9'£ ·p 5 '8 6Zl - -- ·o· i --- p mssnp a - • TH E S FCR ETAR Y OF DEFE NS E WA S H INC TC I L 1 C 20 -101 October 11 1969 • I 1t y' t -I MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRES I DENT 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 sel ected initial actions which can be taken without prior cons ulta tion with our allies with no additional expenditure of funds and without degradation of current essenti l missions I believe these actioas and ot he r suggested actions be ing requested of the commanders conce rned will meet the objectives outlined in your request A brief outline plan and implementing messages already dispatched are ttached he reto - __ __ -Az -- GR0UP-3 Downg re hd a t 18 year intervals not ant 1i 1 t i ·•1 l ' I _ ' i 'J i -------------- ---· J iAJ b g -J1ea ·v VN 9·£ ·10JS '8 6Zl '0 3 p-Jm ssupJQ 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 will be 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 ho urs 11 October directing stand-down of all flying training and reinstatement of degraded alert sorties to I maximum extent possible -I 0800 local Omaha time on 13 October 1969 t ·i l Stand-down will commence at The stand-down will continue until otherw_ise directed by the JCS b A message will be dispatched to CINCOKAD CINCPAC CINCEUR and CINCSTRIKE no later than 1200 hours 13 October directing stand-down of all flying training uy1 Ag 9·£ ·l as '8 6Zl ·a-a acr m W'al'BQ 'VWN pamsSt paa 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 J·c s 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-down 2 days earlier than other participating commands to permit appearance of intensification of US readiness over a period of several days The US Sixth Fleet will impose EMCOM to create impression of unusual fleet activity in addition to stan ing 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 measure s for second phase implementation These measures will be considered by the JCS and directed for implementation as selected • ·I Termination - All op eration s wil l return to normal no later I ll than 25 October and possibly earlier if directed by the JCS 2 1 i g iibf r- lBQ 'V'dVN 9'£ 'l s '8£6Zl 'O H - ' -- p u ssup a -- - I E J OP COr J0 11- T MESSJ GEF ' 1-• BOO K MUL Tl SI N iL C TYPE MSG X •• J PRECEDENCE TMM DIATE ACTIO N l N P'O OTG FROM JCS SP ECIAL INSTRUCTIOII t re s S B t ' TO i CINCSAC - - T O P • S E C R E T ' SUBJ r · 0 '· CJCS SENDS INCREASED READINESS POSTURE U · 1 TS HIGHER AUTHORITY HAS REQUESTED THAT WE TEST US CAPABILITY TO RESPOND TO A POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION WITH THE USSR ' IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE TO THE SOVIETS ' BUT SHOULD NOT BE THREATENING i i 2 TS AS THE SAC PARTICIPATIO IN THIS OPERATION IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING COMMENCING AT 0800 ' HOURS LOCAL TIME 13 OCTOBER 1969 • A STAND DOWN ALL TRAINING FLIGHTS UNTIL FURTHER f NOTICE BY THE JCS 'r a i ' REINSTATE DEGRADED ALERT SORTIES TO MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE AND REPORT WHEN THIS ACTION IS - COMPLETE THIS POSTUR E IS TO BE