Waited 9'9'1098 896'51'0'3 M- pamssnioacl THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE October ll 1969 HEMORANDUH FOR THE PRESIDENT SUBJECT Test of U S Military Readiness As you directed actions have been taken and are being planned to test the readiness posture of selected U S forces These actions will be discernible to the Soviets but not threatening We have selected initial actions which can be taken without prior consultation with our allies with no additional expenditure of funds and without degradation of current essential missions I believe these actions and ether suggested actions being requested of the commanders concerned will meet the objectives outlined in your request A brief outline plan and implementing messages already di5patched are attached hereto at 5% radgr - mat-11 at 3 9 Eraniil L'il intervals not Uil 1 15 33 2 31 4 _a A n wu al nmh' Fain M n Wang 9 9 '1993 89631 0'3 lithi'is a TAB A OUTLINE PLAN FOR TESTING MILITARY READINESS Objective To achieve a readiness posture with selected US forces for the period 13 25 October in a manner which will be discernible to the Soviets but not threatening Assumptions Actions will not require additional funding or resources not require consultation or agreement with allies can be taken without degradation of current essential missions can be taken with plausible rationale for public information purposes be readily apparent to Soviets as increased US readiness for confrontation Courses of Action Selected US military forces worldwide willabe directed to stand down all flying training activity and to take certain other measures a A message will be dispatched to SAC no later than 1200 hours 11 October directing stand-down of all flying training and reinstatement of degraded alert sorties to maximum extent possible Stand-down will commence at 0800 local Omaha time on 13 October 1969 The stand-down will continue until otherwise directed by the JCS b A message will be dispatched to CINCONAD CINCPAC CINCEUR and no later than 1200 hours 13 October directing stand-down of all flying training Tm -1 9113a 1098 1391315531390 nun-- - activities and assumption of highest degree of combat readiness permitted by stand down and consistent with no change in DEFCON Stand down will continue until otherwise directed by the JCS Timing The stand down postures will continue until US intelligence indicates Soviets have become aware of the increased readiness A special intelligence watch has been established for this purpose SAC will begin its stand dewn 2 days earlier than other participating commands to permit appearance of intensification of CS readiness over a period of several days The US Sixth Fleet will impose EMCOM to create impression of unusual fleet activity in addition to standing down normal flying training activity The JCS will determine when commands will be selectively returned to normal posture Possible second Phase - Participating commands will be requested by separate message to suggest possible additional measures for second phase implementation These measures will be considered by the JCS and directed for implementation as selected Termination All operations will return to normal no later than 25 October and possibly earlier if directed by the JCS ms REERET u' I ill-14-355 ame 11 1'95 3131 0513 EHVN madman In use snbuanulsm onmvaoau i gm 2 39Vd JO - a an 33 15 HVBA LDO H-LNOH 3 HIJL 3 33 a 3 011 303 WV 33 d5 3LYCI GBNIVLNIVH 38 SLEIAOS 3H L O L O L SGNES SDPD if 30 GS - hag-unn DEDES 01 SI aanSOd SIHL 3 SI NOILDV SIH L N3Hf'l INV LN3 LX3 01 SEILHOS GEGVHDEG '8 4 33 3H1 A8 EDILON 33H13n3 