SUBJECT:
Conduct of Future Cverseas Nuclear Tests
and agencies make a substantial effort to coordinate their plans and
programs, their geographic location, diverse interests and objectives
make full cocrdination most difficult, and is accomplished with minimm
Task Force participation. As programs of all agencies are finalized, _
support requirements are channeled through Task Group 7.1. Task Group
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7.1 at this time is a nonentity and the personnel acting as part of
Task Group 7.1 are not a part of the Task Force or of any other single’ 1’
organization. All personnel during this period are performing their
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Task Group 7.1 function in addition to their regular duties. There is
no desire to be critical of the personnel or efforts of this Task Group,
yet it mist be recognized that they are working at a great disadvantage
and that their method of operation makes it essential that they take a
great deal of unilateral action sincethey have.no.direct chain of
responsibility until the beginning of the operational phase.
It is
believed that the functions normally carried out by Task Group 7.1
headouarters in preparation for a test operation should and could be
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accomplished by the Task Force headquarters after it had been properly
augmented by appropriate technical personnel from both the Department
of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission. After proper manning and proper participation in planning, the headquarters of the Task Force
would then be in a position to perform the function normally performed
by 7.1 during the operational phase. It is believed that a more harmonious and effective operation could be conducted if the scientific
test elements (LASL, UCRL, /FSWP) came directly under the operational
control of the Task Force headquarters and if the Task Force headquarters performed for them the tasks which in the past have been accomplished by Task Group 7.1. (See organization chart attached.)
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7.
Task Group 7.2 (Army Task Group) is located in the Eniwetok
Proving Ground and remains under the control of the Task Force headquarters at all times. Its functions are primarily garrison type,
similar in many respects to the custodial services provided by the
AEC contractor on Parry Island. Department of the Army has, for some
years, considered that the role played by Task Group 7.2 in the overseas nuclear testing has not been appropriate. This, combined with
their urgent need for personnel, has caused them to exert every proper
pressure for the reduction of their function, particularly in the interim period, and for a support role similar to that of the Air Force
and the Navy. In the performances of its functions during an operation,
Task Group 7.2 totals about 1200 people. During the interim period,
this total is reduced to about 650. Department of the Army has informed
the Task Force of its intent to reduce this figure to something less
than 300, It would appear economical and appropriate that some of the
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