FBI Files: American Politicians, Aides, and Appointees

Welcome to the FBI Files on American Politicians, Aides, and Appointees archive at The Black Vault. This section compiles declassified and released FBI records pertaining to public officials across all levels of government — from senators, governors, and cabinet officials to presidential advisers and political staff.

These files include background checks, security reviews, investigative materials, and correspondence that illuminate how the FBI monitored, evaluated, or interacted with individuals serving in political roles. Collectively, they reveal decades of domestic intelligence practices, political scrutiny, and the evolving relationship between national security and public service.

This archive is designed for researchers, journalists, historians, and anyone interested in understanding how the FBI documented the lives, careers, and political activities of influential American figures throughout modern history.

Blanchard, Col. William H. - [4 Pages, 1MB] - RECORDS DESTROYED - General William Hugh Blanchard (February 6, 1916 – May 31, 1966) was a United States Air Force officer who attained the rank of four-star general and served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1966. On July 8, 1947, Colonel Blanchard issued an official Army Air Force press release stating that the base intelligence office had recovered a so-called "flying disc" or "flying saucer" from a nearby ranch, it had been found "sometime last week," and they were flying it to "higher headquarters". The press release and the media feeding frenzy that followed it triggered the so-called Roswell UFO Incident.

Bucher, Lloyd M. - [66 Pages, 27.8MB] - Lloyd Mark "Pete" Bucher (1 September 1927 – 28 January 2004) was an officer in the United States Navy, who is best remembered as the captain of the USS Pueblo (AGER-2), which was captured on January 23, 1968 by North Korea. While monitoring North Korea, the Pueblo came under attack by North Korean naval forces, primarily motor torpedo boats, even though U.S. Naval officials and the crew have claimed the ship was in international waters at the time. North Koreans boarded the ship and took her to the port at Wonsan. For the next 11 months, Bucher and his crew were held as POWs by the North Koreans. Initially, they were treated relatively well, with good food and living accommodations.

Butler, Smedley Darlington - [42 Pages, 2.78 MB] - Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940) was a United States Marine Corps major general, the highest rank authorized at that time, and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. During his 34-year career as a Marine, he participated in military actions in the Philippines, China, in Central America and the Caribbean during the Banana Wars, and France in World War I. Butler is well known for having later become an outspoken critic of U.S. wars and their consequences, as well as exposing the Business Plot, a purported plan to overthrow the U.S. government.

Donovan, William J. - [ File #1 | File #2 | File #3 | File #4 | File #5 | File #6 | File #7 ] - Background investigation of Major General William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan, Medal of Honor recipient and former Director of the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Fellers, Bonner - [32 Pages, 20.70MB] - Bonner Frank Fellers (February 7, 1896 – October 7, 1973) was a U.S. Army officer who served during World War II as military attaché and psychological warfare director. He is notable as the military attaché in Egypt whose extensive transmissions of detailed British tactical information were intercepted by Axis agents and passed to German field marshal Erwin Rommel for over six months, contributing to disastrous British defeats at Gazala and Tobruk in June 1942. He was considered a protégé of General Douglas MacArthur.

Flickinger, Brig. General Don D. - [13 Pages, 1MB] - Dr. Donald D. Flickinger, an early expert on space medicine who as a World War II flight surgeon parachuted into the Himalayas to rescue downed fliers and later helped select the first seven Mercury astronauts. Dr. Flickinger, who retired from the Air Force in 1961 as a brigadier general and later was a consultant to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other agencies, ''was a pioneer in high-altitude medicine,'' said Robert Hotz, a former editor in chief of Aviation Week and Space Technology. (Note: Researcher Keith Basterfield proposed that Brig. General Flickinger was the mentor described [but not named]by Dr. Kit Green in an interview with Richard Dolan)

Friend, Robert - [4 Pages, 2.5MB] - Lieutenant Colonel Robert Jones Friend (1920–2019) was a Tuskegee airman in WW2 and led the USAF's Project Blue Book from 1958 to 1963. He also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He had a 28 year military career. Note: All files on Friend were either lost or destroyed.

Gale, William Potters - [494 Pages, 89.2MB] - According to claims of unknown reliability, William Potters Gale had previously been an aide to General Douglas MacArthur, and had coordinated guerrilla resistance in the Philippines during World War II. Gale became a leading figure in the anti-tax and paramilitary movements of the 1970s and 1980s, beginning with the California Rangers and the Posse Comitatus, and helped found the militia movement.

Hathcock, Carlos - [19 Pages, 89.2MB] - Carlos Norman Hathcock II (May 20, 1942 – February 22, 1999) was a United States Marine Corps (USMC) sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was honored by having a rifle named after him: a variant of the M21 dubbed the Springfield Armory M25 White Feather, for the nickname "White Feather" given to Hathcock by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN).

Hillenkoetter, Adm Roscoe Henry - [32 Pages, 20.70MB] - Roscoe Henry Hillenkoetter (May 8, 1897 – June 18, 1982) was the third director of the post-World War II United States Central Intelligence Group (CIG), the third Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), and the first director of the Central Intelligence Agency created by the National Security Act of 1947. He served as DCI and director of the CIG and the CIA from May 1, 1947 to October 7, 1950 and after his retirement from the United States Navy was a member of the board of governors of National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) from 1957 to 1962.

La Rocque, Gene - [10 Pages, 3.1MB] - Eugene Robert La Rocque (June 29, 1918 – October 31, 2016) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy who founded the Center for Defense Information in 1971.

Lansdale, Edward Geary - [19 Pages, 8.6MB] - Edward Geary Lansdale (February 6, 1908 – February 23, 1987) was a United States Air Force officer who served in the Office of Strategic Services and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He rose to the rank of Major General and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1963. He was an early proponent of more aggressive U.S. actions in the Cold War. Lansdale was born in Detroit, Michigan and died in McLean, Virginia. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was twice married and had two sons from his first marriage.

Please note: By letter from the FBI dated April 25, 2018, in FOIA request 1402808-000, potentially responsive documents were destroyed on Lansdale back on July 26, 1978. Additional documents may exist at NARA, which have been requested. Will add them when available.

LeMay, General Curtis - [42 Pages, 2.56 MB] - Curtis Emerson LeMay (November 15, 1906 – October 1, 1990) was a general in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of American Independent Party presidential candidate George Wallace in 1968. He is credited with designing and implementing an effective, but also controversial, systematic strategic bombing campaign in the Pacific theater of World War II. During the war, he was known for planning and executing a massive bombing campaign against cities in Japan and a crippling minelaying campaign in Japan's internal waterways. After the war, he unintentionally initiated the Berlin airlift, then reorganized the Strategic Air Command (SAC) into an effective instrument of nuclear war. He served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force from 1961 until his retirement in 1965.

MacArthur, Douglas - [42 Pages, 2.56 MB] - Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964) was an American five-star general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines Campaign, which made him and his father Arthur MacArthur, Jr., the first father and son to be awarded the medal. He was one of only five men ever to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the US Army, and the only man ever to become a field marshal in the Philippine Army.

Patton, General George S. - [149 Pages, 12.2MB] - George Smith Patton, Jr., (1885-1945) was a senior U.S. Army leader, serving in the military from 1909 to 1945. This release (previously made, but now posted to the FBI Vault) consists of 11 pages of references to Patton found in FBI files. The document dates range from 1945 to 1946.

Petraeus, David - [284 Pages, 10.1MB]

Civil Action# 16-CV-00514 - [18 Pages, 2.5MB] - This is the first interim release about this civil action, which was reference in the above document release. This FOIA request should bring up a different set of documents, which will be added here, when released.

Court Unseal Orders, Warrants, etc. - [242 Pages, 5.4MB] - These records were released by the United States District Courts, Western District of North Carolina. They have been combined to a searchable .pdf format, and the .pdf contains bookmarks to differentiate the different warrants and court orders.

Executive Office for United States Attorneys - [382 Pages, 23.5MB] - This is the package of multiple releases by the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. I have combined them into one .pdf, searchable, with bookmarks stipulating the different releases (and dates).David Howell Petraeus is a retired American military officer and public official. He served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from September 6, 2011, until his resignation on November 9, 2012. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a highly decorated four-star general, serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from July 4, 2010, to July 18, 2011. His other four-star assignments include serving as the 10th Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) from October 13, 2008, to June 30, 2010, and as Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I) from February 10, 2007, to September 16, 2008. As commander of MNF-I, Petraeus oversaw all coalition forces in Iraq. In January 2015, officials reported the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors had recommended bringing felony charges against Petraeus for allegedly providing classified information to his biographer, Paula Broadwell (with whom he was having an affair), while serving as the director of the CIA. Eventually, Petraeus pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified information.This release concerns an investigation into the compromise of classified material. The dates in the release range from 2012-2013.