111wn DNINIVHL 33v Nnoq -v 'h bI HBEOLDO ET 3u11 1vao3 SHHOH amen iv 9N13N3uu03 9NImo3103 3Hi 1N3u31du1 LNOIL 41331210 SIH L NI DVS 3H L 8V Si '2 3a GTHOHS Lna 3a 3n0Hs SNOILJQ 3 HiIm NOILVLNOHJNOD awoasaa 01 sn 1331 LVHJ GELSEHEJEEI SVH HEIHDIH Si SSENIGVBH GHSVEHDNI Pans SDP sun Sdo His avsn '8 Ava 103 BNOHQ 31 1 11 OHY EHVH Houvamssn ulunaas 111 1 NI tt- lhl ELVIGBHHI 34 05 953331ithf Declassified E O 12958 Sect 3 6 9- - r Walled 9910933563103 ABBREVIA and or CONTINUATION SHEET 5 PRECEDEHCE RELEASED BY DRAETED BY ACTION INFO 3- THESE DIRECTED ACTIONS SHOULD IN NO MAY AFFECT SOUTHEAST ASIA OPERATIONS- H- IF QUERIES ARE RECEIVED FROM NEUS MEDIA CONCERNING THE ABOVE ACTIONS SPOKESHAN SHOULD STATE THAT HE ARE HERELY TESTING CURRENT NESS POSTURE- DETAILED PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE WILL BE FORUARDED BY SEPARATE MESSAGE I CONTROL HO MESSAGE IDENTIFICATION HEGRADIHG INSTRUCTIONS SECURITY CLASSIFICATION uw J I _ 1 'a - Hui A Mi JOINT MESSA-GEFORM WONG 9 '1098 paggss ep aa 1154 ifNOFORN- -SPECAT gg nf gfp t 1 3 If Luau- 03 Liv in 4 BOOK MULTI I TYPEMSG PRECEDENCE Acne IMMEDIATE mro IMMEDIATE are FROM JCS SPECIAL msmucnons Tc CINCPAC 51 In @Jas INFO CINCPACFLT a 1 CINCPACAF sz g EAJ COMUSKOREA COM5AF SAFADVON NOFORN SPECAT CJCS SENDS SUBJ INCREASED READINESS POSTURE I HIGHER AUTHORITY HAS REQUESTED THAT IME US CAPABILITY To RESPOND To A POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION UITH THE USSR IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE To THE BUT SHOULD NOT BE THREATENING- a AS THE PACOM PARTICIPATION IN THIS OPERATION1 IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOUING A COMMENCING AT 15 OCT LR 230021 OCT LED-1 STANDDOUN ALL REPEAT ALL US MILITARY 6 39 #53 gr YEAR OCT AGE HO NO OF PAGE I ITYPED NAME AND TITLE PHONE a 77251USHERH USAF 6 01% th PACIFIC d-3 3 Administrative Assistant REGRADING Eli HDIHII BI I 30 HOILIU3 luau Hau uu' d0 ALIHHOES I mm w'o ammo '03 mama 1 I T-d9 '39vssau A8 aaqavmaoa 3a 111m 33NvaIn9 SHIVJJV 311and GE1IV13G ssaquvaa DNILSEL 33v 3n iVHi ELVIS a1nOHs thsaxods anoav DNINHEDNOD VIGEH swam 03A1333a 33v salaanv AI 39NVHD LON oa 0i SEILHOS Laj1v 31v13 -NIEH so 31v13 canoadux Nv 3A3IHDV 0i 3Hi HZI1ILH 01 zIav Nvaaox 31v AHVII1IH sn 11v LDEHIQ -a GELDEHIG 3Noz NOILVDIJILNEQI ESNEJBG HIV NVBHOX 3H1 NIHLIFI DNINIVHL NOILDV aaxgvua ma oasvanaa HIGH-3384 Emu vm I kind Jo Fu VIA 8 Dcclasm ed 33 8V L IS E O 12958 Sect 3 6 4 I - 3'37 138338 gum waiving angiuqajulmkq 31 41 my 3mm mam-u oJaajrAL sun E-P 1388le 398039 '10 1h 3h5 311 1 OHV 3mm mgr m nag- tubule 5391's To Ha Vd 1 30 4 39NVHD ON SSENIGVEH 10 3 LV LS HVBA HLHOH w uv r- EIHIJ 31 1 unquvu 01 smaa an 11v SNIHB -a i 3Hi A8 JJILON I 1IiNn ENIHVH GNV 33303 HIV 131H911a SNINIVHL 11v Nmoa -v I Ea L30 ST NO aux 3NOZ 1v301 SHHOH 3390 iv 9NINO1103 3H1 LN3u31duI SIHL NI uoanasn sv Si -2 38 SLEIAOS 3H1 HTBINHEDSIG 38 SNOILDV 3HJ HlIm NOILVLNOHJNO I 1 0 L 0 1 Sn LSBJ LVHJ IELSEFIEJEH SVH ALIHOHLHV SSBNIGVEH IESVBEDNI samas sap 3 a 3 3 19 3 adj f anamnsn 01 I g wuaads S mead ELLE cam ou x 331430333qu ZWSNIS 95H Harm woos 133333 a913- -- may i ior so 30 DeclaSSI ed E O 12958 Sect 3 6 Dad m -- ll'lu a non 03m 39 Hamu an um I go Home I- l i0 0 O l DNIOVHSEH 3mm col Ho - 5'11 qu Houvaldunam sows-saw Wag-din v E-d9 -39vs33u A8 qaqavmaoa 39 111m 33qu1n9 SHIVJJV 3I1and q31Iv1 -3a -3an130d ssawlqvaa 339 am LVHL 31v13 a1noHs wvu33x0ds' anoav 3H1 gnaw 33v saxaana AI -moaana d33q HOJ aanaad ox unuINIu 3Hi HLIN amv HLIN alvansmnuuoa NODHH unquvu so SNOILIGNO aivuqdo 11Im i3313 HLXIS 3H1 so -3 SNILSIXE NI OJNI NOILJV AU lassi ed Pu 12958 