Defense Civilian Personnel Who Have Served on the State/Defense Exchange Program

APPENDIX

EXCHANGE OF LETTERS IN 1960 BETWEEN SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTIAN A. HERTER AND SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THOMAS S. GATES, JR., STARTING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATE-DEFENSE OFFICER EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Hon. THOMAS S. GATES. JR.,
Secretary of Defense.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
June 21, 1960.

DEAR TOM: For some time now the Department of State and the Department of Defense have been considering the exchange of selected officers for short tours of duty. In our recent appearances before the Senate Subcommittee on National Policy Machinery you and I each endorsed the idea, and in our recent conversations we have agreed that the exchange should be put into effect immediately. The purpose of this letter is to confirm and implement our understanding.

Over the last two decades our increased recognition of the close connnection between diplomacy and military power has brought our two Departments into daily contact and has made our officers ever more mindful of the problems of their allied profession. There are now few activities in the Department of State which in one way or another do not involve working with the Department of Defense. Overall, these relationships have become increasingly effective, and yet at the very heart of our national security concerns where military affairs and foreign affairs combine to make our grand strategy, there is more to be done. The central problems of national security require the attention of men experienced in both diplomacy and military affairs.

It is for this reason that I have proposed an exchange of officers. In my statement before the Senate Subcommittee I said:

More important, however, is the continuing development of person-
nel in both departments who share understanding and perspective in
the gray area where foreign policy and military policy come in con-
tact or overlap. In this regard, the common experience shared by per-
sonnel of the two departments who attend the War Colleges and the
Foreign Service Institute, is very helpful. In addition, I think it
would be worthwhile to have a greater exchange of personnel be-
tween the two departments. The men loaned would function as an
integral part of the host agency, contributing their own special
knowledge, and would return to their parent agency at the end of the
tour with the broadened perspective which is acquired through
shoulder-to-shoulder work. We might, over a period of years with
such a program, develop a nucleus of highly trained senior officers
within the two departments, each having a profound and compre-
hensive understanding of the subject matter and viewpoint of the
other department. If this understanding were regularly and con-
sistently brought to bear on the solution of problems of mutual
concern, much more good would be accomplished than could result
from efforts to adjust and refine the respective responsibilities of the
two departments. I should add that the broadening of personal
contacts among senior officers resulting from such an interchange
would be a major asset in ensuring the continuity of a productive re-
lationship between the Departments of State and Defense.

Having in mind these considerations and the points discussed in our conversations, I propose that the Department of State loan ten Foreign Service officers for placement primarily in positions in the Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and that the Department of Defense loan ten military officers for placement in the Policy Planning Staff and the Regional Bureaus. Tours would be for two years, five of the exchanges beginning in 1960 and five of them in 1961.

It will be important to use extreme care in selecting the officers to be exchanged and in designating the positions to be filled. It should be our objective to assign officers, while in the host Department and after return to the parent Department, to positions where their experience will make a maximum contribution to the central problems of mutual concern to the two Departments. In selecting officers to be exchanged we would attempt to choose those who seem likely to rise to positions where policy decisions involve both foreign affairs and military affairs.

During the period of loan the officers exchanged would continue to be paid by their parent Department, and no interdepartmental reimbursements would be involved. Officers would serve as integral parts of the host Department and would in no sense be the agents of the parent Department. Performance ratings would be made by the host Department.

I have asked Deputy Under Secretary of State Raymond A. Hare to work with whomever you may designate to bring this program into being. I very much hope it will be possible to make the initial exchange within 30 days.

With warm personal regards,
Most sincerely,

Hon. CHRISTIAN A. HERTER,
Secretary of State.

DEAR CHRIS: As you know, Defense has given a great deal of thought to the value of an exchange of selected officers between State and Defense. Consequently, I welcomed your letter and look forward to implementing the exchange.

Your suggestion, however, of placing foreign service officers in the Joint Staff is not possible. The Joint Chiefs have given careful consideration to such an arrangement and have recommended strongly against it. They look to the Joint Staff as a strictly military staff to assist them in meeting their statutory responsibilities as military advisers to the President, the NSC, and the Secretary of Defense. Among the personnel in the office of the Secretary of Defense whom I believe appropriate for an exchange are those from the offices of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense for International Security Affairs, Manpower, Personnel and Reserve and Public Affairs, and those from the office of the Director of Research and Engineering. Although a majority of Defense's officers will be military, it may be desirable to include a few civilians. In many cases, it is they who provide continuity in view of the rotating assignments of the military.

I concur that we should use extreme care in selecting both officers and the positions to be filled. I am confident that this program can prove of great value to both our Departments.

I am asking Mr. Irwin to work with Secretary Hare on the administrative arrangements. An exchange of five to ten officers for a two year assignment seems about right, but I suggest the exact number of officers and length of assignment be left for Secretary Hare and Mr. Irwin to recommend.

With best wishes,

Sincerely,

(S) Tom

THOMAS S. GATES, Jr.

ARTICLE REPRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

(Pursuant to S. Res. 24, 91st Cong.)

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE

Printed for the use of the Committee on Government Operations

27-657

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1969

PURCHASED TO RIJVA
DCS. EX. PROJECT