Pash, Boris - [17 Pages, 7MB] - Boris Theodore Pash (born Boris Fedorovich Pashkovsky; Russian: Борис Фёдорович Пашковский) 20 June 1900 – 11 May 1995) was a United States Army military intelligence officer. He commanded the Alsos Mission during World War II and retired with the rank of colonel.

Powell, Colin - FBI Release 1-3 - [521 Pages, 32MB]

Powell, Colin - DCSA Release - [150 Pages, 179MB] - Colin Luther Powell (April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was a distinguished American statesman and retired four-star general who served as the 65th U.S. Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, becoming the first African American to hold the position. Born in Harlem to Jamaican immigrant parents, Powell rose through the ranks of the U.S. Army, ultimately serving as National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a central figure in U.S. foreign and military policy during the Gulf War. Known for his leadership, integrity, and trailblazing career, Powell remained influential in public life through his memoir, My American Journey, and numerous charitable and corporate board roles following his retirement from public service.

Shurer, Ronald J. - FBI Release - [178 Pages, 85MB]

Shurer, Ronald J. - DCSA Release - [178 Pages, 4.5MB] - Ronald J. Shurer II was a distinguished American hero and Army medic who received the Medal of Honor for his acts of bravery and valor during the War in Afghanistan. Born on December 7, 1978, in Fairbanks, Alaska, Shurer enlisted in the United States Army in 2002 and later joined the Special Forces. He was honored for his extraordinary courage during the Battle of Shok Valley in 2008, where he braved enemy fire to treat and evacuate wounded soldiers. After his military service, he continued his service to the country by joining the Secret Service. Ronald J. Shurer passed away on May 14, 2020, after a valiant battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy of selflessness and service.

Souers, Sidney Adm. - [691 Pages, 47.53MB] - Sidney William Souers (March 30, 1892 – January 14, 1973) was an American admiral and intelligence expert. ear Admiral Souers was appointed as the first Director of Central Intelligence on January 23, 1946 by President Harry S. Truman. Prior to this, as Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, Souers had been one of the architects of the system that came into being with the President's directive. He had written the intelligence chapter of the Eberstadt Report, which advocated a unified intelligence system. Toward the end of 1945, when the competing plans for a national intelligence system were deadlocked, Souers' views had come to the attention of the President, and he seems to have played a role in breaking the impasse.

Starbird, General Alfred - [5 Pages, 1.5MB]

Starbird, General Alfred - [5 Pages, 1.5MB] - Alfred Dodd Starbird (April 28, 1912 – July 28, 1983) was an American modern pentathlete, lieutenant general, and authority on nuclear weaponry. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, class of 1933, he was commissioned in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He was a member of the United States modern pentathlon team at the 1936 Summer Olympics, finishing seventh overall in a field of 42.

Trudeau, General Arthur - [ File #1 | File #2 | File #3 ] - [ 360 Pages Total ] - Arthur Gilbert Trudeau (July 5, 1902 in Middlebury, Vermont – June 5, 1991, Chevy Chase, Maryland) was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army best known for his command of the 7th Infantry Division during the battle of Battle of Pork Chop Hill during the Korean War. (Source: Ernie Lazar)

Twining, General Nathan - [23 Pages, 15.43MB] - Nathan Farragut Twining, (October 11, 1897 – March 29, 1982) was a United States Air Force General, born in Monroe, Wisconsin. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1953 until 1957. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1957 to 1960 he was the first member of the Air Force to serve in that role.

Vandenberg, Hoyt - [98 Pages, 6.12MB] - Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg (January 24, 1899 – April 2, 1954) was a U.S. Air Force general, its second Chief of Staff, and second Director of Central Intelligence. During World War II, Vandenberg was the commanding general of the Ninth Air Force, a tactical air force in England and in France, supporting the Army, from August 1944 until V-E Day. Vandenberg Air Force Base on the central coast of California is named for General Vandenberg. In 1946, he was briefly the U.S. Chief of Military Intelligence. He was the nephew of Arthur H. Vandenberg, a former U.S. Senator from Michigan.

Woodard, Isaac - [18 Pages, 1.42MB] - Isaac Woodard Jr. (March 18, 1919 – September 23, 1992) was a decorated African-American World War II veteran. On February 12, 1946, hours after being honorably discharged from the United States Army, he was attacked while still in uniform by South Carolina police as he was taking a bus home. The attack and his injuries sparked national outrage and galvanized the civil rights movement in the United States.

This was obtained from the The National Archives at Atlanta, and they provided the following additional information:

The National Archives at Atlanta has custody of case 16603, United States of America v. Lynwood Lanier Shull, from the U.S. District Court of South Carolina, Columbia Division which addresses the assault of Mr. Woodard. The scanned court case is attached in entirety. It is not a very big case but it is all that we have on this matter. You will notice the first scan, the outside of the folder, has a notation stating here are transcriptions in an FBI folder and more information at the Truman Presidential Library. The National Archives at Atlanta does not have any transcriptions.

The post FBI Files: American Military first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the document, NIGHT TRAIN 84 was designed as a major biennial nuclear war exercise that included elements from previous exercises such as “GLOBAL SHIELD,” “AMALGAM CHIEF,” and FEMA’s “REX 84 ALPHA.” The exercise aimed to simulate coordinated responses to a global nuclear conflict, with live flying and the use of strategic weapon systems incorporated into the exercise play. The scenario was directly shaped by Cold War tensions and modeled on large-scale Soviet exercises reviewed in June 1982.

“The exercise is designed with two four-day phases,” the document states, “on the pre and trans-attack period… A 24-hour administrative break will simulate 15 days of survival and recovery activity. Phase II will begin on Day 6 of the exercise and will concentrate on activities in the post-nuclear attack period.”

A primary objective was to test U.S. continuity of government plans following a nuclear exchange, as well as strategic and tactical military responses. “National participation is anticipated because of the desire to evaluate post-nuclear attack continuity of government plans,” the briefing notes.

The simulated scenario begins with escalating global tensions, including Soviet inroads in the Caribbean, discovery of Soviet SA-5 missile site construction in Cuba, and Soviet opportunism in Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Iran. The exercise projects events such as open civil war in Iran, increased Soviet military aid and presence in various regions, and NATO’s heightened military readiness in response to Soviet exercises perceived as cover for mobilization.

By 5 April 1984, the exercise posits that “Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces attacked in Central Europe and Turkish Thrace,” with chemical and nuclear weapons employed on 6 April in an attempt to break NATO resistance. The scenario culminates in “Soviet nuclear counterforce attacks against the United States and follow-on theater nuclear strikes on NATO” on 8 April.

In the wake of these simulated attacks, the United States shifted focus to survival and recovery operations during a compressed 15-day period. The exercise outlined that “unified and specified commands will operate at reduced strength from alternate command locations during this phase and will concentrate on reconstitution of their commands and redirection of their forces.” A major emphasis was placed on ensuring coordination between surviving national command authorities (NCA), reconstituted federal agencies, and state governments, with the Commander-in-Chief Readiness Command (CINCRED) playing a central role in civil defense support. This phase was described as “a first step toward defining, developing and evaluating procedures for coping with events which might occur in the aftermath of nuclear war,” highlighting the complexities of maintaining command connectivity and stabilizing the nation following a large-scale nuclear strike.

Meanwhile, the document describes the grim aftermath facing the Soviet Union. “While most of the Soviet and elements of Warsaw Pact leadership survived the U.S. retaliatory strike, they were not able to reconstitute their strategic arsenal as quickly as had been expected… Restoration of key production and services was inhibited by popular unwillingness to return to contaminated areas.”

The exercise also envisioned significant civil unrest within the Soviet bloc and a turn toward diplomatic resolution. “Faced with these problems, Soviet leaders began to seek a political solution to the crisis,” with both sides agreeing on a ceasefire in the European theater after 15 days.

Throughout, the document emphasizes the importance of testing the interaction between surviving national command authorities (NCA), reconstituted government agencies, and state governments. The scenario aimed to “provide study and better understanding of the complex issues involved in the trans- and post-nuclear attack periods.”

Portions of the document remain redacted, withheld under FOIA exemptions including 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(1) for information classified in the interest of national security and 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(3) under 50 U.S.C. 3605, protecting NSA functions and information.

