approved for RELEASEia historical review' program
TITLE: Career Trainee Program, GRU Style
AUTHOR: Richard Framingham
VOLUME: 10
STUDIES IN
INTELLIGENCE
A collection ol articles on the historical, operational, doctrinal, and theoretical aspects ol intelligence.
All statements of fact, opinion or analysis expressed in Studies tn Intelligence are those of
the authors They do not necessarily reflect official positions or views of the Centtal Intelligence Agency or any other US Government entity, past or present Nothing in the conients should be construed as asserting or implying US Govenu-neni endorsement of an article's factual statements and interpretations.
The Soviet military intelligence agency's system for selecting, training, and assigning officers to foreign intelligence operations.
CAREER mUNEE PROGRAM, GRU STYLE Richard
By eonsotid sting information derivedumber of dxffcreol' Soviet sour era, it hat been possible to reconstruct tbe process Soviet mtelhgence uses to rpcrf. screen, train, and assign case officers. The procedures herein outlined had their beginnings in the, were generally established by tbend to oar knowledge remained substantially hi effect as late1 and projected at least1 Tbe system described Is that of tbe CRU. the rnfliiiry in-telbgeoee organization. State Security, the KCB. operates separate but similar machinery, in addition toand, as we shall tee, in the CRUs.
Tbe GRU strategic Intelligencearea directorates charged with foreign strategic Intelligencethe mission of collecting Information broadly defined as contributing to General Staff estimates of tlie wUlingness and capability of any nation to wage war. The development of cadres for these directorates and their training for specific foreign assignments is donehree-year program of the Staff College of the Soviet Army, coromculy called thecademy by members of the CRU. The use of MDA as an unofficial title for ihe Staff College grew out of the factajor function of tbe College is training military attaches,aculty which once bandied this rmming seas called the Military-Diplomatic Training Faculty.
The Staffniversity of intelligence, for it carriesumber of related programs, including tefresher. mid-career, specialised training, and ad-hoc courses, and awards the degree of Kandidat to those who complete the requirements for thisdiploma. Although administratively under the control of tbe GRU, the MDA isoint CRU-KCB establishment, and
the KCB'i ForeigD Dlteclorite In fact shares In its output, has done so since Its founding. The im.hu MDA campus Is in tbe Solo! suburb of Moscow, some sevenalf miles northwest of the Kremlin, but various elements are scattered about the city and otber suburbs.
Srwfrlng
A number of roving Teams called "Mandate Commissions" look for potential caisdidatcs for the MDA. On the learns arc memberstbe interested elements of thestrategic toll flip'tree, directorates, which handle foreign operations and so establish training doctrine, the Personnel Duectorate, which Is lesponsible for staffing the operations and for support of training, and the MDAwhich coordinates tbe selection, training, and assignments of new officers. These spotting teams rely most heavily on tbeclasses of the twenty or so military academies of tbe Soviet Union, starting their scrutiny of students' records early in the ealendar ytsar in order to locate candidates for September enrollment But tbey also scour the military districts, consider graduates of dvilian colleges, take candidates already in the CBU, and review theof CBTJ officers.
Those with the inert rjrnrrusmg records are rounded out abouttheir education In an institution run by the General Staff. There is no reference to intelligence or espionage, and noaro made. Those who are interested are asked to complete detailed biographies of themselves and their families and to stand by for further notice. In the interval, the ICB and the Central Committee of tbe CPSU separately undertake intensive andmvestigsrionj of the candidates. Elinunabow by tbe Mandate Commission and the investigationsool of candidates perhaps twoalf times tbe number that will actually be enrolled in the MDA tn September.
Those who receive orders to report to the MDA thus show marked aptitude. In the opinion of weU-qualiBed fudges, for case officerand have no readily discoverable blemishes in their background. Kulak or VVbite Russian parenthood, relatives living abroad, criminal records in the family, or unstable borne environments would probably be discniahfymg. Now they undergo further cullingedicalelection Board,pecial Croup representing the
ml Committee of the CPSU. who will icduce the candidate-pool to the number actually required tor the entering class.
