DRAFT - TRAINING FOR OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00788R001200160001-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 1998
• Sequence Number: 1
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001200160001-2
DRAFT (;1 A5S1FtCATION
2. Training for Operational Reliability
a. Background
Since the introduction of coordinate remote viewing (CRV)
several years ago, it has been apparent that CRV is capable of yielding`
highly accurate and useful data. Examples include successful viewings of
solid-propellant missile static test firings, the detection of underground
nuclear tests, and detailed descriptions of Soviet and East-bloc military
facilities.l
There are, however, several instances of failures, in which
the CRV description did not correspond to ground truth reality. To deal
with this variability, a special study program was undertaken with the
goal of determining the factors that affect CRV reliability, and, to the
degree possible, to develop procedures to minimize the deleterious effects
of such factors. We propose to continue to pursue these procedures by
which it appears that the RV subject can gain control of his functioning
and greatly increase his reliability.
It was recognized at the outset that-there were two facets
of the reliability problem that were of principal importance and would
therefore have to be addressed:
(1) High Performance Potential. Given that an individual
exhibits a demonstrable CRV ability, is it possible
to develop and train that ability beyond a neophyte status--
that is, to greatly increase the SNR,accuracy, and
reliability. ~St~aRl +0 -JOTS,- (2041a~
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(2) General Population Potent al. Does the CRV process
possess enough internal consistency to allow transfer
and trainability across a broad base of individuals,
to provide increased reliability based on the
correlation of multiple CRV responses?
Results of the study program to date are described below, and indicate
b. Signal-to-Noise Characteristics
The anatomy of the CRV phenomenon has been under intense
scrutiny at SRI for the past two years, and has centered about two areas:
(1) Observing and understanding the characteristics
of the noise.
(2) Observing and categorizing the characteristics
of the signals.
The process of mapping out the noise characteristics of
the CRV channel has been one of the principle tasks in our effort to isolate
,the factors involved. Four major categories of noise have been identified
in this process. They are:
(1) Analytical Overlay. As the CRVer becomes aware of
the first few data bits (fragmentary perceptions),
there appears to be a largely spontaneous and
undisciplined rational effort on his part to extrapolate
and "fill in the blanks," in a desire to resolve the
ambiguity associated with the fragmentary nature of the
emerging perception. The result is premature internal
analysis and interpretation on the part of the CRVer.
Example: An impression of an island is immediately
interpreted as Hawaii. To circumvent this, a procedure
for disciplined rejection of premature interpretaions
and conclusions is called for.
(2) Associational Overlay. In addition to provoking premature
interpretation and analysis, the incoming data bits appear
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to stimulate pre-existing mental formations (memories
and experiences) that are associationally related to
the target material. Example: An impression of a round
object triggers an image of a favorite childhood ball.
The triggering of such associational overlays leads to
imaginative, fantastic, and unreal images that divert,
abort, or falsely embellish the picture being built up
from the incoming psi data bits. To overcome the effects
of this type of overlay, training to recognize and
discriminate against associational images is required.
(3) Monitor Overlay. This consists of noise intruding
into the CRVer's awareness inadvertently as a result
of undisciplines talk or actions on the part of the
session monitor or experimenter. Examples cover a
broad spectrum, ranging from, e.g., provocation of
sailboat images by a casual pre-session discussion on
sailing, to the subtle reinforcement (e.g., by body
language) of certain responses that match the experi-
menter's biases and preconceptions as to the nature of
target; in short, any action on the part of the monitor
that degrades the CRVer's attentiveness to the task at
hand. To bring this under control, a standardized
monitor behavior must be introduced in which, for example,
the monitor is restricted to the use of certain
standard phrases during his monitoring of the CRV
session.
(4) Environmental Overlay. This type of overlay has its
source in the physical surroundings of the CRV session.
Specifically, conditions of the session chamber (e.g.,
obtrusive shapes, sounds, visual highlights) are found
to insinuate themselves into the CRV response. A mundane
example: an after-image produced by a strong vertical
line in the session chamber can lead to a predominant
verticalllne in the "target" image. More esoteric
examples involve peripheral and subliminal perception
of environmental features, since, as is known from the
study of subliminal perception, information not processed
at a conscious level can nonetheless infiltrate
perceptual and thought processes. Environmental overlay
can be minimized by judicious control of environmental
factors, such as by providing a relatively homogeneous
visual field absent of strong features and peripheral
clutter.
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With regard to the signal characteristics of the CRV
channel, a progressive multistage acquisition process appears to be
,developing. The stages occur sequentially, and track the increasing
'contact that the remote viewer makes with the target during the remote
viewing session. An example of the stages of elaboration of a target
attribute can be seen in the following example, in which a viewer first'
makes contact with the target in the form of a fundamental or archetypal
data bit, and then through several stages eventually accumulates enough
data bits so that he actually recognizes the target. The various stages
would start with the fundamental attribute--for example, circle. Another
`data bit might be its
ndition--for example, land, surrounded by water.
ecognition might then take place--"I see an island." Then he might have
feeling or"oensation--"humid, tropical." A higher perception would be
itunction--agricultural--foilowed b alysis--Fiji Island. Another
example might be:
attribute--"strong vertical;" condition--man-made;"
`recognition--"building;" sensation--"height;" function--"municipal;"
analysis--"Palo Alto City Hall."
Success in the early stages of the process requires that
a CRVer learn to "grab" incoming data bits while simultaneously rejecting
all forms of overlay. A strict and disciplined methodology to perform this
delicate and difficult task has been developed and is presently being
confirmed with four CRVers; No. 002, who was primarily responsible for
?developing the basic concept, and Nos. 009, 131, and 504, who are in the
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.role of trainees with regard to this particular methodology. The
methodology centers around use of a specially designed acoustic-tiled
featureless room with homogeneous coloring to minimize environmental
overlay; adoption of a uniform, limited monitor behavior role to minimize
monitor overlay; and the use of a strictly specified CRV procedure
!involving repeated coordinate presentation and quick-reaction response
of a data bit attribute--a procedure designed to minimize analytical
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