PROBLEM SOLVING SEMINAR #7, COMMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00780R004400020006-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 25, 2006
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: February 18, 1971
• Content Type: MF

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SECRET
.i.U ^JIi
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant Deputy Director for Support
SUBJECT : Problem Solving Seminar #7: Comments
REFERENCE Your Memo dtd 5 Feb 71, Subj: Report
of Problem Solving Seminar #7 -- The
Influence of Dependents on Employees
DR-59,95
~71-ds3s
1. This memorandum is in response to the referenced correspond-
ence in which you asked me to comment as to why the Americans Abroad
Orientations were discontinued and as to whether Recommendations 19a
and c could be accomplished.
2. The Americans Abroad Orientations were discontinued for budg-
etary reasons. OTR did not have a staff sufficiently large enough to give
worthwhile orientations (three professionals and one clerical handling
briefings on about 75 separate areas), nor was there any prospect of an
increase in the staff.
3. Recommendation 19a could be accomplished but not by OTR under
the present limitation of people and money. Aside from OTR's giving the
two-day Orientation for Overseas and the eventuality of giving operations
familiarization training to wives of some of the CS officers, it is our view
that the responsibility for all other area orientation must be assigned to
the CS Desks.
4. What is recommended in 19c has been investigated rather fully
within OTR, particularly the matter of programming country briefings.
The costs, including the need for an augmented staff, were considered
to be excessive in proportion to the benefits that would be derived by the
Agency from the undertaking.
SECRET
~ztic ?6 !fl zat mth
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updating; they do not include the kinds of things a dependent would get out
of a post report or Desk briefing. Because of a lack of staff, additional
kits have not been compiled for CS approval, and if this technique is to
be productive, compiling and maintaining area kits will also have to
become a CS Desk's responsibility.
r O ! i4,}YS.~tI
i tt
Ref _rC:e.ce (
P& (2 May 68) Coordinated with TR /R
Distr IS
O & 1 - Adse
2 -DTR
1- CAS W/o e.~..,.1-~ alC2 d
1 - R/TR
2-P&M
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s S L C R E T
0111001A
DDP/TRO 68/48
%x1,1, .ASf3L'M FOR: All Chiefs of CS Divisions and Staffs
p~,oU L-T Overseas Orientation for Dependents
1. A requirement exists within the Clandestine
Services to improve, both quantitatively and qualitatively,
briefing and orientation of CS dependents scheduled for
overseas residence. Certain CS components provide overseas
briefing of dependents and OTR conducts once each month a 2-
day overseas orientation course designed for CS officers and
dependents travelling abroad for the first time. While
the latter, OTR Overseas Orientation is helpful, i-c is a
general orientation, void of national or even regional
lines (Europe, Africa and SEA, etc.) and does no%; include
the specific area of residence.
2. Due to the importance attached to ensuring that
CS dependents going abroad are properly informed and briefed
on area of residence, the DDP has requested that overseas
orientation of dependent personnel be emphasized and upgraded
within the Clandestine Services. Towards fulfillment of this
request the following procedures are suggested:
a. All dependent wives of CS personnel scheduled
for their initial overseas assignment should take the
scheduled 2-ctay Overseas Orientation Course conducted
by OTR.
b. In addition to 2 a. above all dependent wives
should receive a CS Branch or Desk level briefing designed
to provide the dependent with a general appreciation
of the basic political, social and economic aspects in
the area, as well as hardship factors (weather, schools,
medical, subsistence, etc.) and, of course, knowledge
of the more pleasant aspects of assignment to the area.
c. Dependent wives scheduled for a second tour
to the same area will not require a branch or desk
level area briefing, unless there has been a signifi-
cant time interval between tours in the area or there
have been recent political and other changes affecting
residence in the area.
S E C R E T
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d. Dependent wives scheduled for an overseas tour
to a new area should receive branch level area briefings
on each new area before departure.
e. In addition to wives, mature dependents, 18 years
of age or older should receive the branch or desk
level briefings in company with the principal dependent.
3. The branch or desk level area briefings may be comple-
mented by consultation, on an individual basis, with the area
and resources specialists in SOD is prepared to
recommend, and expeditiou) b in, pertinent background 25X1
reading materials from ths ollection, the CIA Library
and other sources in the hea quarters are-a.