Saeening
As tbe CBU gives all its officers medical examinadons every three months and before they go overseas, high physical requirements for the MDA are not surprising Although physical reason) are aome-tiiori'ilicd to rejectandidateinor political blerrusb, genuine medical disoualiGcation is the most frequent of all causes forepresentative of tbe Medical Board sits on the Selection Board, and any candidate on whom be reports adversely is eliminated from further consideration.
Since the pool from which tbe Selection Board will choose is made up of male graduates of Higher Educationalcalledt iselection from tbe upperf tbe age group, GraduationUZ requires not only high academic ability but considerable physical and mental stamina, seifdiscipline, and political reliability, and thus VUZ graduates (including theho arc females) constitute en elite under Soviet standards.from military academies are understandably preferred for the MDA. hut graduates of equivalent institutes are also consideredhey are raihtary officers.'
Jews have been automatically excludednd irunority nationalities such as Uzbeks, Armenians, and Georgians get short shrift Some Ukrainians and members of other minority groups have been admitted, but most are Creat Russians, and all are members or eligible to be members of the Communist Party. Candidates must have acceptable manners, be reasonably good-looking, and come from backgrounds that will pass close scrutiny; their wives must be such as to become assets rather than potential labilities if sent abroad
* Unlike oar solitary academies, the Soviet ones train not only ftaS and eons-auod officers for use Soviat Army. Aa* Force, aad Navy but afao sprcalnU tosubsoeO- Military acaoYriiw usil train Lnjuiflj. natulan, cbnsati, economists, and the like are reoenBy considered superior to their crvtliaa eounw-parts. The MDA prcferenoa for rn&tuy graduates thus represent! icnind judgment rather than prvfudice.
The Selection Board has about tlx members, chiefs of areaor men of similar calibre, assistedmall staff of senior -cancer adjutants. Tbe members begin with summaries of tbefiles, the findings of the Mandate Commission on them, their
biographies am! ihe reports of tbe KGB wvestlgation.ood idea of their interests and aspirations. There are no competitive writtenwould add nothingcreening likethe candidates appear individually before the Board to answer questions and discuss any topics the members choose. But individual Board members also meet the candidates informally and talk with them in relaxed and casual situations. Thus they are able tosdl-bajed, albeit mtuitive,enerally objective though sometimes apparently mfluencedinor way by pressures of friends and associates who want their sons or sons-in-law to win acceptance.
Tbe Board not only chooses who will be invited to matriculate, it also designates the regional area in which .each will specialize and picks the target countryork in. It selects the relatively few who will operate under deepflfegola, lo Sovietrather than official cover. It chooses the languages most appropriate to tbe student's initial assignment and decides on the nature and extent of any supplemental training he is to receive. The candidate is allowed to express his preference, but the final decision is based On the Board's judgment of bis physical appearance and manner, bis aptitude for intelligence specialties,that be can passative or at leaston-Soviet resident in tbe target country. There is some bargaining among Boardshopping on behalf of their own area directorates, tradingight blond suitable for Scandinavian deep-cover operationswarthy candidateight pass as indigenous to the Balkans.
Because regional and country assignments .are based on projections of operational requirements three years hence, dual designations are sometimes made against future contingencies. Official-covetare made to Spain and the Iberian region, for instance, against tbe day when diplomatic recognition will permit sending in aof qualified legals without delay; tbe artemate for thismightatin American or other Spanish-ipeaking country-
" Th* Soviet) have blue ronGiUnot fn personnel wleetsoe torn and seldom use them. They tend to rely on subjective individual and croup asseasment, esrieoialry when critical aolgnmeiiU are io qsieetJoo.