MAINTAINED UNTIL ' FURTHER NOTICE • ' i i 'i TYPEC NAME -' 10 TITLE T IME MONTH YEAR o OCT l - ·- • DATE PA £ NO I - 1 1969 NO OF F A U 2 PH 80 CO 'RAY 9 SITTON USAF STR OPS DIV · J-3 R SECURITY LASSl JCATIOH REGRADING IHSTRUCTl t-1 I - - 11 -- r ··--- -a r pr g·£ ·1 as ·s 6Zl ·o-a IL pamssupdQ s ABBREYIA - and or CONTINUATION SHEET RELEASED PRECEDENCE ev DRAF TED BY PHOHE ACTION INFO 1 3- TS THESE DIRECTED ACTIONS SHOULD IN NO WAY AFFECT SOUTHEAST ASIA OPERATIONS - S If QUERIES ARE RECEIVED FROM NEWS MEDIA • CONCERNING THE ABOVE ACTION SPOKESMAN SHOULD STATE THAT WE ARE MERELY TESTING CURRENT READINESS POSTURE- DETAILED PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE WILL BE FORWARDED BY SEPARATE MESSAGE GP-3 1 • ·1 i ·I _J CONTROL HO TOR TOD PAGE HO 2 REGRADING IHSTRUCTIOHS HO 0 F PAGES MESSA GE I DEHTI FlCATIOH IHITIA 2 SECURITY CLASSIFICATION t ii -n 7 j I 117 ' 1 Ji Qff' rea 'Vm'N @L A8 9·£ ·1ods '8 6Zl ·0-3 PdY SSl3 0dG El - - 7 J OIHT MESSAGEFOR IH Y Cl SSl 'IC TIOH _ • dP SECRET-NOFORN-SPECAT MUL Tl BOOK TYPE MSG SINC L £ X PRECEDENCE ACTION 1 FO IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE OTG SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM · JCS TO CINCPAC • INFO CINCPACFLT CINCPACAF COMUSKOREA COMSAF 5AFADVON r TOP SECRET C r 3 'lf J 3 © @ti - _ t- - NOFORN SPECAT CJCS SENDS SUBJ INCREASED READINESS POSTURE U 1 TS-NF HIGHER AUTHORITY HAS REQUESTED THAT WE TE T US CAPABILITY TO RESPOND TO A POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION WITH THE USSR • 1 IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE TO THE SOVIETS BUT SHOULD NOT BE THREATENING r 0 2 TS-NF AS THE PACOM PARTICIPATION IN THIS ' l OPERATION IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING A COMMENCING AT 08001 15 OCT 69 23002 14 OCT 69 STANDDOWN ALL REPEAT ALL US MILITARY CATE TIM£ SJ l-- - -1-'- lj-- MONTH YEAR OCT P Ac E NO D R A F T E • TYPEO NAME HO TITLE PHONE 7725l ------1 LTC w R USHER USAF PACIFIC DIVISION J-3 R R E L sE R SECURITY CLASSIFICATION TOP SECRET-NOFORN-SPECAT REGRAOING IHSTRUCTIOHS•-·'• -''' -• · • 1 69 NO 0 F PAC 15 S I SI ABBR EVIA and or UN I lt UA flUH SHEET T ORAFTEO BY REI EASEO BY PRECEOENCE A CTION INFO TRAINING FLIGHTS WITHIN THE KOREAN AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE ADIZ UNTIL FURTHER DIRECTED BY TH_E JCS a DIRECT ALL US MILITARY OPERATIONAL AIR UNITS WITHIN THE KOREAN ADIZ TO UTILIZE THE STANDDOWN TO ACHIEVE AN IMPROVED STATE OF READINESS REIN- STATE DEGRADED SIOP ALERT SORTIES TO EXTENT FEASIBLE DO NOT CHANGE DEFCON 3 S-NF IF QUERIES ARE RECEIVED FROM NEWS MEDIA CONCERNING ABOVE ACTIONS SPOKESMAN SHOULD STATE THAT WE ARE MERELY TESTING CURRENT READINESS POSTURE DETAILED PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE WILL BE FORWARDED BY SEPARATE MESSAGE I GP-1 • j I I I I -' COHTROL HO TOR TOD P G£ HO 2 REGRADING IHSTRUCTIOHS •- ' '- nr u 4 - ' _ 1 HO OF PAGES MESSAGE IDEHTIFICATIOH 2 SECURITY CLASSIF'ICATIOH TOP SECRET-NOFORN-SPECAT Al I' EOITIOM OF 1 MAY SIi WHICH WILL BE USEC IHITI sat RVED FOP CC JOINT MESSAGEF IJR'-•• -• • ••• -•- •-•-•• - JO SECRET TYPE MSC PRECEOEHC E