The release of this document comes at a time when global tensions echo some of the very scenarios envisioned in NIGHT TRAIN 84. Today, Iran remains a focal point of international security concerns, with ongoing disputes over its nuclear program, regional influence, and relations with the United States and its allies. The fictional civil war and foreign interventions in Iran portrayed in the exercise underscore the enduring strategic significance of the region, as well as the risks posed by instability there.

Moreover, the exercise’s emphasis on rapid escalation, chemical and nuclear weapons use, and the struggle to maintain continuity of government after a large-scale nuclear exchange serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences that could arise from modern conflicts spiraling out of control. As nuclear-armed states continue to navigate strained relations, the lessons and planning embedded in Cold War exercises like NIGHT TRAIN 84 remain relevant, highlighting the need for diplomacy, crisis management, and updated continuity plans in an increasingly unpredictable world.

###

Document Archive

Exercise Night Train 84 Briefing, August 1983 [24 Pages, 5.5MB]

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The post DoD Releases Previously Unseen Document Detailing “NIGHT TRAIN 84” Nuclear War Exercise Scenario first appeared on The Black Vault.

The image above is a fictional representation of the Army’s holdings.

Below, you can download the Excel Spreadsheet files of about 500,000 items in the Army’s historical artifacts collection.

Document Archive

File names are as released by the U.S. Army:

The post Center for Military History, Department of the Army, Historical Artifacts Database first appeared on The Black Vault.

(Note: The following report was sent, I believe, on accident while requesting another document. Since the result was still interesting, it is being archived here for reference, and the original document requested has had another case filed to track it down.)

Document Archive

Technology Forecast: Nonconventional Energy Sources for the Future Soldier – 29 June 2009 [14 Pages, 1.6MB]

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The post Technology Forecast: Nonconventional Energy Sources for the Future Soldier – 29 June 2009 first appeared on The Black Vault.

1. To delineate Air Force space requirements
2. To define the systems under development or being considered to meet these requirements and
3. To promote the recognition and advancement of the technology needed to achieve the systems.

This initial report, which is very preliminary, is designed to serve as the framework for continuing study. It is to be modified periodically as the need arises.

This document is intended as a tool to assist in coordinating and ordering the Air Force space program definition and development, and is for the use of using commands in defining operational requirements, and centers and laboratories in analyzing development requirements. With the assistance of interested commands and agencies, the study ultimately should define and provide an. analysis of each of the required systems in sufficient detail to show the inter-relationship of the various technical requirements. The results of this analysis will indicate critical areas in which technological advancements are required to permit timely development of systems to accomplish the space-age missions.

Document Archive

Air Force Space Systems Program – October 20, 1959 [137 Pages, 5.5MB]

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The post Air Force Space Systems Program – October 20, 1959 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Program’s Objectives

The primary objective of the SR-183 program was scientific observation. The lunar observatory was intended to monitor celestial bodies, study the cosmic phenomena, and potentially track Soviet satellite and missile activities. By placing an observatory on the Moon, the United States hoped to gain a strategic advantage by having the ability to observe space from a unique vantage point, uninhibited by the Earth’s atmosphere.

Additionally, the program aimed to demonstrate American technological capabilities and assert its dominance in the space race. Following the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union, there was a sense of urgency within the United States to develop innovative technologies and establish a presence in space.

The Development Process

The development of the SR-183 Lunar Observatory program involved various challenges, including the development of advanced technologies required to establish and operate an observatory on the Moon. These included the creation of durable materials that could withstand the harsh environment of space, advanced communication systems to transmit data back to Earth, and innovative power sources that could sustain the observatory’s operations.

Additionally, there were logistical challenges associated with transporting the observatory to the Moon and establishing it in a way that would allow for optimal observations. These included determining the best location for the observatory, developing a method for its transportation and installation, and creating systems that would allow it to operate autonomously.

The Cancellation of the Program

Despite its innovative ambitions and the significant resources invested in its development, the SR-183 Lunar Observatory program was eventually discontinued. There are several reasons speculated for its cancellation, including technological limitations, financial constraints, and a shift in focus towards other space exploration efforts.

The technological challenges associated with developing, transporting, and operating an observatory on the Moon were immense, and it is possible that the technology required was not advanced enough at the time to make the program feasible. Additionally, the financial investment required to develop and implement the program was significant, and it is possible that the cost-benefit analysis did not justify its continuation.

Finally, the focus of the United States’ space exploration efforts shifted towards manned missions, culminating in the Apollo program, which successfully landed astronauts on the Moon. With the success of the Apollo program and the subsequent shift in focus towards other space exploration initiatives, the SR-183 Lunar Observatory program was deemed non-essential and ultimately canceled.

Conclusion

The SR-183 Lunar Observatory program was an ambitious initiative developed during the Cold War era with the goal of establishing an observatory on the Moon. Despite its innovative objectives and the significant resources invested in its development, the program faced numerous challenges and was ultimately discontinued. Although the program did not come to fruition, it represents an important chapter in the history of space exploration and the strategic initiatives developed during the Cold War era.

Document Archive

SR-183 Lunar Observatory. Lunar Observatory Study Liaison Visits [13 Pages, 1.5MB]

The post SR-183 Lunar Observatory Program first appeared on The Black Vault.

The DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (or DOD Dictionary) sets forth standard US military and associated terminology to encompass the joint activity of the Armed Forces of the United States. These military and associated terms, together with their definitions, constitute approved Department of Defense (DOD) terminology for general use by all DOD components.

This publication supplements standard English-language dictionaries and standardizes military and associated terminology to improve communication and mutual understanding within DOD, with other US Government departments and agencies, and among the United States and its allies.

This publication applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Services, the Joint Staff, combatant commands, DOD agencies, and all other DOD components. It is the primary terminology source when preparing correspondence, to include policy, strategy, doctrine, and planning documents. Criteria for inclusion of terminology in the DOD Dictionary is enumerated in Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 5025.12, Standardization of Military and Associated Terminology, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction (CJCSI) 5705.01, Standardization of Military and Associated Terminology.

DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

Current as of May 2022 (released November 2022)

 DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, May 2022 [361 Pages, 119MB]

Archived Versions

 DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, November 2019 [376 Pages, 1.5MB]

 DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, October 16, 2016 [400 Pages, 1.7MB]

The post DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms first appeared on The Black Vault.

The post Iran’s Tactical Ballistic Missile Strike on Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq – January 8, 2020 first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the paper:

The Cold War is over and the result is a transition from a bipolar world of US vs. USSR to a multipolar world or “New World Order” where the US remains the only military superpower. However, this status is tentative for the United States. Like all the great superpowers in history, the US is about to let the weight of its military establishment, drag its economy into collapse.

This paper looks at the implications of President Bush’s “new world order,” and the opportunities it presents the US to preserve a peaceful international environment with an open international market system while at the same time retaining its superpower status. The paper establishes that the “new world order” is more than just rhetoric or simple statement of fact, it exists but is ill-defined. As a result, the paper proposes to define the term as a democratic world where all nations join together in partnership and cooperation under the framework of the United Nations to establish peace, prosperity, and justice for all.

Note: This is John T. Brennan, not to be confused with the more well known John O. Brennan, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Document Archive

An Analysis of the ‘New World Order’ and Its Implications for U. S. National Strategy [40 Pages, 1.91MB]

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The post An Analysis Of The “New World Order” And Its Implications For U.S. National Strategy by John T. Brennan, April 1993 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The post Travis AFB Launches Small Unarmed Aircraft Initiative, First on Air Force Installation first appeared on The Black Vault.

This publication provides guidance for the planning, execution, and assessment of military information support operations across the range of military operations.

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JP 3-13.2, Military Information Support Operations, dated 21 November 2014 [96 pages, 12.5MB]

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The post JP 3-13.2, Military Information Support Operations, dated 21 November 2014 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Abstract:

“Major issues have plagued the US military space community for years. Foremost among these issues is the relationship between air and space. At a recent airpower conference, military leaders from the western powers presented discussions of airpower and space issues with a pervasive underlying assumption: that the next logical step from the exploitation of airpower and space capabilities was the merging of the two environments toward the exploitation of aerospace power. The current distinction between air and space rests on the fiscal and technical inability to merge them an inability that is soon to be overcome. Conferees dismissed environmental distinctions between the two on the grounds that there is no absolute boundary between air and space In Paths of Heaven, the chapter titled Ascendant Realms: Characteristics of Air and Space Power, I examine this assumption from the perspective of 21 different military characteristics and conclude it to be invalid. The reasons extend well beyond an inability fiscally and technically to merge the two realms.”