Tbe languages are selected according to operational advantage, not necessarily by what is native in the target country. English can be used effectively in Japan, Iran. Israel,umber of Arab states and is useful In CRU operations for many other purposes; it might,
then, be the primary language for students going to these areas, with Japanese or Paxsi or Hebrew or Arabic secondary. Aptitude foras determined by an examination, isactor in thea student may beimpler one if it would require too much time and energy for his talent to master the esoteric primary
The Special Croup representing the CPSU Central Committee exercises its judgment only after all prior administrative approvals have been given. Its concern fainal determination of the candidates' political reliability. Its right,toandidate is seldom exercised, but it is never questioned.
Attractions
Tbe professional intelligence officer, the candidate already in the CRU, wants to attend the MDA because be cannot riormally expect to advance beyond the rank of major without its diploma. The typical candidates, however, are regular officers of the Soviet Army, Navy, or Air Force, and for them Ituestion of changing careers. The advantages in the change are numerous. They retain their current grade and keep their seniority, thus starting the new career at their present pay instead of beginning at the bottom. They are furnished suitable apartments if married and are supplied with both military and civilian clothes. They wul have more opportunity for promotion than in their present units.
CRU officers, like other military officers, receive the base pay for their military rank and also the pay for their duty stationajor will get his regular salary and if assigned, say, to an operations officer's slot the pay of such an officersalaries in full Special bonusesor each foreign language were at one time allowed (the student knowsrovincial language, and at least one foreign language from his VUZ training, and be may learn one or two more in theut there are some indications that these were discontinued at the same time the special tax exemptions granted medal winners under Stalin were withdrawn.
The candidate knows thattudent he will remain in the Moscow area for three years, and Moscow fa considered an excellent duty post He will be with his family for this tour, and be and they will have their reputation enhanced by the numerousRU officer enjoys. He continues bishing be does not value lightly, and may win the degree of Kandidat and
raise that accompanies it Tbe security of hit career Is enhanced, for removing an MDA graduateRU positionong and involved process and one therefore seldom undertaken, lie has not Only tbe opportunityorrsouonent to go abroad and see what lies on the other ride of that curtain the capitalist countries keep referring ta
He will, of course, be subject to the stresses normal fn tbe inteDi-geraceCRU tracerrobably'as high asbut hetill young and fn ettrernely good physical condition, he is academically competent; and through long conditioning be basa high order of self-discipline. He Is apparently not warned of theew decline theitch, and though be has cited the importance of serving the Motherland in positions of great responsibility, do stigma is attached to the refusal
Marntcaafotirm
The MDA program bas varied from two to four years; ft was three at tbe time of our most recent data. Area and language training starts immediately and continues until graduation. Non-intelligence subjects are taughtew months until final clearances are received. The program is modified to fit individual needs within CRUhighly proficient specialists, or students with extensive prior Intelligence experience or language and area knowledge, maytbeir studies in less than normal time. It it more sensible. In the CRU view, toubject-flutter spccialirt as an intelligence officer than ft is to take an already competent operative and give him training in some highly technical field requiredpecial opera ben or peculiar assignment
The degree of Kandidat requires passing courses tn Marxism as well as In intelligence and la the student's subject-matter specialty, like the l'I.D. itearned dissertation. After the student successfully defends bis dissertation before an academic board {wbich passes on ft by secret ballot, using procedures similar to those of Westerne gets the degree. Andecras.
Although the Selection Board has ruled on tlie students program, tbe first tlx months are probationary. During this time be is kept under close observation by bit mstrueton and presumably by the MDA Party Commission aod KGB informants among tbe students. Some time after his final security clearance, hit assignment is reviewed and either confirmed or changed; only then is he officially informed
of bis prospective career. Careers may actually be redirected at any time, and students are occasionally withdrawn when required for special assignments, regardless of bow close they are to graduation.
