Subject:
Requirement for Army Personnel to Support ITF-7 Responsibilities
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Onl7 June 1957 Army notified the Air Force (Executive Agent)
that, with respect to the interim period subsequent to Operation HARDTACK,
the Army considers that at Eniwetok:
(1) The communications responsibilities are properly chargeable to the Army.
(2) The operation of the Air Base is properly chargeable
to the Air Force.
(3)
The administrative and logistical support for the
communications and Air Base functions should be furnished equally by
the three Services.
In addition the Air Force was notified that the Army was programming
a reduction in its manpower authorization to JTF-7 upon cormpietion of
Operation HARDTACK in consonance with the above considerations.
c.
On 7 October 1957 the Army requested prompt action by the
the. Air Force to reapportion the administrative and logistical support
to JTF-7 since it was programming a reduction in the Army Element of
that Agency following Operation HARDTACK,
d.
On 5 December 1958 the Air Force recommended that the
reduction be withheld pending JCS action regarding possible transfer
of interim JTF-7 functions to AFSWP. In response to the Air Force
reclama the Army stated that the programmed support for JTF-7 remained
firm and that deferment of the reduction was not feasible due to DeD
imposed reductions in the strength of the Army.
e.
On 4 March 1959, the Deputy Commander, JTF-7 was advised:
(1)
To revise the TD of the Army Element of JTF-7 within
(2)
To reduce actual strength to authorized strength.
the 306 ceiling,
An additional three months was offered to effect this reduction.
(3) That the Army would accept requisitions for critical
MOS's even if approval would constitute an_overstrength.
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5.
By Memorandum to ths Assistant Secretary of Defense (Atomic
Energy) dated 16 March 1959, the Commander, JTF-7, indicated that he
could reduce US Army personnel strangth on Eniwetok, with no substantial
rege
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