Document Archive

Beyond the Paths of Heaven: The Emergence of Space Power Thought, September 1999 [595 Pages, 7MB]

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The post Beyond the Paths of Heaven: The Emergence of Space Power Thought, September 1999 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Area 51 is a nickname for a military base located in the southern portion of Nevada in the western United States (83 miles north-northwest of downtown Las Vegas). Situated at its center, on the southern shore of Groom Lake, is a large secretive military airfield. The base’s primary purpose is to support development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems.

Unfortunately, the 2013 story that Area 51 was finally officially acknowledged, is incorrect. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), I received back in 2001 an official document explaining Area 51 by the Department of Energy. In 2004, I obtained another from the Central Intelligence Agency acknowledging Area 51.

Document Archive

Area 51 – The Department of Energy Explanation [4 Pages, 1MB] – This document was released to The Black Vault in July of 2001

The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and Oxcart Programs, 1992 [407 Pages, 64.9MB]  (Source: The National Security Archive) – This is the document that made headlines as being the “first ever” admission that Area 51 existed. As we can see with the above, the entire media conglomerate WORLDWIDE is reporting incorrect facts. We’ve known (officially) about it’s existence for YEARS.

 The CIA Records pertaining to the declassification of the above document [3 Pages, 0.7MB]

 Return of Wreckage of A-12 #125 to Area 51, 10 January 1967 [1 Pages, 0.8MB]

 1129th USAF Special Activities Squadron, Station Report, Las Vegas, Nevada and Area 51, March 1964 [14 Pages, 1.4MB]

 Discussions with the Commander of Area 51, 26 July 1963 [5 Pages, 0.8MB]

Area 51 Aerial Observation, 6 April 1962 [1 Page, 0.5MB] – This document was released to The Black Vault in May of 2004.

The post Area 51 – Declassified Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.

The importance of space and space-related activities to support global military operations has expanded significantly over the past 50 years–and is still evolving. Today, the U.S. Navy is perhaps the most reliant of all the Services on space for communications, navigation, surveillance, weather, and oceanographic support.

Document Archive

From the Sea to the Stars: A Chronicle of the U.S. Navy’s Space and Space-related Activities, 1944-2009 (2010 Edition) [262 Pages, 8.8MB]

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The post From the Sea to the Stars: A Chronicle of the U.S. Navy’s Space and Space-related Activities, 1944-2009 (2010 Edition) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Excerpt from the document:

“The programs and benefits described in this pamphlet can improve your life immeasurably. It tells you how to get assistance you need from programs available to you because of your military service. The pamphlet also points out that you can remain in service and still claim many benefits.”

The document was published in 1992, with a forward by Dick Cheney, then Secretary of Defense.

Document Archive

 Once a Veteran: The Transition to Civilian Life – January 1992 [37 Pages, 2.8MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/dtic/FOIA2017-29ADA256935.pdf

The post Once a Veteran: The Transition to Civilian Life – January 1992 first appeared on The Black Vault.

On October 25, 2013, Business Insider reported the following:

Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy now have the option as to whether to say “so help me God,” when they take their oaths, according to a new report by Air Force Times. 

The Air Force Academy, the premier academic institution for creating Air Force officers, located just north of Colorado Springs, Colo., requires their students to take an oath.

It reads “We will not lie, steal or cheat nor tolerate among us anyone who does. Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and live honorably, so help me God.”

That same month, I went after records regarding this change, and requested all records pertaining to this change of the oath.  In the response, I received quite a few emails and conversations pertaining to this change, and as the evidence shows, it was quite controversial, and did not sit well with many who wrote in about it.

Document Archive

 Air Force Cadets No Longer Required to say “… so help me God” at the end of their Oath [336 Pages, 52.4MB]

The post Air Force Cadets No Longer Required to say “… so help me God” at the end of their Oath first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following documents have been released regarding how the military can “help” during certain civilian disturbances.

Operation Garden Plot

Operation Garden Plot is a general U.S. Army and National Guard plan to respond to major domestic civil disturbances within the United States. The plan was developed in response to the civil disorders of the 1960s and is now under the control of the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). It provides Federal military and law enforcement assistance to local governments during times of major civil disturbances.

U.S. Army Field Manual 3-19.15 Civil Disturbance Operations, April 2005 [256 Pages, 5.6MB]

Operation Garden Plot, 27 June 1994 [146 Pages, 2MB]

Domestic Support Operations, Department of the Army / United States Marines Corps, July 1993 [129 Pages, 1.3MB] – This manual provides the capstone doctrine for US Army and US Marine Corps domestic support operations. It also provides general information to civilian authorities at federal, state, and local levels involved in planning for and conducting such operations. It identifies linkages and defines relationships with federal, state, and local organizations
and with other services that have roles and responsibilities in domestic support operations.

Department of Defense Civil Disturbance Plan (Operation Garden Plot) 15 February 1991 [253 Pages, 400k]

Rex 84 / Readiness Exercise 1984

Rex 84, short for Readiness Exercise 1984, was a classified scenario and drill developed by the United States federal government to detain large numbers of United States citizens deemed to be “national security threats”, in the event that the President declared a “State of National Emergency”. The plan was first revealed in detail in a major daily newspaper by reporter Alfonso Chardy in the July 5, 1987 edition of the Miami Herald. Possible reasons for such a roundup were reported to be widespread opposition to a U.S. military invasion abroad, such as if the United States were to directly invade Central America. To combat what the government perceived as “subversive activities”, the plan also authorized the military to direct ordered movements of civilian populations at state and regional levels, according to Professor Diana Reynolds.

FEMA Documents Released on Rex 84, July 18, 2017 (Letter erroneously said June, but was sent to me on July 18) [129 Pages, 1.3MB] –

Other Related Documents

 Convergence: Special Operations Forces and Civilian Law Enforcement, July 2010 by Dr. John Alexander [123 Pages, 3.7 MB] – John B. Alexander’s monograph about the convergence of Special Operations Forces (SOF) and civilian law enforcement activities is timely considering the U.S. Government’s revamped strategies to promote more capable and effective governments and improve security in southwest Asia. The strategic concept includes fully resourcing security training for military and police forces. U.S. strategic objectives envision two outcomes: a) governments that can provide effective internal security with limited international support and b) military and police security forces that can lead the counterinsurgency and counterterrorism fight with reduced U.S. assistance.

March 10, 2009, Alabama MPs were sent from Ft. Rucker to the streets of Alabama to assist after a murder spree [14 Pages, 479k] – Although not directly related to Garden Plot, I feel that this set of documents is best suited here.  Many have theorized this incident was a violation of federal law.  In a FOIA request to the Army, I was able to obtain all documents associated with this incident, along with the memorandum of understanding between Ft. Rucker and the Sheriff’s department of the area.

Defense Support of Civil Authorities, 16 May 2008 [570 Pages, 41.2 MB] – Natural or man-made disasters and special events can be so demanding that local, tribal, state and non-military federal responders are temporarily overwhelmed by the situation. The Department of Defense (DOD) has a long history of supporting civil authorities in the wake of catastrophic events. When directed by the President or the Secretary of Defense (SecDef), United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM} will respond quickly and effectively to the requests of civil authorities to save lives prevent human suffering, and mitigate great property damage. The Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan 2008 (JSCP) directs CDRUSNORTHCOM to prepare a plan to support the employment of Title 10 DOD forces providing Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) in accordance with (lAW) the National Response Framework (NRF), applicable federal law, DOD Directives (DODD), and other policy guidance including those hazards defined by the National Planning Scenarios that are not addressed by other JSCP tasked plans. DSCA is a subset of DOD civil support that is performed within the parameters of the NRF.

Military Police Internment / Resettlement Operations, FM 3-19.40, 1 August 2001 [235 Pages, 16.93 MB] – Army Field Manual FM 3-19.40: Military Police Internment/Resettlement Operations. Military Handbook for Police Internment and Resettlement Operations. Field Manual depicts the doctrinal foundation, principles, and processes that Military Police will employ when dealing with enemy prisoners of war, civilian internees etc. Provides that the provisions of the Geneva Conventions are applicable to captives and detainees from the time they are captured until they are released or repatriated. . . . Detainees receive humane treatment… captives and detainees are not murdered, mutilated, tortured, or degraded.”

