REPORT OF THE USIB METRIC PANEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00988R000400060007-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2000
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 14, 1974
• Content Type: MF

ILL1pved For RVeas 0988R(400060007-6
Memorandum for Holders
USIB-D-27.8/2
14 March 1974
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOAR D
MEMORANDUM FOR HOLDERS OF USIB-D-27.8/2
SUBJECT Report of the USIB Metric Panel
REFERENCE USIB-D-27. 8/2, 25 February 1974
1. On 14 March all USIB members concurred in the following Metric
Panel recommendations:
a. The Intelligence Community should begin using the metric
system almost immediately after enactment of the metric conversion
legislation. The Intelligence Community should prepare now to implement
promptly the legislation.
b. Almost immediately after enactment of legislation,
Intelligence Community reporting which is now largely in customary units
should be reported in metric units with customary units in parentheses.
In those cases where reporting is now exclusively in metric units, no
change should take place.
c. Certain customary units, such as the nautical mile and
barrel/day, should continue in use with no metric equivalent. Such
exclusions as well as all metric units should be consistent with those to
be set forth by the Department of Commerce for national use.
d. Each component of the Intelligence Community should begin
now to plan for conversion to the metric system. The planning period
should last no longer than six months. The plan should include a program
for training personnel as may be necessary to meet the objectives of
dual and metric reporting. In most cases this training should be carried
out within a period of not more than two months trirned-ately following
enactment of legislation, The amourr of training; required for each
individual should not normally tale u1 ,rr t arm a fev, s to p:'occid,
Corriplei:e
sufficient. farniliar;7ation for of cl~~e rt,p, rt:~.?~g,
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time and effort.
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`t 'n oss;hle to determine
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Memorandum for Holders
USIB-D-27. 8/2
14 March 1974
e. The period of dual reporting should be no longer than about
18 months; only in exceptional cases should this period be exceeded.
Standard conversion charts should be made available for those who would
find them useful. Each component of the Intelligence Community should
take steps to determine when its consumers might accept the use of
metric units alone.
f. Where planning and training assistance are needed, the
panel recommends that each organization make contact with the Metric
Information Office, National Bureau of Standards.
g. The Metric Panel should remain in being so that it may
monitor the planning for and implementation of the use of the metric
system in the Intelligence Community. It is expected that the panel will
not meet regularly but only on an ad hoc basis as required.
2. Accordingly, the above recommendations are referred herewith for
appropriate implementation in the Intelligence Community.
Executive Secretary
Approved For Release 2001/08/09 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000400060007-6