4. A progress report will be requested on or about
1 February 1969 relative to the handling and management of
this program within the Clandestine Services.
FOR THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR PLANS:
25X1
DDP/TRO
Distribution:
All Chiefs of CS Divisions and Staffs
All Senior Training Officers
All Training Officers
U
S E C R E T
 17 April 1967
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Training
SUBJECT Area Orientation Training
REFERENCE Memo to DDS fr DTR, dtd
22 Nov 66
1. After several months of looking into ways and means
of providing the Agency with area training in the form of
country reading kits, we have reached the conclusion that
present operating conditions do not make such a program
feasible.
2. We have found that such a program, however modestly
conceived, would require personnel that we do not now have.
a.- A full-time professional officer would be
needed to organize, compile, distribute, and
revise some 100 country kits, which would be
kept available for reading and study at 45 to
100 country desks as well as in a central reposi-
tory in our language laboratory at the Headquarters
Building. This. professional would not only be
operating a central library with numerous branches,
but he would also be called upon to work with a
great many country specialists and with the numerous
Agency and non-Agency sources of country materials.
The only OTR officer capable of directing this work
is who is already fully occupied,
expec a y w. i Vietnamese training affairs.
25X1
b. It has also become clear that the selection,
ordering, cataloguing, composition, storage, distri-
bution, and revision of the kits would require a
full-time librarian. This librarian we do not have.
3. When the Office of Training went into the field of area
training over a decade ago, serious consideration was given to
the establishment of a full-time area training staff of 24
officers. Actually, the staff was.composed of three officers
who were called upon to provide area traiiiing for all Agency
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personnel. To try now to entrust area training or orientation',
however reduced in scope, to one man, possibly on a part-time
basis for him, could never achieve the desired results.
4. Both OTR and other Agency components are doing some-
thin 'g the field of area training, even though OTR formally
withdrew from the field in January 1965. For instance, OTR
continues to facilitate the attendance of Agency personnel at
area courses given by the Foreign Service Institute. The
Intelligence ^chool provides on a monthly basis a two-day
Orientation for Overseas which has as a main objective the
encouragement of new and serious interest in the countries to
which people are going. In collaboration with the Far East
Division, furthermore, OTR offers, on a monthly basis, a week-
long Vietnam Orientation -- a genuine example of area orienta-
tion. While this activity does not constitute an effective or
comprehensive area training or orientation program, it is
something that is commensurate with our present limited
capabilities.
5. Also, the CS area divisions are doing something, even
though there is much more that they can do and are, perhaps,
better qualified to do than OTR. In one division, for example,
a branch chief has produced an annotated bibliography for his
people and vigorously pushed the purchase and circulation of
reading material. In another, an intelligence assistant very
actively circulates hooks, papers, and magazines along with a
bibliography she has produced. These examples may not be
typical of what is actually done, but they do demonstrate what
leadership in the division can accomplish. What reading material
they do produce could and should also, of course, be made avail-
able to those non-CA people going to their various stations.
6. Finally, even if we could by some means institute the
country kit program, we would simply be adding to the bits and
pieces that now stand in lieu of formal area training. A read-
ing kit program undertaken by OTR, however basic to understand-
ing a foreign country and however excellently it might be
implemented, would still be bibliographical in essence and a
somewhat specialized library function. There would be no real
training involved, no orientation, no personal guidance, no
real way to evaluate results.
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7. In conclusion, and in view of the considerations
and background previously outlined, we feel that the burden
of providing this type of orientation should be left to the
area division,. This is where the expertise lies, the divi-
sions have the people who know what they want their people to
know, and certainly country desks are in the best position to
maintain pertinent bibliographies and to guide their people
to current reading materials. A move to centralize this
effort under OTR would require a rather elaborate administra-
tive apparatus, an expertise which we do not now have, and
personnel, which under current ceilings would be almost
impossible to obtain.