Civil Disturbances and Demonstrations: To Arrest or Not?, 28 February 1972 [57 Pages, 7.2MB] – Abstract: The central question is: What implications do recent mass arrests during civil disorders have for military forces? The criminal justice system has faltered during disorders with the result that the guilty were often acquitted and innocent persons were arrested. Arrests must be accomplished properly or the judicial process which follows will be adversely affected. Military policy emphasizes that civilian police should take custody of offenders. This is a proper policy; however, it has resulted in a paucity of guidance for military personnel to carry out this mission. The Army should: attach greater importance to the possibility that military personnel will be required to apprehend civilians; develop detailed procedures for the military to accomplish this mission; acquaint military personnel with offenses commonly committed in disorders, their authority to take action, and the degree of force permissible; train personnel in the care and preservation of evidence; develop a proper form for use in apprehending offenders; take photographs of offenders and the soldiers apprehending them; train teams in advance for mass arrest situation; and revise Army publications to implement these recommendations.

The post Military Intervention in Civil Disturbances first appeared on The Black Vault.

Overview of the MIC Plan within the Organization:

Control Environment

Mission

The NCIS mission is to conduct criminal, counterintelligence, terrorism related investigations and operations, and to provide security services as delineated in SECNAVINST 5430.107. In short, the NCIS mission is to “Prevent Terrorism, Protect Secrets and Reduce Crime.”

Strategic Plan

The current NCIS Strategic Plan provides the overarching strategy for the organization.

Director’s guidance and program direction documents provide annual goals and objectives. An updated long term strategic plan is in development.

Organizational Structure

NCIS senior leadership is organized into a headquarters element, consisting of the Director, Deputy Director, Principal Executive Assistant Director for Management and Administration (PEAD), 6 Executive Assistant Directors, programmatic Deputy Assistant Directors, Special Agents In Charge and 13 field offices. Areas of responsibility for field elements are delineated in the NCIS-2 Office Directory.

The internal controls (IC) reporting chain follows established organizational lines of authority from assessable units to the Executive Assistant Director (EAD)/ Assistant Director (AD) level and then to the MIC coordinator. Addendum 1 provides an inventory of assessable units and assessable unit managers.

Funding within NCIS flows from the comptroller to EADs/ADs and Deputy Assistant Directors (DAD) at NCIS headquarters and geographic EADs to Special Agents In Charge (SACs) at field offices who are provided annual budgets to execute their assigned functions .

Risk Assessment

NCIS leaders and the MIC coordinator conduct risk assessments throughout the year to identify assess and prioritize control risks associated with accomplishing the NCIS mission. Results of self-inspections, management visits, audits, inspections, monitoring of programs, inquiries and investigations, are reviewed to identify risk.

Control Activities

NCIS program managers are responsible for identifying and developing appropriate control activities to ensure the accomplishment of assigned missions. Control activities are documented in NCIS manuals, policy documents, instructions, field office performance plans, and in this MIC Plan. In some instances there are two levels of control activities in a specific risk area, one in the field and one in NCIS headquarters. NCIS program managers are responsible for monitoring their programs in conjunction with field office leadership and with the NCIS IG to ensure control activities are not just appropriate for the activity, but are being exercised as intended. The MIC senior management official may also order spot checks/control assessments for specific activities that affect the NCIS organization and mission.

Declassified Document

 Naval Criminal Investigative Service Managers’ Internal Control (MIC) Plan, September 2015 [11 Pages, 1.5MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/NCIS/NCIS-MICPLAN.pdf

The post Naval Criminal Investigative Service Managers’ Internal Control (MIC) Plan, September 2015 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Now that the Department of Defense has permitted the use of social media for both private and official purposes, the question becomes, can the military, the Army in particular, obtain the benefits sought from social media use without seriously compromising individual and operations security?

Answering this question required an initial assessment of Army goals and objectives to determine why the Army risked the use of social media, which revealed two reasons immediately.

First, the Army needed social media to communicate its inform and influence activities more effectively. Second, social media was the primary means by which soldiers maintained contact with their friends and family and, consequently, became a significant element in maintaining soldier morale.

If the Army did not need social media to distribute its inform message, it might have avoided the difficulties created by the personal use of social media by soldiers. Thus, the security risk posed by the use of social media cannot be reduced to a simple enforcement of operations security rules.

Nevertheless, soldiers who are not trained to avoid the disclosure of classified or sensitive information will, through their ingrained habits, present a significant security risk. Bottom line, all military personnel require training on appropriate use of social media now.

The Document

 Social Media and the U.S. Army: Maintaining a Balance, by MAJOR Todd A. Moe, May 2011 [49 Pages, 0.7MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/army/2013-68.pdf

The post Social Media and the U.S. Army: Maintaining a Balance, by MAJOR Todd A. Moe, May 2011 first appeared on The Black Vault.

 Ship Naming in the United States Navy, Published 2013 [76 Pages, 0.9MB]

Background

The Navy traces its ancestry to 13 October 1775, when an act of the Continental Congress authorized the first ship of a new navy for the United Colonies, as they were then known. The ships of the Continental Navy, and of the Navy later established under the Federal Constitution, were not named in any strictly categorical manner.

Ship names in the Continental Navy and the early Federal navy came from a variety of sources. As if to emphasize the ties that many Americans still felt to Britain, the first ship of the new Continental Navy was named Alfred in honor of Alfred the Great, the king of Wessex who is credited with building the first English naval force. Another ship was named Raleigh to commemorate the seagoing exploits of Sir Walter Raleigh. Some ships honored early patriots and heroes (Hancock and General Greene). Others commemorated the young nation’s ideals and institutions (Constitution, Independence, Congress). A 74-gun ship-of-the-line, launched in 1782 and donated to the French Navy on completion, was named America. A Revolutionary War frigate named Bourbon saluted the King of France, whose alliance would further the cause of American independence. Other ship names honored American places (Boston, Virginia). Small warships– brigs and schooners–bore a variety of names. Some were named for positive character traits (Enterprise, Diligent). Others had classical names (Syren, Argus) or names of small creatures with a potent sting (Hornet, Wasp).

On 3 March 1819 an act of Congress formally placed the responsibility for assigning names to the Navy’s ships in the hands of the Secretary of the Navy, a prerogative which he still exercises. This act stated that “all of the ships, of the Navy of the United States, now building, or hereafter to be built, shall be named by the Secretary of the Navy, under the direction of the President of the United States, according to the following rule, to wit: those of the first class shall be called after the States of this Union; those of the second class after the rivers; and those of the third class after the principal cities and towns; taking care that no two vessels of the navy shall bear the same name.” The last-cited provision remains in the United States Code today.

An act of 12 June 1858 specifically included the word “steamship” in the ship type nomenclature, and officially defined the “classes” of ships in terms of the number of their guns. Ships armed with 40 guns or more were of the “first class”; those carrying fewer than 40, but more than 20, guns were of the “second class.” The name source for the second class was expanded to include the principal towns as well as rivers. The unprecedented expansion of the fleet during the Civil War was reflected–as far as ship naming was concerned–in an act of 5 August 1861, which authorized the Secretary of the Navy “to change the names of any vessels purchased for use of the Navy Department…” This provision also remains in current law.

Shortly before the turn of this century the legislation was changed to reflect the remarkable changes taking place in the Navy itself as wooden hulls, sails, and muzzleloading ordnance gave way to steel ships with breechloading rifles. An act of May 4, 1898, specified that “all first-class battleships and monitors [shallow-draft coast-defense ships completed between 1891 and 1903, armed with heavy guns] shall be named for the States, and shall not be named for any city, place, or person, until the names of the States have been exhausted, provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed as to interfere with the names of states already assigned to any such battleship or monitor.”

As with many other things, the procedures and practices involved in Navy ship naming are as much, if not more, products of evolution and tradition than of legislation. As we have seen, the names for new ships are personally decided by the Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary can rely on many sources to help him reach his decisions. Each year, the Naval Historical Center compiles primary and alternate ship name recommendations and forwards these to the Chief of Naval Operations by way of the chain of command. These recommendations are the result of research into the history of the Navy and by suggestions submitted by service members, Navy veterans, and the public. Ship name source records at the Historical Center reflect the wide variety of name sources that have been used in the past, particularly since World War I. Ship name recommendations are conditioned by such factors as the name categories for ship types now being built, as approved by the Secretary of the Navy; the distribution of geographic names of ships of the Fleet; names borne by previous ships which distinguished themselves in service; names recommended by individuals and groups; and names of naval leaders, national figures, and deceased members of the Navy and Marine Corps who have been honored for heroism in war or for extraordinary achievement in peace.

