MINUTES OF THE 24 FEBRUARY 1977 OTR STAFF MEETING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00896R000100010025-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2001
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: April 9, 1977
• Content Type: MFR

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FROM
Secretary
STATINTL
SUBJECT: Minutes of the 24 February 1977 OTR Staff Meeting
1. The 24 February 1977 OTR Staff Meeting convened at
14.00 hours and adjourned at 1545 hours.
2. The DTR opened the discussion of Admiral Turner's
convocation and budget addresses by stating that there are
several points in each address which are directly related to
OTR. He suggested that the DCI-designate will probably take
considerable interest in our training. He noted Admiral
Turner's answer to the question of why he was changing the
curriculum--in order to put more of a demand on the students.
This leads to the question of whether OTR conducts "gentlemen's
courses." The DDTR noted the need to address the question
of how to attain learning objectives: pack a course with
materials, tests, etc., or provide the framework and environment
for learning without pushing the students. .
3. Chief, II, noted the problem of passive learners/
listeners. We have started moving away from this; for
example, the last four days of the Midcareer Course involve
active participation by the students. He agreed with the
need for our students to become more active, but noted the
distinction betweeen the cognitive and skills courses. The
Chief, _ stated his belief that there is the proper
balance in operations training and suggested that the
present discussion referred more to the Midcareer Course,
AIS, and Senior Seminar. The DDOT stated his.feeling that
we should test in more courses. We have a great reluctance
to evaluate people, especially with negative comments--this
is an organization-wide problem.
4. Chief, FTD, stated that 15 years ago most OTR
courses had tests. About 10 years ago, more courses were
introduced and the feeling came in that we should treat our
students as gentlemen. The DDTR noted that where we do the
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the 24 February 1977 OTR Staff Meeting
instruction we can test, but where we rely on guest speakers
it is much more difficult. Chief, II, suggested that we are
turned around--we are being evaluated by the students but we
are not evaluating them. The DTR stated that tests make him
work harder. The members discussed the Managerial Grid and
SAI training, noting that the follow-up questionnaires on
the use of SAI training are good evaluations of that training.
Chief, noted that the Midcareer evening sessions are
mind-stretchers, but it is difficult to do good evaluations
on students in a relatively short course. The DDOT used the
example of his Japanese language training with tests to show
one way of pushing a student to learn.
5. The Chief, FTD, stated his belief in accountability
for a learning experience. He also noted that in the
instructional development process, a new course is developed
by creating learning objectives--a test can be devised at
that point before the course has even run. The members
discussed at length the means to obtain accountability. The
DTR suggested that each course should be looked at to determine
the best method of accountability. This might force the
course chairmen to become more involved with the course and
with evaluating students. The DDTR pointed out that if this
is to be done carefully and seriously, it could have implica-
tions for OTR resources. The DTR suggested that possibly a
task force, including and possibly an outside STATINTL
consultant, should mee wi i one course chairman to discuss
this. He asked Chief, FTD, and Chief, II, to identify one
course in each of their Units in which resources are available
to do this.
6. The DTR asked whether there was a large reading
requirement in the Midcareer Course. Chief, II, replied
that it was not necessarily large, but he has charged all of
his course chairmen to make readings applicable and therefore
mandatory. The DDTR pointed out that Admiral-Turner had
noted the tendency to add to courses piecemeal and this was
directly applicable to OTR. As an example, Chief, II, noted
the problem of the recent need to add records management to
two courses conducted by the Institute. The members discussed
several other points made by the DCI-designate which were
applicable to OTR.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of. the 24 February 1977 OTR Staff Meeting
7. The EO/TR stated that all items on the OTR Pending
Actions list were on track. The DTR reported significant
items from the DDA morning meeting. The members reported on
the day's events.
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OTR STAFF MEETING
Thursday, 24 February 1977, 1400 Hours
1. Admiral Turner's Convocation Address Mr. Fitzwater
. at the Naval War College
2. OTR Pending Actions
3. The Day's Events
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