PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A001700070009-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: March 7, 1962
• Content Type: REGULATION

Approved Fpr F ;ele 2OO
DCID No. 1/3
(New Series)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTIVE NO. 1 /3
(Revised 7 March 1962)
1. Pursuant to NSCID No. 1, paragraph 3, the following list of Priority
National Intelligence Objectives (PNIOs) is established as a guide for the
coordination of intelligence collection and production in response to re-
quirements relating to the formulation and execution of national secu-
rity policy. This list replaces that contained in DCID No. 1/3, 4 January
1961, which is hereby rescinded.
2. In accordance with the criteria set forth in the Annex, all items
in this listing are deemed to be critical national intelligence factors re-
quiring priority attention and effort. Distinction is made, however, be-
tween four levels of priority within the general priority category. Order
of listing within each of these four groups is a matter of convenience in
presentation and has no significance with respect to the relative priority
of specific items within the group.
3. Although a given subject may be listed as a matter of priority, not
every bit of information relating to it will be required with equal urgency
and some may be procurable by routine means. It is therefore incum-
bent upon research personnel to exercise discrimination in allocating
analytical resources and in formulating information requirements so as
to accord priority only to those aspects of the listed subject which
actually require a priority research or collection effort. Similarly, if
specific collection and analytic facilities are inadequate to satisfy all the
requirements levied upon them, a determination of priority in their use
will have to be made, under the general guidance of the PNIOs but in
terms of specific operational capabilities.
4. In order to afford a stable basis for intelligence planning, this Direc-
tive is designed to remain valid over an extended period. It will be re-
viewed annually or on the request of any member of the United States
Intelligence Board. It is recognized that urgent interim requirements
may arise requiring ad hoc treatment.
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SECRET
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING
PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES
1. Priority National Intelligence objectives should be directly related
to the intelligence required in the formulation and execution of na-
tional security policy. They should flow directly from the intelligence
mission as set forth by the NSC and are therefore merely more detailed
specifications of the intelligence. required to fulfill that mission. They
should provide the basis for" determining appropriate research and col-
lection requirements.
2. Most of the intelligence required in the formulation and execution
of national security policy will be the product of normal intelligence
collection and research. Priority National Intelligence Objectives should
be limited to those critical factors which require special attention and
effort..
3. In order to afford a stable basis for intelligence planning, a state-
ment of Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be designed
to remain valid over an extended period. It should therefore exclude
topics of urgent, but transitory, interest, which will require and receive
ad hoc treatment in any case.
4. Broad generalities are of little practical use as priority guidance
to collection and research. Priority National Intelligence Objectives
should therefore be specific enough to provide guidance for planning
the allocation of collection and research resources, but not so specific as
to constitute in themselves research and collection requirements.
5. In determining Priority National Intelligence Objectives, due con-
sideration should be given to beneficial as well as harmful potentialities.
6. All items in a statement of Priority National Intelligence Objectives
should be worthy of special attention and effort, but obviously some
will be of greater urgency or importance than others. The present
statement is divided into four broad categories of priority distinguished,
in the text, in terms of both their criticality and the appropriate level
of intelligence effort above that which is normal for general coverage.
The following criteria will serve as guidance for determining the relative
importance of Priority National Intelligence Objectives:
I. First Category: those which will permit the US (a) to anticipate
and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would
occasion gravest consequences to the US; or (b) to stimulate
policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within them)
which could occasion greatest benefit to the US.
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II. Second Category: those which will permit the US (a) to anticipate
and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which
would have very grave consequences for the US; or (b) to stimu-
late policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within them)
which could occasion very great benefit to the US.
III. Third Category: those which will permit the US (a) to anticipate
and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would
have serious consequences for the US; or (b) to stimulate policies
or actions of foreign states (or actions within them) which could
occasion great benefit to the US.
IV. Fourth Category: those which will permit the US (a) to anticipate
and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would
have harmful consequences for the US; or (b) to stimulate policies
or actions of foreign states (or actions within them) which could
occasion substantial benefits to the US.
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