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 Ira
17 June 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Support
SUBJECT : Area Orientation
REFERENCE : Memo fr DDS to DTR, dtd 10 Jun 66, same
subject; DD%S 66-3014
1. On 30 November 1964, Colonel White, then DD/S, approved
OTR recommendations:
a.. That OTR discontinue area training as heretofore given
and that the Agency depend on FSI for such training;
b. Those parts of the Americans Abroad Orientation courses
which were devoted to problems of overseas adjustment be coin-
bined with the dependents briefing -- attendance by employees
and wives preparing for their first overseas assignment would
be mandatory, attendance by others would be voluntary.
c. For Office of Communications technicians who are in
training rearatory to going; overseas, a special briefing
be given the ombining both area orientation and overseas
adjustment.
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25X1
In the OTR study it was noted that the DDF'TRO -? while Helms was DDP had given us full concurrence on this subject.
2. As stated in reference, area orientation in the past has not been
on a mandatory basis was not as firm on this matter as it could
have been. However, the essential problem did not lay in this direction
but is defined in Matt Baird's memorandum for DDS, subject: Americans
Abroad Orientation, dated 19 November 1964, paragraph 3:
"Our trouble derives essentially from the fact that the course
objectives are overly ambitious and unattainable. We try in two to
four days' time to instruct employees and their wives on not only
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problems of personal adjustment overseas but also on the historical,
political and economic and social background of the country of inter-
est as well. This is simply cramming too much into too short a
time. moreover, the great bulk of the work is done by only three
instructors. With each specializing, they divide the world into three
major blocs of instruction: Free Europe and Latin America, the
Far East and South Asia, and the Middle East and Africa. Altogether;
they give courses on seventy-eight different foreign countries. This
is itself an enormous task, even under the most ideal conditions, but
much about our AAO is far from ideal. For example, the instructors
have had such a multiplicity of course runnings (199 in FY 1964 and
213 in FY 1963) to deal with that they have sometimes had to resort to
taped presentations. In addition, the student body has sometimes
been so heterogeneous (393 students GS-3 through 8, 205 GS-9 through
15, plus 221 wives in FY 1964) as to make it impossible to pitch the
content at a suitable level. To be quite frank, the net results have
been far from satisfactory.
"
The Foreign Service Institute Area and Country Programs requires a staff
of 18 and extensive use of non-governmental as well as governmental lecturers.
The area courses run for three weeks and cost $33o per student. The FSI
has a 5, 000 volume library to support this effort.
3. The spectacle of three officers attempting to provide area orienta-
tion on 78 countries of the world for Agency officers ranging from GS-3 .
to GS-I5 became unacceptable from several points of view. Not one of the
three officer/instructors had ever served a tour in the countries about
which they spoke. We were literally and actually laughed out of the class-
room by some of the students on at least one occasion. I feel very strongly
that I cannot willingly accept responsibility for providing OTR area orienta-
tion with much less than two DDP or DDPi DDI officers for each major
region of the world, in other words, about ten qualified officers. I am
convinced that unless OTR is provided with a sufficient and qualified staff,
we have no choice but to recommend decentralization of area orientation
to the most knowledgeable point, the geographic divisions of DDP. I
b.e:l j ev;e:~ that this is where it rightly belongs anyway.
4. Our proposal includes officers of DDS, DDS&T, and DDI in the
area orientation effort (paragraph 6). We would envisage that materials
and lecturers from DDI and DDS could well be integrated in practice in
the regional presentations and in the country kits. Lx addition, OTR would
assist by structuring the courses and pulling together some of the "basic"
works for the kits. As you suggest, programmed instruction in area orienta-
tion lies somewhere in the future.
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5. Off and on, I have considered the problem of OTR and area
orientation for two years. It was on my firm recommendation, or at
least partly so, that Baird recommended the abolishment of area orienta-
tion as an OTR responsibility particularly so long; as such orientation
depended largely on a few OTR officers. I have found no reason during
the intervening time to change my views. Perhaps we should have a
roundtable discussion of the problems involved.
5/
John Richardson
Director of Training
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant Deputy Director for Plans
SUBJECT OTR Area Familiarization Course
1. In response to your verbal request I checked
out the current status of the OTR Area Familiarization
Course. In talking with John. Richardson he told me the
course had been dropped because of difficulty in main-
taining a faculty with first hand knowledge of the
various areas. The question of cost of running the
course was not raised, although this was undoubtedly
a major factor.