,
Tbe student is most lilely toaptain or major; some colonels are reported, lie ordinarily will be at leastgerjerally not overean old, but receptions have been made toe may be married and have children even In their teens. But it .will be the unrnarrted, usuallyears old or so. who are chosen as illegals. All arc treated as the mature men they are, with the dignity and seriousness the Soviet system devotes toilling its priority purposes. There is some horseplay, of course, but apparently no time or energy is wasted oo hazing. The students and Instructors help each other meet the high standards of the MDA system rather than compete for positionheoretical distribution curve.
The entering clan, which numbers fromccording to needs (therer more CRU case officer positions abroad to fill) is controlledlassosition carrying tbe rank of general although ft has been be Id by senior colonels. Tbe proctor, bis deputy,mall staff both mother and monitor the group. They submit detailed assessments
of each student which, with reports prepared separately by the MDA Party Commission and the chief Instructors, govern the students final assignment
Tlie school year starts in September, continues through August. Classes are held siray, except that after the rxobationary period Wednesdays are free for research, special training work on the dissertation, and reading Inibrary of classified material on espionage. Students with special interests In technical matters have various laboratories to use for self-study, and all are encouraged to supplement the wbstanoe of lectures with outside reading. Those lacking in zeal in this respect (as gauged by hours spent In the Spetsfund) must justify their be liavior to the class proctor.
Single students live fn campus dormitories, married ones being furnished apartments in the area. All spend much time in study but are otherwise as free as their schedules permit Apparently there Is an increase in free time as one progresses through the course. Students usually spend Sundays In Moscow, returning to Sokol by metro in time for Monday inornlng classes.
Training
Except Ingeneral lectures, students are divided Into units of three to five according to language and target country. These units meet with those born adjacent study areas for regional seminars. VVritten examinations are given in subjects whose mastery is essential for the projected assignments, but academic evaluation rests primarily with the instructors, wbo prepare narratives on the students' attitude and performance and rate themve-point evaluation scale.
Students are discouraged from taking notes for security reasons, but the practice Is not for bidden. They are allowed and presumably encouraged to ask questions, yet the' general practice seems ant to do so. There is no indication that academic failures occur; the selection process would generally preclude them, and the Soviet system tends at this level to dropbacks rather than washouts. The discovery of undesirable character traits or less than impeccableresults in summary dismissal Students so banished are apparently returned to their original military units, and there is no indication that their non-CRU careers are jeopardized.
The original KCB and Central Committee investigations are back-stopped further by the KCB security control program, whose agents under MDA student cover guard against hostile penetrations, detect incipient conspirJcies. and observe the students' personal, social, and sexual proclivities. Overt KCB irionitors warn the students away from restaurants frequented by foreigners. Instruct them oot to have their pictures taken in Moscow or with their comrades, and generally keep tabs on them both on and off the campus. Although tbe students and staff recognize tbe KGB's responsibuity forecurity in the armed forces, mcludlng (he CBU and the MDA, snide comments indicate that the ever-present KCB observers are irritants that GRU officers would like to do without
Tha Facvltiet
The teaching staffrganized into faculties and departments according to subject matter,ew distinguished scholars have been awarded specialairly permanent cadre, including some women, comprise the language and area faculties, but most of the Instructors are inteUigence officers on two-year rotation tours. MDA is considered excellent duty, and appointments are highly prized. The recipients arc typically senior officers, colonels aod generals with considerable status In their respective Gelds. Trade-craft instructors arc generally experienced legals or illegals wbo have
GfOJ Training
had cheek-to-jowl experience in handling agenti, often rezidentura chiefs or deputies. The students have considerable respect for their teachers, Cuest lecturers and VTPs of international prominencespeak on topics of special interest, and the MDA instructors regularly hold sessions in other CRU schools In the Moscow area.
A Faculty of Ceneral Studies teaches art, architecture, economics, history, musk, logic, philosophy, and psychology. It may bealso for Jaw;ernaticnaba>Dd Western legalare taught, but tbe faculty has not been identified In these subjects the student tends to learn history and theory rather than acquire skills, the purpose being to give him the cultural polish he should have to operate In Western societies and will not have acquired from his military academy studies.