In its final form, after consideration at the various levels of command, the Chief of Naval Operations signs the memorandum recommending names for the current year’s building program and sends it to the Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary considers these nominations, along with others he receives as well as his own thoughts in this matter. At appropriate times, he selects names for specific ships and announces them.

While there is no set time for assigning a name, it is customarily done before the ship is christened. The ship’s sponsor–the person who will christen the ship–is also selected and invited by the Secretary. In the case of ships named for individuals, an effort is made to identify the eldest living direct female descendant of that individual to perform the role of ship’s sponsor. For ships with other name sources, it is customary to honor the wives of senior naval officers or public officials.

While the Navy has attempted to be systematic in naming its ships, like all institutions it has been subject to evolutionary change, and the name sources of the Navy’s ships have not been immune to this change. Thus, an historical accounting of this evolution, as it appeared in modern times, may help the reader understand the ship naming process as it exists today.

The Civil War expanded the Navy to an extent undreamed of in prewar times. More than 200 new ships were built, and another 418 were purchased for naval use. Ironclads, including monitors, and shallow-draft river steamers fell into new classification categories, and their naming reflected the abrupt pace of growth. Names like Hartford andBrooklyn, Ticonderoga and Monongahela mingled with Trefoil, Stars and Stripes, Penguin, and Western World. Many ships, including gunboats and monitors, bore names of American Indian origin, such as Owasco, Sagamore,Saugus, and Onondaga. Four big monitors, laid down but never completed, were given such tongue-twisters asShackamaxon and Quinsigamond. A large oceangoing ironclad was, fittingly enough, named New Ironsides. Ships acquired for Navy use were known by such strange names as Hunchback, Midnight, and Switzerland. In 1869 one Secretary of the Navy, who disliked the Indian names borne by so many Navy ships, renamed a large number of them, substituting names from classical antiquity such as Centaur, Medusa, Goliath, and Atlas. A few months later, his successor changed most of the names back again!

As the “new Navy,” the generation of steel ships that would mature into the fleet of the 20th century, took form the Navy’s new ships were named in accordance with what evolved into a new system, tailored to the new ship types now developing. There came to be–then, as now–some duplication in use of name sources for different ship types. Names of states, for example, were borne by battleships; by armored cruisers (large, fast warships as big as, or bigger than, contemporary battleships but more lightly protected and armed with cruiser-caliber guns), and monitors (small coast-defense ships armed with heavy guns). As battleship construction went on through the early 1900s, state names began to run short. The law stated that battleships had to bear state names; to comply with this, monitors and armored cruisers were renamed for cities within their respective name states to free the names of their states for assignment to new battleships. The monitors Florida and Nevada, for instance, becameTallahassee and Tonopah, while the armored cruisers Maryland and West Virginia became Frederick andHuntington. By 1920, state names were the sole preserve of battleships.

In 1894 the famed Civil War sloop-of-war Kearsarge ran aground in the Caribbean and had to be written off as unsalvageable. There was so much affection for that ship in the Fleet that the Secretary of the Navy asked Congress to permit her name to be perpetuated by a new battleship. This was done, and Kearsarge (Battleship Number 5) became the only American battleship not to be named for a state.

From the 1880s on, cruisers were named for cities while destroyers–evolving from the steam torpedo boats built around the turn of the century–came to be named for American naval leaders and heroes, as today’s destroyers are still named. Submarines began to enter the Fleet in 1900. The first was named Holland in honor of John Holland, submarine designer and builder. Later submarines were, at first, given such names as Grampus, Salmon, and Porpoise, but were also named for venomous and stinging creatures, such as Adder, Tarantula, and Viper. Submarines were renamed in 1911, however, and carried alpha- numeric names such as A-1, C-1, H-3, L-7, and the like until 1931, when “fish and denizens of the deep” once more became their name source. In 1931, existing ships were not renamed.

World War I sparked unprecedented naval ship construction, principally in destroyers and submarines, to protect a massive sealift effort–the “bridge of ships”–across the Atlantic to Europe. Additionally, the development of mine warfare necessitated the introduction of a new type of ship, the minesweeper. A new type of ship required a new name source. The then-Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, took a keen interest in amateur ornithology. This led him to select bird names as the name source for these new ships, and “F.D.R.” signed the General Order assigning names to the first 36 ships of the Lapwing class. The ships that bore these colorful names served as the backbone of the Navy’s mine force for the next quarter century; many earned honors in World War II.

Between the World Wars the Navy’s first aircraft carriers came into service. Our first carrier, converted from the collier Jupiter, was Langley (CV 1), named in honor of aviation pioneer Samuel Pierpont Langley. Our next two carriers were built on the unfinished hulls of battle cruisers, two of a canceled class of six fast capital ships which had already been assigned the names of American battles and famous former Navy ships. These new carriers kept their original names, Lexington and Saratoga. The original battle-cruiser name source continued as Ranger,Yorktown, Enterprise, Wasp, and Hornet entered service between 1934 and 1941, and was carried on through World War II and into the postwar years.

As World War II approached, and ship construction programs began to include new types of ships, these required new name sources; others required a modification of existing name sources to meet a perceived shortage of “appropriate” names. Minesweepers were now being built and converted in large numbers. Perhaps fearing an exhaustion of suitable bird names, the Navy also used “general word classification” names such as Adept, Bold, and Agile, for new sweepers. This began a dual naming tradition that extended beyond World War II. Modern mine countermeasures ships are intended to detect and destroy all types of mines; they bear such names as Avenger,Guardian, and Dextrous. Coastal minehunters, similar in concept but designed for use in coastal waters, carry bird names (Osprey, Raven). Some hundreds of small seagoing minesweepers, built during World War II, were at first known only by their hull numbers. After the war, those remaining in the Fleet were reclassified and given bird names; thus, the wartime YMS 311 became Robin (AMS 53).

A new ship type, the destroyer escort (DE), retained the name source of its “parent” ship type, the destroyer. Most of these mass-produced antisubmarine patrol and escort ships were named in honor of members of the naval service killed in action in World War II. Some were named for destroyers lost in the early stages of that war.

Ships lost in wartime were normally honored by having their names reassigned to new construction. Names likeLexington, Yorktown, Atlanta, Houston, Triton and Shark were perpetuated in memory of lost ships and gallant crews. Unique among these names bestowed in honor of lost ships was Canberra, assigned to a heavy cruiser in honor of the Australian cruiser Canberra, sunk while operating with American warships during the Battle of Savo Island in August 1942. This was seen to be an appropriate exception to the custom of naming cruisers for American cities.

During World War II the names of individuals were once again assigned to aircraft carriers. A small fleet carrier (CVL 49), converted from a cruiser hull, was named Wright in honor of the Wright brothers, while a large aircraft carrier (CVB 42) of the Midway class was named Franklin D. Roosevelt soon after the President’s death in the spring of 1945. That name was suggested to then-President Harry S. Truman by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, who would himself later be honored in the naming of our first “supercarrier,” Forrestal (CVA 59). Franklin D. Rooseveltwas the first aircraft carrier to be named for an American statesman; Franklin and Hancock, wartime Essex-class fleet carriers, honored the former Navy ships of those names and not, as many think, the statesmen themselves. A new Langley (CVL 27) honored our first aircraft carrier, lost in the opening months of war in the Pacific.

Amphibious warfare, long considered a minor function by navies, assumed major importance in World War II. An entirely new “family” of ships and craft was developed for the massive landing operations in Europe and the Pacific. Many types of landing ships did not receive “word” names, but were simply known by their hull numbers (LST 806 and LCI(G) 580). Attack cargo ships and attack transports carried landing craft to put cargo and troops ashore on a beachhead. Many of these were named for American counties (Alamance [AKA 75]; Hinsdale [APA 120]). Some early APAs, converted from conventional troopships, kept their former names (Leonard Wood,President Hayes); many AKAs were named for stars (Achernar) or constellations (Cepheus). Dock landing ships, seagoing ships with a large well deck for landing craft or vehicles, bore names of historic sites (Gunston Hall,Rushmore). Modern LSDs are still part of today’s Fleet, and carry on this name source (Fort McHenry, Pearl Harbor). After World War II the remaining tank landing ships (LST) were given names of American counties; thus, the hitherto-unnamed LST 819 now became Hampshire County (LST 819).

As naval technology advanced after World War II, the fleet began to evolve much as it had after the Civil War. Old ship types left the Navy’s roster as new types emerged. Nuclear power and guided missiles spurred much of this change. The first nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser, Long Beach, was the last cruiser to be named for a city in traditional fashion.