f l CTIQN - J IMMEDIATE OTC INFQ FROM JCS TO USCINCEUR SPECIAL IHSTRUCTII tJTG$ T Op S E CRE T • - t 0 ' CJCS SENDS l SUBJ lt J ' 3 Ej ·r INCREASED READINESS POSTURE U 1 TS HIGHER AUTHORITY HAS REQUESTED THAT WE TEST US CAPABILITY TO RESPOND TO A POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION WITH THE USSR- IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE TO THE SOVIETS BUT SHOULD NOT BE THREAT NING 2- TS AS USEUCOM PARTICIPATION IN THIS OPERATION IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING COMMENCING AT 0800 HOURS LOCAL ZONE TIME ON 15 OCT 69 i '' A- STAND DOWN ALL TRAINING FLIGHTS ARMY NAVY AIR FORCE AND MARINE CORPS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BY THE JCS9 BRING ALL AIRCRAFT AND CREWS TO A MAXIMUM STATE OF READINESS CONSISTENT WITH NO CHANGE PAGE O TYPEO NAME AHO TITLE PHONE 54846 R A F T E R SECURITY E SECRET RECRAOIHG IHS t fWC TlOHS LO UtUilll Jlt 1 JCS • • Nci_i NO OF PAGE • C PR EC E OE NCE ORAFTEO 8 - - - U EI Y ACTION INFO 7 IN EXISTING DEFCON c UNITS OF THE SIXTH FLEET WILL OPERATE UNDER CONDITIONS OF MAXIMUM PRACTICAL • EMCON COMMUNSURATE WITH SAFETY AND WITH THE MINIMUM TRANSMISSIONS REQUIRED TO PREPARE FOR EXERCISE DEEP FURROW 3 S IF QUERIES ARE RECEIVED FROM NEWS MEDIA CONCERNING THE ABOVE ACTIONS SPOKESMAN SHOULD STATE THAT WE ARE MERELY TESTING CURRENT READINESS POSTURE- DE- TAILED PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE WILL BE FORWARDED BY SEPARATE MESSAGE- GP-3 _J CONTROL HO TOR TOD PAGE MO 2 HO OF PAGES MESSAGE IOEHTIFICATIOH 2 L-R-EG_R_A-OI_H_G_IH-ST_R_U_C_TI-OH_s_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S_EC_U r7o•r SSI DD 1317 -- 3- --1 I __ tckrr lll£PLACES EDITION OF I MA'I' 1111 WHICH WII L BE usito• INITIALS --------- ii ffk rea 'VWN _ _IEl i _ _ _ UiQL Ag 9·£ ·1 i s •ss 6z1 ·o-H p mssu1 i a -JOINT MESSAGEFC -· t 1 4 1L OOOK MUI Tl TYPE ISG P VED FOR CO _ I • ' • • •I • • - -- ··- ' ' ' - I SI l C t E PRECEOENCE AC T IO N TM t1 E _-l T _A _T F_ _ _ _--t DTG lNFO FROM JCS TO CINCSTRIKE· SPECIAL INSTRUCT e 1 $ SUBJ Jl Js l CJCS SENDS TO P•S E CR ET INCREASED READINESS POSTURE U 1 TS HIGHER AUTHORITY HAS DIRECTED THAT WE TEST US CAPABILITY TO RESPOND TO A POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION WITH THE USSR IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE TO THE SOVIETS BUT SHOULD NOT BE THREATENING2- TS AS THE STRIKE PARTICIPATION IN THIS OPERATION IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING COMMENCING AT 0800 LOCAL TIME FOR CONCERNED UNITS ON ·15 OCTOBER 1969 A· STAND DOWN ALL TRAINING FLIGHTS 8 INCREASE THE READINESS OF STRIKE FORCES TO THE HIGHEST STATE OF READINESS THAT CAN BE ATTAINED DATE l · j _ MONTH Yli A OCT l PAGE NO o - _ r E TYPED NA1'1E ANO TITLE PHONE W A E VANS JR n9 LTC USAF WE TERN HEMISPHERE DIV J-3 R SECURITY CLASSIFIC TION ' - _ - l • _ • · r - • · • •J r 1 'J•4 • TYP EO or af4mpe O •IAM£ -ANO TITLE Paul t i r a Mmir istr2ti-1e· Assistant REGRADING INSTRUCT OH · '• • 'REPL C ES EDITION OF I M Y TIMI # i s NHIC H WILL DE USEC i NO P11 11111 1'1 llfll'I 9·£ ·1 s '8 6ZI SI ' ABBREVIATED JOIHT MESSAGEFORM