There are two separate faculties for Area Knowledge and for Language Studies, but they coordinate closely with each other and with others whose subjects involve language and area knowledge. In languages the aim is conversational ease approaching native Buency. Area studies follow the typical intelligencetransportation, eeoriomic, poUtical. and thethey stressractical knowledge of the behavior, customs, manners, social pat-terns, and taboos of tbe indigenous people, so as to be able to work with them without giving offense-Faculties of Military Science and of Foreign Armed Forces are also separate but work closely with each other and with the area and language faculties. Military history courses begin with the early Roman era. The study of military science and tactics concentrates on armed forcel organisation and order of batdc in the United States, Creat Britain, France, and of course the students target country. The student's whole orientation toward bis targetlong mUitary-strategtc lines, for his intelligeijce requirements will likely be in this area. Field trips and demonstrations keep students abreast of tbe latest developments in weaponry.
A Faculty for Special Training teaches espionage and intelligence subjects and also the courses in military attache duties that earner were run by the Faculty of Military-Diplomatic Training,and badecraft run the usual gamut, butlaced on tbe organization and operation of rerideoturas, the practices of the intelligence and security services in the target countries, and third-country operations. This faculty works closely with those of area and languages, for effectiveness in personal relationships with non-
Sovietsentral theme of the rradecraft curriculum. These courses extend over two of the three MDA years, but they are considered to impartasic intelligence training; specialized trairung in depth is given Outside according to individual needs, both during and after the MDA program.
Supporting Activities
Technical tradccrrJt Is appareoUy^augbt' ihe GRlTs First (Technical) Department. Tbe depth of tbe training varies; rnost subjects such as secret writing, photography, mkro-pbotograpby. concealment devices, and the UVe are covered only to the familiarization level but different aspects of radio operation may be taught successivelyeriod of two years. Driver training, importantan going abroad wbo hat probably never owned ao automobile. Is handled by an element under the MDA's Deputy for Administrative Matters. In addition to the operation of different makes of foreign autoasobdes, the student learns mobile surveillance, doing photography from cars, and how to conceal compromising material in them.
The Inevitable Marxism and political theory courses are handledoutical Instruction Section under the Deputy for Politicalwho is also chairman of the MDA's Communist PartyShould disputes arise between CRU and KCB interests In the MDA. this Deputy would apparently be the one to resolve them as directed from the Central Committee.
A Department of Scientific Instruction ts responsible for pedagogical matters without doing any teaching itself. It organizes the study procedures, compiles the schedules, runs support elements biceAids, Publications. Stenographic Pool, and Trarsslxtioo Units, maintains the General Library and the Spetsfund, keeps custody of instructors* papers and student notes, and otherwise providesguidance and support to tbe instructors. An Academic Board, apparently consisting of MDA faculty and department heads, seems to set the training policy that the Department of Scientific Instruction carries out and to handle matters that cannot be resolved at lower levers.
Lectures, demonstrations, discussions, case studies, laboratoryterm papers, field trips and tours, self-study by general reading and browsing in tbe Spetsfund, and research for the doctoral dissertation (which may require extensive visits to other Institutions)
are all device* for mst ruction. Tradecraft is practiced on tbe streets of Moscow under the watchful eyes of both the KCB agents and the instructors. Moat of tbe trainingouse, but students visit other locations for special assignments, particularly if they are being groomed for deep-cover operations.
fllt'iMiaia.4 ft became the practice to take graduating students on thirty-to tarty day field trips to stations abroad, where, under tutelage of held case oficras, they study tbe cVgaairation of the rezideotisra aod the way It tunctxios. Tbey(ts operational files and see bow Its analysis of tbe operationalpplied fa operational planning. They observe agent moctings andIn what they think are bona fide agent contacts, though these arc actually with case officers from other lezidenturas. Inwith Soviet stress on communications breakdownsause of security failures, they areour through the cosnmunicatioris facilities of the center.