2. In lieu thereof OTR runs a two-day overseas
familiarization course for those officers and wives
who have never been overseas before. This course deals
with the problems of ial obligations
81how to get along
not ecome an ugly American.
3. Mr. Richardson was not enthusiastic about re-
establishing the Area Familiarization Course, although
he said OTR stands ready to assist the Divisions in
setting up such courses from time to time on an ad hoc
basis. For example, OTR is assisting the FE Division
to put on a 5 day orientation for officers going to
Vietnam. The faculty will be FE returnees from Vietnam.
He felt that area familiarization should be conducted by
the Divisions or Branches rather than by OTR.
4. It would seem that OTR's position has definite
merit. It is doubtful that OTR could maintain a faculty,
without great expense, which would be prepared to lecture
for 3 days to a week on something over 100 countries, and
frequently to groups of only 2 or 3 people at a time.
This would appear to be properly a desk or division
responsibility, with such assists from OTR as are
necessary from time to time when large groups are involved
and facilities are required for space and possibly training
aids. The present course in Overseas Familiarization
appears to meet DD/P needs in that area.
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 MEMORANDUM FOR: All Division and Staff Senior
Training Officers
1_,. rri_'
.;('C'
SUBJECT Attendance at Orientation for Overseas.
REFERENCE OTR Special Bulletin No. 11-65, dated
6 May 1965
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S E C R E T
1. Your attention is invited to the fact that all
employees assigned to their first overseas post are
required to attend the OTR course, Orientation for Overseas,
and that the husband or wife of a married employee is also
expected to attend.
OTR has advised that due to non-attendance the
last two runnings of this course have been cancelled. The
next running will occur on 13-14 December in Room 1 D 1601.
It is held each month on the first Tuesday and Wednesday.
Your action in apprising personnel in the above category of
their responsibility for attendance will be appreciated.
V
S E C R E T
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SECRET
SPECIAL BULLETIN
No. 11-65 6 May 1965
To: All Training Officers of the Agency
Reference: Special Bulletin 3-65, dated 12 January 1965
ORIENTATION FOR OVERSEAS
The Orientation for Overseas, a new two-day program designed by
the Orientation Faculty of the Intelligence School, OTR, replaces
the Dependents Briefing and includes behavioral guidance themes
from the former Americans Abroad Orientation. It is given on the
first Tuesday and Wednesday of each rrionth from 0900 to 1630 hours
in Room 1D- 1601 at the Headquarters building.
Employees assigned to their first overseas post are required to at-
tend. The wife or husband of a married employee is also expected
to attend. Unmarried employees or those employees whose wives
or husbands are not able to attend the full program do not have to
come to the Tuesday morning session, but they must be present at
both the Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning presentations.
The Wednesday afternoon part of the orientation is set aside for the
women; their attendance is optional. Dependent children may not
attend any part of the orientation.
A lecture on Agency missions and functions and briefings on security
and cover, as they apply to both the individual and to the Agency,
are presented to the married couples on the first morning. On Tues-
day afternoon and Wednesday morning, the lectures are on problems
involved in dealing effectively with people of other cultures. There
are also lectures on the legal and medical aspects of overseas life..
On Wednesday afternoon, wives of Agency employees and single
female employees who have had wide experience in overseas posts
will conduct informal discussions with the women.
(See other side)
GROUP 1
Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
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5 May 1965
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting with Howard E. Sollenberger and
Kenneth Landon, FSI -- 3 May 1965
1. I explained the purpose of my meeting as being in response
to a request made of Mr. Richardson some months ago by
Mr. Sollenberger. The latter had wanted to know whether a re-
duction of the FSI Area Studies Program from three to two weeks
would make any difference in the number of Agency employees
attending it.
2. I prefaced my report with the observation that our opera-
tional units by the very nature of their work almost always favor
shorter rather than longer courses. By way of a more direct
response, I reported that we had conducted a survey throughout
the Agency with the result that it was doubtful that the reduction
to two weeks would make any significant difference. At best, we
could expect an increase of 25-30 persons. We had concluded,
therefore, that with respect to the Agency's participation it really
didn't make much difference whether the Program remained at
three weeks or was reduced to two.