The next cruisers, also nuclear-powered missile ships, were given state names and became the California andVirginia classes. We had built no battleships since World War II, and these new ships were seen to be, in a sense, their successors as the most powerful surface warships afloat.

Nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines, built to carry the Polaris strategic deterrent missile, began to go into commission in the early 1960s. These were rightly regarded as ships without precedent. Thus, a name source of their own was deemed appropriate. Our first ballistic missile submarine was named George Washington, and the rest of the “41 for freedom” bore the names of “famous Americans and others who contributed to the growth of democracy.” Some of these submarines were later reclassified as conventional attack submarines under the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) agreements. Though they lost their missile capability, they continued to bear such names as Patrick Henry and Ethan Allen. The newest Trident missile submarines of the Ohio class bear state names, one of the name sources originally considered for the first Polaris submarines. One of the class,Henry M. Jackson, honors a legislator who had a strong share in shaping American defense programs.

Into the mid-1970s attack submarines continued to be named for sea creatures, though a few were named for such legislators as Richard B. Russell and L. Mendel Rivers. Ships of the more recent Los Angeles class bear the names of American cities. One exception, Hyman G. Rickover, honors the man who has been called “the father of the nuclear Navy.” The new Seawolf class has departed from this scheme, with Seawolf representing a “denizen of the deep” and Connecticut named for the state; the third ship of the class has not yet been named.

After World War II aircraft carriers were given a mix of such traditional carrier names as Ranger, Saratoga, andCoral Sea and names of individuals. The first of these, as we have seen, was Franklin D. Roosevelt, later followed byForrestal and John F. Kennedy. All the ships of the current Nimitz class bear the names of such national figures asTheodore Roosevelt, George Washington, and Ronald Reagan.

The names of American battles have been perpetuated by the newest class of guided missile cruisers. The first of these was Ticonderoga; twenty later ships of this class honor actions fought from the Revolution to World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. One ship is named Thomas S. Gates for a statesman who served as Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of Defense.

Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers continue the tradition of honoring naval leaders and heroes. There are the typical exceptions; Roosevelt (DDG 80) was named in honor of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, whileWinston Churchill honors the great war leader of World War II. Some destroyers bear names of recent heroes, while others carry on the traditions of distinguished former ships of the same name.

The Navy is not only made up of combatant ships. Throughout its history it has depended on its auxiliary ships, a generic term used in referring to the many different types of ships used to support the Fleet. Auxiliary ship types are numerous and varied, and display many different name sources. Submarine tenders, for instance, are “mother ships” to submarine squadrons and bear the names of submarine pioneers (Simon Lake, Hunley, Holland). Ammunition ship names are names of volcanoes or words denoting fire and explosives (Suribachi, Pyro). Fleet tugs, big seagoing ships capable of rescue and firefighting as well as towing, bear American Indian names (Powhatan,Navajo), while salvage ships have names indicating salvage (Safeguard, Grasp). Ocean surveying ships have been named for individuals who distinguished themselves in ocean sciences or exploration (Maury, Wilkes, Bowditch); the name of one, Pathfinder, points to its role at sea. Oilers, large tankers fitted to refuel other ships at sea, are named for rivers (Monongahela, Patuxent) or for famous ship designers or builders (Joshua Humphreys, Benjamin Isherwood). Fast combat support ships provide fuel, ammunition, and other supplies to aircraft carrier battle groups. The newest class of these ships honors the names of honored supply ships of former years (Supply, Arctic).

How will the Navy name its ships in the future? It seems safe to say that the evolutionary process of the past will continue; as the Fleet itself changes, so will the names given to its ships. It seems equally safe, however, to say that future decisions in this area will continue to demonstrate regard for the rich history and valued traditions of the United States Navy.

A Note on Navy Ship Name Prefixes

The prefix “USS,” meaning “United States Ship,” is used in official documents to identify a commissioned ship of the Navy. It applies to a ship while she is in commission. Before commissioning, or after decommissioning, she is referred to by name, with no prefix. Civilian-manned ships of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) are not commissioned ships; their status is “in service,” rather than “in commission.” They are, nonetheless, Navy ships in active national service, and the prefix “USNS” (United States Naval Ship) was adopted to identify them. Other Navy vessels classified as “in service” are simply identified by their name (if any) and hull number, with no prefix.

Into the early years of the 20th century there was no fixed form for Navy ship prefixes. Ships were rather haphazardly identified, in correspondence or documents, by their naval type (U.S. Frigate ____), their rig (United States Barque ____), or their function (United States Flag-Ship ______). They might also identify themselves as “the Frigate _____,” or, simply, “Ship ______.” The term “United States Ship,” abbreviated “USS,” is seen as early as the late 1790s; it was in frequent, but far from exclusive, use by the last half of the 19th century.

In 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt issued an Executive order that established the present usage:

In order that there shall be uniformity in the matter of designating naval vessels, it is hereby directed that the official designation of vessels of war, and other vessels of the Navy of the United States, shall be the name of such vessel, preceded by the words, United States Ship, or the letters U.S.S., and by no other words or letters.
–Executive Order 549, 8 January 1907.

Today’s Navy Regulations define the classification and status of naval ships and craft:

1. The Chief of Naval Operations shall be responsible for … the assignment of classification for administrative pur- poses to water-borne craft and the designation of status for each ship and service craft. ….
2. Commissioned vessels and craft shall be called “United States Ship” or “U.S.S.”
3. Civilian manned ships, of the Military Sealift Command or other commands, designated “active status, in service” shall be called “United States Naval Ship” or “U.S.N.S.”
4. Ships and service craft designated “active status, in service,” except those described by paragraph 3 of this article, shall be referred to by name, when assigned, classification, and hull number (e.g., “HIGH POINT PCH-1” or “YOGN-8”).
— United States Navy Regulations, 1990, Article 0406.

Some, but apparently not all, other navies also use prefixes with their ships’ names. Perhaps the best known of these is “HMS” (His or Her Majesty’s Ship), long used by the Royal Navy. In earlier times this was also seen as “HBMS,” for “His Britannic Majesty’s Ship.” British Empire/Commonwealth navies used their own versions of this, inserting their own nationalities, such as HMCS for Canada, HMNZS for New Zealand, or HMAS for Australia. The Royal Saudi Naval Forces also use “HMS.” Argentina uses “ARA” (Armada de la Republic Argentina); the Philippine Navy identifies its ships as “BRP” (Barka ng Republika ng Pilipinas). The Imperial German Navy used “SMS” (Seine Majestäts Schiff); the World War II Kriegsmarine does not appear to have used a prefix, but the modern Bundesmarine uses “FGS” (Federal German Ship). India and Israel both use “INS” to mean Indian Naval Ship or Israeli Navy Ship. Lebanon and Tunisia, on the other hand, do not use any nationality prefix.

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 Ship Naming in the United States Navy, Published 2013 [76 Pages, 0.9MB]

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The post Ship Naming in the United States Navy, Published 2013 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following document is an interesting find, written in 1981. It was about ethics and values of being a professional soldier, and in one of the examples about a sample conversation, is on the belief in UFOs.

Abstract

A rule of thumb governing polite conversation is to avoid topics, such as religion and politics, that deal with personal values since the resulting arguments are usually inconclusive and sometimes volatile.

But that such discussions frequently bog down is not evidence that rational inquiry in this field is impossible. Reasoned analysis about personal and professional values can help us to be more rationally aware of the motives behind our actions, to identify possible inconsistencies in our moral outlook and to develop, in a gradual and systematic way, a more sophisticated work view.

The feature article that begins overleaf and the events listed below offer opportunities for this kind of personal and professional growth.

Declassified Document

 Ethics and the Military Profession. Values and the Professional Soldier, March 1981 [9 Pages, 0.8MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/ADA100988.pdf

The post Ethics and the Military Profession. Values and the Professional Soldier first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Selective Service System maintains a procedure in place to enact the “draft” and it is done on a “lottery” based system. Below, you will find the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for how it would all work.

Excerpt:

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) provides detailed description of the functions, processes, and procedures for the Selective Service System (SSS) Lottery that would be conducted when the Congress and the President determine draft eligible men are to be inducted into the Armed Forces. The Lottery, which ensures each individual is assigned a Random Sequence Number (RSN) and determines the order in which a Selective Service Registrant is chosen to be called, is part of the Call and Deliver Process.

