N ATIONAL/TACTICAL INTERFACE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01133A000500010018-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 3, 2006
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: April 11, 1975
• Content Type: MF

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DCI/IC 75-0326
11 April 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: Principal Deputy to the Deputy to the DCI
for the IntElligence Community
SUBJECT National/Tactical Interface
1. The meeting with Dr. McRae, member of the NSC
Tactical Reconnaissance Panel. Friday, 11 April 1975, provided
valuable information regarding. the future applications of
national resources to assist the tactical commander. As you
are well aware, I am an enthusiastic advocate of demonstrating
the applicability and capabilities of national systems to
support tactical commanders. Such demonstrations, thus far,
have caused changes in processing and reporting procedures
of national systems and have stimulated various services to
modernize their internal procedures to accommodate national
information. Unlike reports Prom studies and committee
investigations, results from ?.ctual demonstrations in the
field develop into physical aid procedural changes. Credibility,
a prime factor, is established with the tactical commander.
2. Dr. McRae mentioned that a possible recommendation
from the NSC Panel would be t:, conduct "experiments" utilizing
Soviet maneuvers as the sourc: for national assets to support
the tactical commander in thai area. He went even farther
to state the "experiment" should include a worldwide endeavor.
3. The recommendation or such a project is an outstanding
vehicle to prove or disprove that national systems can
support a tactical commander or several tactical commanders;
however, it is also a very dangerous venture if it is not
properly and sequentially coordinated. To elaborate briefly:
such a venture should be accomplished in steps. A small- or
medium-sized Soviet maneuver :n one area of the world in
which national systems would ;upport one commander. This
would provide a base of procedures and methodology from
which to enlarge the area of r overage and increase the
support to more and varied commanders in a step-by-step
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plan. The ultimate goal wou]c: be a worldwide endeavor
(OKEAN-type Soviet exercise) ;n which national systems would
support not only numerous tactical commanders of various
levels and services, but also the national command authority.
The planning,. coordination ar,:, procedural doctrine for such an
all-encompassing demonstratio< must be evolutionary.
4. When the NSC Panel rakes the recommendation for
such a demonstration, the DCl should be the focal point to
head the project. The DCI arc his Staff are non-Service or
Agency oriented and his charter is to provide leadership in
the Intelligence Community. he opportunity to firmly
establish his leadership role is available through successfully
accomplishing such an endeavor as outlined here. Coupled
with the results of the Natioral/Tactical Pilot Study, the
demonstrations would provide r test bed and vastly improve
our ability to handle a tactical situation or period of
tension. I strongly recommenc we become involved and assume
the leadership in this endeavor.
Captain,
PD/DCI/IC
DCI/PD is
Distribu on:
Orig. - Addressee
1 - D/DCI/IC
1 - AD/DCI/IC
1 - C/MPRRD
1 - C/CPAD
1 -
1 - i es
1 -
1 - egis ry
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