3. Sollenberger responded that he had found this report reas-
suring. He went on to explain that they had tried giving their Area
Courses in one week, two weeks, four weeks and had finally fixed
on three weeks as being the best. This time span allowed for a
period of reorientation from normal duties to concentration in
some depth on subject matter. This was further reflected in the
use students made of FSI's library -- from taking out none or
very few books during the first week of instruction to 10-15 during
the third week. Sollenberger stated that they do in fact cover as
much subject matter in three weeks as a university normally
covers in a semester course. He concluded by observing that
they had wished, in any case, to check the length of their courses
with us as they desire to be responsive to the needs of the various
government agencies.
SECRET
EXC!L' f:J ~fiil ".1;r.r. at i]
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4. Sollenberger had these further comments to make:
a. FSI is now in a position where it can offer specially
tailored area courses for groups of 12 persons or more upon
request. These courses may vary in length and treatment de-
pending upon what is desired.
b. FSI's library now has almost 7, 000 volumes. It is
open to members of other agencies much the same as any public
library would be. For example, if a member of the Agency had
only two or three days to spend in background reading on a given
area or country, he would be welcome to use FSI` s library.
c. How could they make sure that we are getting their
announcements of changes and program offerings on a regular
basis? I replied that it was my understanding that we were
already receiving these through the Registrar of the Office of
Training but that I would verify this and report back.
d. As we were about to conclude, Sollenberger asked
whether the Agency might be interested in having one of its
qualified members serve a tour on the FSI Area Studies Faculty
as a member of the instructor staff. He explained that they were
anxious to broaden the participation of other agencies in FSI's
Program. Experimentally, they had accepted on their faculty
a representative from USIA and he had worked out very well.
Sollenberger feels that they are really rendering service to the
government on an interdepartmental basis and that this was one
way of underscoring their desire to cooperate with the other
agencies. He explained further that FSI would be able to reim-
burse the Agency for salary costs but that they would have to
depend upon the Agency to make the right selection. I answered
that I could not give him a reply but that I would be glad to refer
the matter to Mr. Baird for whatever action he may deem
appropriate.
5. During the course of our meeting I was able to leave
with them five copies of our article on the FSI Area Studies
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Program that appeared in the OTR Training Bulletin for March 1965.
(See copy attached. ). I explained briefly that the article had appear-
ed in one of our intra-Agency publications and that we thought they
might be interested in seeing how we had handled the matter. I
explained to Sollenberger that I had obtained the information on
which the article was based in an earlier meeting with Landon.
oicy a
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Announcement 64-8
SUBJECT: Overseas Assignment: A Course for Wives
August 26, 1964
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 for two weeks. Offered monthly.
PLACE: Foreign Service Institute, Arlington Towers, Arlington,
Virginia. (Mailing address: FSI, Department of State,
Washington, D. C. 20520).
This intensive course is open to wives of United States Government
officials, civilian and military, who expect extended assignment abroad.
It has been designed to be of value both to those who have had over-
seas experience and to those who are new to the foreign service. Classes
include wives from the various agencies of a country team and are open
also to other adult members of a family who expect to accompany the
official to a post. When possible, a special teenage briefing is
arranged during each two week program.
In order to permit effective scheduling by the Re
istrar
d
h
g
an
t
e
most satisfying participation for class members, wives are encouraged
to register as indicated on the back of this notice, well in advance
of departure. An ideal time for attendance is two to six months prior
to leaving the country. Wives on home leave who can schedule regular
attendance are also urged to take the course. Enrollment in the lecture-
discussion sessions is limited to 35 participants. Wives who are on
Washington assignment and who have not previously had the course may
znall the Re
istr
t
d
g
ar
o
iscuss attd
enance on a space available basis.
The course is intended to help an American wife envisa
e th
i
g
e
m-
portance of her individual role as a part of the t
t
l
o
a
representation
7 of thUnited States abroad, to appraise her opportunities and respon-
sib-4/it;pcz in ~ ,, ,
ldL11c
"situations of living in different parts~of-the~w
l
or
In
helping
. wives to prepare for their foreign service assignments, the course
deals with two basic subjects:
1) The United States - its history and government, its political,
social, economic and cultural background and significant
aspects of contemporary American life, including America's
relationship to world affairs.
(over)