Sect 3 6 HHESV 1H Tin p 355 a 39 111 HSIHM 9 I JD NOILIOE LEV RUN I I 30 1 ulifilr 3 p 'Ilrm' 11121515551 pansunujw - fin as lan and um Emu P dumn m wwcf 7 fo 5023 'Fl 31 1 1 1 ONY EHVN 03 11 1 nil-IJJlu tml-I-l 084 me I 3Y6 39 i 1 30 HLNOH IHIJ BLVD GBNIVLLV 33 NV LVHL ssamlavaa so ELVLS 3HL 0i 333303 EHIHLS so ssamlavaa EHL -a SNINIVHL 11v wmoq awvxs -v - HEEOLDO SI NO 30 Bull 1vao1 amen iv 9N13N3uu03 9N1m011os 3H1 LN3u31duI SIHL NI 321313 3Hi 3v Si -2 38 a1n0Hs Lne SLEIAOS 3Hi o 31aIN33381a 39 awnOHs SNOILDV 9NIiN3u31duI 'assn 3H1 HLIN o 0i 3n LSEL 3m SVH ALIHOHLHV HEHSIH ssamlavaa pans SGNES SDPI 01- 'Wl33d5 33 nun-up I 9L0 3 1 v1 13uu1 ILWDH 34 08 95H ms right if 5' Ham's 415 v1 Jun - Declassi ed masvssaw lHlOf 2 3219315 13 0 12958 Sect 3 6 Datc 'iL i ' fl 19mg 9 5 1098 896z1 - - - paggsselom JOINT MESSAGEFORM a and or CONTINUATION SHEET 35 RELEASED By DRAFTED BY PHONE CONSISTENT UITH N0 CHANGE IN DEFCON STATUS- THIS POSTURE IS TO BE UNTIL FURTHER NOTIFIED BY JCS mum I 3- IF QUERIES ARE RECEIVED FROM NEUS MEDIA CONCERNING THE ABOVE SPOKESHAN SHOULD STATE THAT ME ARE TESTING CURRENT READINESS POSTURE- DETAILED PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE BE FORUARDED BY SEPARATE NESSAGE- GP-3 CONTROL HO PAGE NO OF MESSAGE INITI A NO 555 I REGRADING INSTRUCTIONS SECURITY CEASSIEICATIDH ma $1 an 1 I 'h'b'd qua d uhREPLACE EDITION MAY '3 WHICH WILL BE USED- W pm wwmumwvm 1098 89631 0 mm I ww 139915913199 MOD L I RESERVED FOR coma- CA NON gal-oi - ESSAGEFDRH - AdQ Anm Ll 1a-3t a i 9 9 1'ua BOOK HULTI I TYPEHSG PRECEDENCE mm INNEDIATE I mm on CS SPECIAL 535 To CINCONAD - CJCS SENDS R3 u iugdaa INCREASED READINESS POSTURE 1- HIGHER AUTHORITY HAS DIRECTED THAT HE TEST US CAPABILITY TO RESPOND TO A POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION THE USSR- IMPLEMENTING 5 ACTIONS SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE TO THE SOVIETS BUT 2 SHOULD NOT BE THREATENING- 2 AS THE CONAD PARTICIPATION IN THIS OPERATIONI IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOUING COMMENCING AT LOCAL TIME FOR CONCERNED UNITS ON 3 15 OCTOBER IRER A- STAND DONN ALL TRAINING FLIGHTS A 45 B- INCREASE THE READINESS OF CONAD FORCES TO THE 1 HIGHEST STATE OF READINESS THAT CAN BE ATTAINED I 3 DATE 7m 3 i MONTH YEAR - LR FAGENO N0 0F TYPED NAME MID TITLE IPHOHE R- SIGNATURE A EVANS JR LTC-I USAF $313 1 UESTERN HENISPHERE 5 Administrative Assistant SECURITY 35 REGRADIHG 11 I FORH 1 3 tan nu o-zza-an I may a REPLACE EDITION OF I MAY 5 mum-I mu 53 1 1359 vg rttnonI q w pwq WM 9'6 '1398 paggssepa mli1__ 4-1 th 3 SECURITY CLASSIFICATION IBBREYIATED JOIHT MESSAGEFDRM and or CONTINUATION SHEET RELEASED BY DRAFTED BY PHONE ACTION INFO CONSISTENT UITH NO CHANGE IN DEFCON STATUS- THIS POSTURE IS TO BE MAINTAINED UNTIL FURTHER NOTIFIED BY JCS- 3- QUERIES ARE RECEIVED FROM NEWS MEDIA CONCERNING THE ABOVE ACTIONS1 SPOKESNAN SHOULD STATE THAT HE ARE HERELY TESTING CURRENT READINESS POSTURE- DETAILED PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE UILL BE FORUARDED BY SEPARATE NESSAGE- lit 1- u u nun MESSAGE IDENTIFICATION INITIALS REGRADING INSTRUCTIONS SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TED I FORM 1qu 1 NOV 5317 3 1 REPLACE EDITION OF I MAY WILL BE USED W ple W 1098 89631 0' paggssepat a f'rrat tartar-g Fun cur - w- - - cairn 1 -n1_1 I 3 Man- SECURITY -outatutl scan LULTI duaLh f y 3 Pet- 155 Ila- l r- O nun-mun - _m E I Hawk GEN CHAIRMAN1 JCS T f GEN HOLLOHAY CINCSAC $3 a l%ul ADH MCCAIN CINCPAC ti iqif iz gbi d GEN GOODPASTER1 CINCEUR iggwa grx yriaAnu CINCLANT GEN - GEN v GEN CINSO - I LGEN CIHCAL I I r SECREI EYES