape, and
recovery.
f. Designs and develops survival equipment and
techniques in conjunction with appropriate Agency
organization.
g. Coordinates all plans for covert activity with
counterintelligence staff.
h. Parachutes frequently and regularly to maintain
proficiency. Conducts test jumps on Life-Support Equip-
ment to determine its serviceability and acceptability
for this program.
3. Prior to the loss of the "OXCZRT" Pro am and the
series of personnel reductions in OSA
Their separation o duties was fairly
c earcu , With the reductions, however, the Headquarters'
group has, of necessity, taken over many of the functions
previously carried out by the Detachments. Their most vital
function-remains, however, in conducting liaison with the
and the contractors (i.e', Davi 'ark Company
located on the East Coast. Frequent
visits to these companies are required in order to keep
abreast of overhaul responsibilities as well as to evaluate
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25X11
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engineering studies and proposals having to do with this
exotic Life Support Equipment. it would be more costly
and less efficient to attempt this effort from the field.
5. To place a Physiological Training Office at Detach-'
ment G would appear to be a waste of resources inasmuch as
the requirement only exists sporadically for training in
the physiological aspects of high-altitude flight, The
majority of Life-Support funtions in the field can be
accomplished by the Senior Master Sergeant presently as-
signed, If a field officer with such a background were
deemed necessary, it would seem reasonable to train one of
the assigned pilots in opeaations and allow him to function
in a dual capacity. Such an approach has been followed for
years in ADC where the full-time requirement for a
Physiological Training Officer does not exist either.
f
Office of Special Activities
25X
25X1
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AMS/USA
Distribution
1 - AMS/OSA
1 - It Chrono
I - D/SA
1 - D/O/OSA
1 C/Idea/O/OSA
I - Compt/PD/OSA
1 -- RB/OSA
USA- 2690, 69
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(24 Sep 69)
25X1
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