Memorandum for Chief, OPSEC Support Division: Gondola Wish training plan
What this is
That this memorandum is addressed to the Chief of the OPSEC Support Division under the subject Gondola Wish.
That as of 15 May 1978 the first GONDOLA WISH training phase was scheduled to begin 24 October 1978 and run four consecutive weeks, three days a week.
That candidates for the training were to be psychologically screened for stability under altered states of consciousness before training began, with testing complete by 1 July 1978.
That the training was to be conducted at the Monroe Institute of Applied Sciences at Afton, Virginia, on a confidential basis, with the stated objective of enabling trainees to collect sensitive defense information by parapsychological means.
That the first declared targets of the trained personnel were computer access passwords, to be recovered from nonwitting subjects by parapsychological means.
That the project officer was required to be present whenever a trainee was placed in an altered state, expressly to prevent disclosure of classified information.
That the first training phase was costed at $840 TDY for three individuals plus a $2,000 MIAS fee proposed to come from Intelligence Contingency Funds, and that the memorandum was signed by 2LT Frederick H. Atwater of the CI Studies Section.
7 passages read · 2 pages held · the rest is not described
Open the document at cia.gov/readingroom →7 passages read
“MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, OPSEC Spt DIV SUBJECT: Gondola Wish (U)”
CATALOGUE FACT - THE DATE IS A STAMP, NOT TYPE. The memorandum carries no typed date. The date '15 MAY 1978' appears at top right as a rubber stamp, with the '15' in a different, heavier face than the rest, consistent with a dater wheel. The work order titles this document without a date; 15 May 1978 is the date it bears. The subject line spells the project 'Gondola Wish' in upper-and-lower case, unlike the all-capitals GONDOLA WISH used in the Assessment Report and the working paper. Transcribed as printed.
“(C) The first training phase is tentatively scheduled to begin on 24 OCT 78, and will be conducted for four consecutive weeks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The time between training sessions is to be spent on independent reinforcement of the techniques learned during training.”
The '24' in '24 OCT 78' is handwritten over the typed line; the typed text appears to have carried a different figure beneath. The handwritten digits are clear and read 24. Recorded because the date is an amendment on the face of the document, not original type.
“(C) Individuals selected for training will undergo preliminary psychological tests to insure their stability during altered states of consciousness. Should selectees fail to pass these tests, substitutions could be made prior to the begining of training. Plans are to have these preliminary tests completed prior to 1 Jul 78.”
'begining' is as printed - not corrected. This paragraph describes tests of named-for-selection individuals but names nobody and reports no result, so nothing here engages the section 6 privacy exclusion; recorded as a procedural fact only.
“(S) Actual training consists of advanced biofeedback techniques coupled with brain hemisphere synchronization to induce altered states of consciousness which will facilitate parapsychological phenomena. The training will be conducted at the Monroe Institute of Applied Sciences (MIAS), Afton, VA. Present plans are to have two personnel receive this training. MIAS has agreed to conduct this training on a confidential basis. The stated objectives of this training are to enable the trainees to collect sensitive defense information utilizing parapsychological means.”
- this memorandum says two personnel; the Assessment Report of 25 August 1978 says three, and paragraph 5 of THIS SAME memorandum costs TDY 'for three individuals'. The document contradicts itself within one page. Recorded, not resolved. 'Monroe Institute of Applied Sciences' here is plural Sciences; the 27 Oct 78 Information Paper writes 'Monroe Institute of Applied Science' singular. Both as printed.
“The reinforcement structure of the training cycle will be constructed to provide trainees with the ability to recover ‘word’ information from nonwitting subjects by parapsychological means. The ‘word’ information in this case will be computer access passwords. The narrow focus of these first targets will provide us with sufficient data to assess further training and/or use of trained personnel.”
'nonwitting' and 'sufficieat' - the latter appears in the last line as a struck typewriter character and reads 'sufficient' with a damaged 'n'. I have transcribed 'sufficient'. If a verifier's OCR returns 'sufficieat' for this word that is the typewriter artefact, not a transcription error.
“(S) Present plans call for the Gondola Wish project officer to maintain an observer status while selected individuals undergo training. At no time will the trainees be placed in altered states of consciousness without the presence of the Gondola Wish project officer. This procedure is to insure that while an individual is in an altered state he does not discuss classified information.”
The GONDOLA WISH project officer is not named on this page. The 27 Oct 78 Information Paper (CIA-RDP96-00788R001700210021-9) states that 'The only Army individual known by OACSI to have ever spoken with Monroe was the GONDOLA WISH project officer', also without naming him. This memorandum is signed by 2LT Frederick H. Atwater; whether the signer is the project officer is not stated on the page.
“(C) Cost: GOV will be used for transportation to and from Afton, VA. TDY cost for three individuals for this first training phase will be $840. Training fee for MIAS will be $2000 which has been proposed to come from ICF. FREDERICK H. ATWATER 2LT, MI CI Studies Section”
The figure '$2000' is handwritten over the typed line, in the same hand as the '24' on page 1; the typed figure beneath is not legible. Recorded because the $2,000 number is an amendment on the face of this document, while it is typed as $2000 on the Disposition Form of 19 Jul 78 (CIA-RDP96-00788R002000160004-0). Atwater also signs the GONDOLA WISH working paper CIA-RDP96-00788R002000160011-2 with the same block.
Where no sheet is shown, the quote was still read off the page, rendered from the file we hold. A page image has not been prepared for the web for that page yet.
What this document is used for
Nothing on this map rests on this document yet, and nothing has been tested against it. It is here because it is held.