Current legislation mandates, and current planning requires, that the Selective Service System (SSS) conduct a lottery at the behest of the Congress and the President who decide when to reinstate the draft. This Lottery SOP provides detailed description of the functions, processes, and procedures for the SSS Lottery that would be conducted when the Congress and the President determine draft eligible men are to be inducted into the Armed Forces.

The draft lottery uses the birth dates of registrants to establish the order in which they are called for induction. The first men called up or drafted would be those turning age 20 during the calendar year of the lottery. Young men turning 21 in the year of the lottery would be in the second priority group, while those turning 22 would be in the third priority group, and so forth until registrants turn age 26. At age 26 young men are no longer subject to the draft unless they are health care professionals subject to a health care draft. In any given year, younger registrants (age 19 and then 18) would not be called unless available men ages 20-25 had been called first. The draft lottery is under the purview of the Registration Division, Operations Directorate. Any draft lottery will be conducted publicly and with full media coverage because of its enormous impact. Accredited observers from public interest groups will have access to observe the proceedings.

The lottery process begins in peacetime with two large air mix drums. First, the air mix balls having date and year on them are loaded in one of the large drums. Using this same method, number from 1 to 365 (366 for men born in a leap year) on the air mix balls are loaded in the second drum. Official observers certify that all air mix balls were loaded in the Titan drawing machines. After the lottery is completed and the results certified, the sequences of call is transmitted to the Selective Service Data Management Center where preparation of induction notices for men whose birth dates drew the lowest lottery numbers would begin immediately. The Official observers will still be used to certify the Lottery was conducted fairly.

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 Selective Service System – Lottery Standard Operation Procedures – September 2012 [64 Pages, 6.4MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/sss/SSS-NationalLottery.pdf

The post Selective Service System “Draft” Lottery Procedure first appeared on The Black Vault.

Title: ( U ) Situation Awareness and Decision Support System for Defensive Counterspace
PDF URL: (pdf) – 2 MB –
Accession Number: ADB339747
Personal Author(s): Bowman, Christopher ;  DeSieno, Duane
Corporate Author: DATA FUSION AND NEURAL NETWORKS BROOMFIELD CO
Report Date: 10 Apr 2008
Descriptive Note: Final rept. 10 Apr 2007-10 Apr 2008
Pages:77 Page(s)
Report Number: FA9453-07-M-0109FR   ( FA945307M0109FR )  ,  AFRL-RV-PS – TR-2008-1026 AFRL-RV-PS   ( AFRLRVPSTR20081026 AFRLRVPS )  ,  XC – TR-2008-1026 AFRL-RV-PS   ( XCTR20081026 AFRLRVPS )
Monitor Series: TR-2008-1026     ( TR20081026 )  ,  AFRL-RV-PS     ( AFRLRVPS )
Contract/Grant/Transfer Number: FA9453-07-M-0109     ( FA945307M0109 )

After waiting many months, I was denied, in full, access to the record.  I quickly filed an appeal. Whenever a document is fully denied, I do wonder if they truly reviewed the document, or if they simply denied access.

After a couple more months of waiting, I partially won my appeal – and they released a portion of the document. Although still primarily redacted, it does give some insight with the “Executive Summary” being partially released.

Download Situation Awareness and Decision Support System for Defensive Counterspace

 Situation Awareness and Decision Support System for Defensive Counterspace [79 Pages, 5.2MB]

Excerpt:

The fundamental deficiency with operational automated situation assessment and response software systems is that in too many cases they deliver the answer to the problem they were designed to solve rather than the current mission context problem. What the AF needs is a context assessment (CA)
capability that interprets the situation assessment and response outputs using all the available current mission contextual knowledge.

This DF&NN SBIR Phase 1 effort is the first to provide a technical architecture for the development of Context Assessment (CA) software for Data Fusion & Resource Management (DF&RM) systems. CA software provides an interpretation (i.e., explanation and evaluation) of the DF&RM system outputs based upon the current mission context data base. As such CA improves the user situation awareness and the utility of his supporting DF&RM svstem.

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/defenseissues/F-2015-00120-A.pdf

The post Situation Awareness and Decision Support System for Defensive Counterspace first appeared on The Black Vault.

Although it seems to be made of myth and legend, the secret military installation tucked inside Archuletta Mesa in Northern New Mexico remains a mystery.

Tales of alien experimentation, torture, and genetic experiments have echoed through UFO lore for decades.  But is it true?

In the beginning of 2009, I was asked to produce and write a one hour episode of UFO Hunters on The History Channel on this very “base.”  I thought to myself, what could we find, if anything?  I knew it would be a challenge.

In the research phase, I called John Rhodes who was instrumental in offering his research into the base, and how the technology to make a near 5-mile base in a mountain was possible.

He detailed the Subterrene, a piece of equipment that rather than drilling and excavating a mountain where you have tons of dirt leftover, this would bore through with a super heated process that would melt through the dirt leaving little trace behind.

As fantastic as the technology seems, I filed FOIA requests for documents relating to this machine.  And even though John Rhodes found evidence it was tested, I wanted to see what else I could find.

As of this writing, only one document was found.  But you can tell by the pictures – the technology works.

Document Archive

The Subterrene

Use of the Subterrene for Military Drilling Applications [29 Pages, 3.3mb]

A Versatile Rock Melting System For the Formation of Small Diameter Horizontal Glass Lined Holes [24 Pages, 0.9mb]

Other Documents of Interest (Include mentions of the Subterrene System)

Autonomous Underground Microborer for Characterization of Deeply Buried Underground Facilities [14 Pages, 1.8mb] – Although construction and entrances to deeply bored underground facilities (UGF’s) may be detected by remote surveillance assets available to U.S. forces, detailed internal characterization and 24-hour monitoring of denied access facilities cannot be accomplished by current remote sensors and have therefore depended heavily on human intelligence (humint) resources, which are often not available or may be unreliable. An innovative underground intelligence (UGINT) system concept and its technical feasibility is presented in which a stealthy autonomous underground microborer (AUM) is used to deliver sensors to designated positions exterior to or interior within a UGF by micro boring through the ground with a rock-melting penetrator. For a UGF entrance monitoring mission, the AUM would carry lowlight- level electro-optic/infrared (EOIIR) imaging and/or acoustic sensors periscoped to ground level near an entrance. For a UGF mapping mission, the AUM would carry a ground-penetrating radar transmitter working in conjunction with stealthily placed unattended ground sensors (UGS) or an ELF antenna working in conjunction with the HAARP system in Alaska to perform bistatic tomographic imaging of the UGF. For an internal penetration access mission, the AUM would carry EOIIR, audio, and/or radiological/chemical sniffers to be placed in or through walls of a UGF chamber. The monitoring mission is proposed as a near-term technology development capability, and the internal access mission is proposed as a far-term technology capability.

Engineer Machines of the Future [14 Pages, 1.8mb]

 The Very High Speed Transit System, August 1972 RAND Corporation [20 Pages, 0.9MB] – This document makes mention of the use of the subterrene, and is included here for reference.

The Very High Speed Transit or “VHST” concept was put forward some years ago in response to the search for a pollution-free transport method that could operate at speeds competitive with aircraft. The general principles are relatively straightforward: electromagnetically levitated and propelled cars in an evacuated tunnel.

The post The “Dulce Base” in Dulce, New Mexico / The Subterrene first appeared on The Black Vault.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Files

Confidence Microphones (FBI Release) – [ 126 Pages, 7.00MB ]   Confidence Microphones (Air Force Release) – [ 2 Pages, 0.5MB ]

Digital Evidence Policy Guide – [ 60 Pages, 30.25MB ] – The FBI’s 1/3/2014 “Digital Evidence Policy Implementation Guide” was created to establish and consolidate FBI policy and procedures with regards to the proper handling, reviewing and processing of digital evidence collected in the course of FBI investigations. Redactions were made to protect personal privacy and law enforcement techniques.

Handwriting Analysis – [ 27 Pages, 1.58MB ] – Handwriting Analysis or Graphology is the study of handwriting. As a theory or practice for inferring a person’s character, disposition, and attitudes from their handwriting, graphology is generally considered pseudoscience. The term is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to forensic document examination.

Department of the Navy Files

 The “Black Swan” problem in national security affairs – Briefing to the CNO’s Strategic Studies Group (16 October 2009) – [ 58 Pages, 6.63MB ] – As the defense analytical community faces the 21st century, the new challenges of irregular warfare and counterrinsurgency- not to mention climate change and the shifting sands of global geopolitics- might demand new analytical methods, models, and tools.

The post Technology and Intelligence Gathering first appeared on The Black Vault.