The purpose of the field trips is to relate classroom theory to the reality of tha Operating areas. Students are shown what can and can't be done, tbe local factors that affect access to target personalities, the limitations under which these can be sought out and developed, and the reasoning behind the operational decistons. They areimpressed by the personal diligence and frankness of their field mentors and find this transition step most belpfuL
Fruition
At graduation ceremonies, the importance of which is marked by attendance of the Chief of the Soviet Ceneral Staff, the students are awarded diplomas. These are put for safekeeping In their dossiers tn CRU HeaoVruarters.
Fromo IS percent of the class (but the proportion has run up toercent) are invited to join the KCB. which thus keeps itself supplied with military expertise. None of CPU's Illegal designees are so proselyted. Acceptance is not enforced, but the presentation is so attractive that few decline Tbe peoserytes may take another two years* training In the KGB's Higher Intclligcnoe School before being assigned to its Foreign Daectorate.
Tbe graduates earmarked as GBU deep-cover operatives generally go on to individual training in safe bouses. The rest are assigned abroad as case officers under cover of military attaches or officials of tbe Ministry of Foreign Trade, Mimstry of Foreign Affairs, TASS,
Aeroflot, Novosti, Sovfracht. Morfof, elc Some leave immediately after graduation, most are overseas within sirew receive interim assignments until openings tlevclop. but tbe delay is generally brief, often just long enough foe them to read in on current operations En the area and get acquainted with the desk that will support them. Arrived abroad, tbe new case officer will continue his intelligence schooling, joiningormally schedidcd trtirung and review sessions that may run something basay biweekly. After completing his tour be may return to Moscoweskfor specialized or refresher training, or even as an instructor at the MDA.
Commentary
Few countries have poured asroportion of their energies and resources into educational activities, in the broadest sense, as the Soviet Union has. From the beguining, organized learning has been treated with greater seriousness by the Soviet leadership than by political leaders in other countries, and this seriousness is shared by Soviet teachers and students at every level of tha system. Further, the Soviet leaden possess the controls necessary to impose their attitudes on their country; tbe system of educational admissions and weeding-out and redirection Is so devised that It leaves little room, particularly at the VUZ level, for the poUtical waverer, the leisurely scholar, or the lily-fingered btloeuchka disdainful of manual or applied arts.
The noo-Communist observer has difficulty judging the Sovietin that bis own standards often do not apply. The Soviet system Is expressly designed and controlled to helpommunist society, rather than to liberate the individual's intellect. Its success or failure is judged by tbe extent to which it serves the political and social ends of the CPSU. The British or American observer may be appalled by the tight central control, the sheer weight of cramming and emphasis on memorizing, the enforced social conformity and constant political mdextrinatico; and certainly these faults have frustrated the more talented Soviet teachers, inhibited tbe effectiveness of their training, and impaired the skills of their graduates. Unlike the Chinese, however, tbe Soviets are increasingly willing to revise, reinterpret, or even ignore Marxist educational theory in order to meet the needs of reality, and this realism in examining the causes
ol niccess or failure teems especially pronounced in their intelligence tisuning.
In charter, priori tin, and resources, the Soviet GRU differs from ill counterparts in the Western world, and comparison of disparate training systems must necessarily be generalized. But weumber of interests and objectives parallel with theirs, and they aod we are confronted with almost identical problems fn staffing overseas hitelligence instalUboni. IfacrossCRU practices, we should recruit only the cream of our service,and leading universities" graduates for Our intelligenceThe Western Intelligence academician is unpleasaritly aware thai someears back the CBU hadystem to select tbe best candidates available in the USSR and develop them into military intelligence officers of premium quality. Its pfogram is ooe that any intelligence service must look on with respect
Original document.
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