and or CONTIHUAl IOH SHEET • ·o- P mssn1 l YO REl E-' SE O DY IIC E PHONE DRAFTED EIY - CONSISTENT WITH NO CHANGE IN DEFCON STATUS ' THIS POSTURE IS TO BE MAINTAINED UNTIL FURTHER 1 NOTIFIED BY JCS- l 3 S IF QUERIES ARE RECEIVED FROM NEWS MEDIA CONCERNING THE ABOVE ACTIONS SPOKESMAN SHOULD STATE THAT WE ARE MERELY TESTING CURRENT READINESS POSTURE DETAILED PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE WILL BE FORWARDED BY SEPARATE MESSAGE GP-3 • - ' _J PACE NO TOR TOO COHTROl NO NO OF PAGES MESSAGE IOEHTIFIC KTIOH 1 2 I I I- DD I I 2 REGRAOIHC IHSTFI JCTIOHS fll _ -_ ·•-' J•- 17 3-1 EPLACES EOITl0H OF I M4Y II WHICH WILL BE USEC ' -·- I HITI A 9'£ ·p s '8S6Zl I RESERVED FOR C O ' OW ISICA TIO 'V_ SSAGEFDRM 1•Jj- 1 _ • • I • D00K MUI Tl r-R ·o- p mssu t Ll - V SIHGI E TYPE MSG i X r w-' PRECEOEHCE ACTION M OTG FROM JCS TO CINCONAD T O P •S E C R E T SUBJ SPECIAL INSTRUCTIOII ' @ Jr $ - qis ioJJ % CJCS SENDS INCREASED READINESS POSTURE U 1 TS HIGHER AUTHORITY HAS DIRECTED THAT WE TEST US CAPABILITY TO RESPOND TO A POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION WITH THE USSR IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE TO THE SOVIETS BUT I i SHOULD NOT BE THREATENING- i I I -j 2 T AS THE CONAD PARTICIPATION IN THIS ' I OPERATION IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING COMMENCING • AT 0800 LOCAL TIME FOR CONCERNED UNITS ON 15 OCTOBER 1969A• STAND DOWN ALL TRAINING FLIGHTS a INCREASE THE READINESS Of CONAD FORCES TO THE HIGHEST STATE OF READINESS THAT CAN BE ATTAINED l l' OATE PAGE HO TIME HO OF P 41 £S D R A F I ' I l I ' T E· R TYPEC NAME AHO TITL£ PHONE w A· EVANS JR LTC USAF WESTERN HEMISPHERE DIV J-3 R SIGNATURE A TYPEO ot ela - po« HA S - 1 c £ - • · - -s __---1 ANCl' 'J- I J'oU hi 1 11 y Adminlstrative Assistant '· - - ' REGRADING IHST RUCTIO ls• - '• • ••-·•• REPI ACf I EOITION OF I MAY s WHICH WILi 11£ USEC _ - - -· w p - pn- PYlllll 'II 9'£ ·1 as '8 6ZI 'O iv pamssn1 a1 dO - - - - - - - - - - -· - --------------------------- --- SECURITY CL ASSlflCATIOH BBREYIATED JOINT MESSAGEFORM and or COHTIHUATION SHEET E ----1 I •r 0 ' • • - - --- • - • • • • PHONE ORAF'TEO BY REL EASED BY • INFO f 7 CONSISTENT WITH NO CHANGE IN DEFCON STATUS THIS POSTURE IS TO BE MAINTAINED UNTIL FURTHER NOTIFIED I BY JCS • 3 S IF QUERIES ARE RECEIVED FROM NEWS MEDIA CONCERNING THE ABOVE ACTIONS SPOKESMAN SHOULD STATE THAT WE ARE MERELY TESTING CURRENT READINESS POSTURE- DETAILED PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE WILL BE FORWARDED BY SEPARATE MESSAGE GP-3 I ·I I I II _J CONTROL ·Ho I I TOIVTOO PAGE HO 2 HO OF PAGES 2 SECURl TY CLASSIFICATION REGRADING INSTRUCTIONS DD 317 3-1 I INITIALS MESSA GE IOENTI FICATIOH JDiJ 1' 'PD '7 u PL ACES EDITION OF t MAY e_ WHIC H • WILL BE USED c · · a -J pa - - -- 9'£ 'l S '8S'6Zl 1v ·o-· P mss-e1 t MO - tt 11 -i c •u -i-ro r- · 'I - t- r 11 _ _ • r1 o ' •- - A • ' • j _ _ __ - J -- - _ _- l • 1- --- -CI _-' l ' _ C - 1- • --• - 1' ' ' ' t - - - --·1-- o ··1•' T r o · T• fl SEC l- EY-EY ES Ol- LY-SE M TII · - - - - - • - -- _ _ _ • • - - • -• l' -llt v- _ _ s _ • 'j • ' 1 ' 11 'i • •$ - • Ccr fun 1 LC - - p 1-•m cr o II CC · l _ _ _ - -- - - --- - - - - - - - - ••11 -1 • · ' • J n raver - 1 c ·2i r 1c 1 _· o · · ca j _1 ' - -· ' • ' 1 i - • - D5 s9 · CQ t et LJ1 -f c _JJiijf _ rJ J f _ _ _ ____ I IO i S t- --- -----·----·- -·---·- -· -- -- ·- - - -----·________________ _ l f t J h GEtl Wl-iE LER GIA IR li AN JCS T n • It l C - ' j · YO · ' · - · • · --- - ' ' - _' - '_ _ ·· GEN HC LLO I Y CH JCSAC •' ADl'i l'iCCAI J CINCPAC - - GEN GOODPASTER CINCEUR 1_ADJ1 HOUiES- CIIJ CL ANT ' GEN JlCKEE CINOJ0RAD CONJ D GEN Tltf OCKJ10P TOt Cit CSTRIKE GEN nATHEr c rnso LGEN RUEGG CIJ JCAL r - - J - - i - c J o ' s • - j i· · --· · __ · 0 - · - - - _-i' -- • Cl - ' · ' 1 -' ' TOP SECRE T tYES OiJLY SENSITJI E JCS ' OCT 69 1- · WE HAVE BEE N DIRECTE D BY HIGHER AUTHORITY TO IiJS TI TUTE A SEfUCS Of ACt'I O lS DlJra' •iG THE PERIOD 1 300 002 - 25•• oaz OCT TO TES T OU R f ILITARY P-EADINESS IN SELECTED ARE AS WORLD-WIDE TO RESP OND TO POS SIBLE Li COMFROiH ATI0N aY THE SOVIET UNION ·1 SHOULD BE DISCERNIBLE TO THE SOVIETS BUT NOT r I TH SE ACTIO IS I L Il I I THREATENING Il'J TIIEfiSELV ES THEY r·IAY' INCLUDE BUT li l ARE NOT NECESSARILY LIJlITED TO TEE FOLLOWif-lG TYPE I ACTIONS I I l A STAND-DOWN OF FLYING Of COM3 AT AIRCRAFT IN SELECTED AREAS OR COMMAHnS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL READHJESS z ·F-3 I l - pat l- a 9'£ 'lO S '8 6Zl ie M03 ·o· P Y SSl J0 1 r z ic · - v - '2 · -- -t rvYM l 0 - ••--•- --- - - -z --• r I I ·-· 8- 7 IMPLEMENTATION Of RADI O AND O R OTHER COl'iJ1UNICATIOi- S SILENCE IN SELECt'ED AR EAS OR COJ111ANDS C • IJ Cf EASED SURVEILLANCE OF SOVIET SIIIPS EM l OUTE TO NORTH VIETNAM ·D ' l INCREASED GROUi'Jl ALERT RATE OF SAC 80 18ERS ANT TANKERS- 2 TO INITIATE ACTIONS bJITIUN THE TIME FRAl'lE SPECIFIED CERTAIN C•l'lrlANDERS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO STAND-DOWN Tf AINHJG FLIGHTS - ND IMTRODUCE VARYING DEGREES OF Ef1CO J THESE INITIAL ACTIOHS UILL COVER THE FIRST FOUR DAYS OF THE l L - DAY P ERIO D• 3- I RE WEST THAT YOU NOilHJATE FURTaE R ACTIONS cor·lPATifJLE WITH THE GUIDANCE HEREIN AND COGNIZA T Of LOCAL PROBLEMS PECULIAR TO YOUR AREAS ALLIES AND GfVIROI-Ji1ENT NONINATIOHS ARE REQUIRED NLT 1223002 THESE ACTIONS PROPOSED SHOULD 8E COJIPATIBLE WITH PROJECT 7034 WARM REGARDS SSO NOTE GP-1 DELIVER DURING UAKING HOURSc • • f • • _J 1 9·£ ·pas '8 6Zl ·o- P msm 1 1 c • 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 OASD PA in Washington at 1969 ---- hours 13 October 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 I 1l II l I I j· 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 I ii- The exercises will be terminated when readiness test I - objectives have been satisfied I c Participating commands will prepare similar public information announcements to be used in answer to local press - - -9·£ ·1 s '8 6ZI ·0- P mssnr 1 • 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 II l l military readiness Any significant departure from the text of the national release will not repeat not be made until cleared and authorized by OASD PA I ' 1 I I i I j 2 f co· X _ _ ' • -----------------