ONLY SENSIIJIS JCS OCI Eq 1- HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY HIGHER AUTHORITY TO INSTITUTE A SERIES OF ACTIONS DURING THE PERIOD 2500392 OCT TO TEST OUR HILITARY READINESS IN SELECTED AREAS NORLD-UIDE TO RESPOND TO POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION BY THE SOVIET UNION- THESE ACTIONS SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE TO THE SOVIETS1 BUT NOT THREATENING IN THEHSELVES- THEY HAT INCLUDE1 BUT I E z1 A Enj 1y I ARE NOT NECESSARILY LIMITED TO THE FOLLOUIHG TYPE i ACTIONS A- STAND-DOUN 0F FLYING 0F COHBAT AIRCRAFT IN - 0 1 2 TIME -- 0 SELECTED AREAS OR COHNALDS1 TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL - mourn 7 n PEADINESS 11 523 - xii-1Twat mum mm TITLE PHONE 5'63'3'i3g - 95953 RADM F- A BARDSHAR1 USN 1E4 -EFE 1- llfn-rr I-D o t-n lluv a - - a I - 9'9 '1398 89631 rmvmaL mxazr - 1 umrqu-m-u-mng-z - SECURITY CLASSIFICATION l - f cn cr I uW-mm Ii IRELEASEDBT ACTION INFO - B- 0F RADIO OTHER SILENCE IN SELECTED AREAS 0R C INCREASED SURVEILLANCE 0F SOVIET SHIPS EN ROLITE TO NORTH VIETNAH- -D INCREASED GROUND ALERT RATE OF SAC BOHBERS AND TANKERS B TO INITIATE ACTIONS NITHIN THE TINE FRANE SPECIFIEDB CERTAIN CONNANDERS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO TRAINING FLIGHTS AND INTRODUCE VARYING DEGREES OF ENCON THESE INITIAL ACTIONS UILL COVER THE FIRST FOUR DAYS OF THE LH-DAY PERIOD 3 I REGUEST THAT YOU FURTHER ACTIONS CONPATIBLE UITH THE GUIDANCE HEREIN1 AND COGNIZANT OF LOCAL PROBLENS PECULIAR To YOUR AREA31 ALLIES AND ENVIRONNENT THESE NONINATIONS ARE REQUIRED NLT ACTIONS PROPOSED SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE UITH PROJECI TUB u UARN REGARDS 330 DELIVER DURING UAKING HOURS- L- El awe 9'9 '1998 89631 in - - 1 RECOMMENDED GENERAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS PLAN 1 There will be no public information releases made concerning subject activities or operations In the event it becomes necessary or desirable to inform the public the following contingency planning guidance will apply a The Assistant Secretary of Defense Public Affairs will be reSponsible for specific instructions to all commands concerning initial and follow on public information releases relating to this operation b An initial public information release will be made by the in Washington at hours 13 October 1969 This release will be made in a routine manner normal for announcements concerning joint exercises Essential elements of the release will include the following The Defense Department announced today that elements of its unified and specified commands in selected areas world wide are scheduled to begin a series of operational and logistical exercises on 13 October 1969 These exercises are designed to test the current military readiness of U S forces The exercises will be terminated when readiness test objectives have been satisfied 0 Participating commands will prepare similar public information announcements to be used in answer to local press 97 191120 1 W31 M03 9'5 1398 89621 - paggssupa query that may be generated after the national release These local releases in response to query will emphasize that visible activities are simply part of the world wide test of current military readiness Any significant departure from the text of the national release will not repeat not be made until cleared and authorized by il' ED ye cont Hr                     National Security Archive    Suite 701  Gelman Library  The George Washington University    2130 H Street  NW  Washington  D C  20037    Phone  202 994‐7000  Fax  202 994‐7005  nsarchiv@gwu edu