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Naming and publications

A 1978 Army publication entry titled The Military Intelligence Enlisted Case Officer Program describes it as a nickname for the enlisted Great Skill program, with copies available from HQDA (DAMI-ISH).³ The same index run gives January 3, 1977 for AR 614-202. The index also has an Enlisted Case Officer Program entry and a Military Intelligence Case Officers entry, both under AR 614-202.³

The program's origins are traced to the National Security Act of 1947, and its names have changed over time.

Great Skills is not a formal unit but a means of managing individuals with unique skills for sensitive and clandestine operations. Members are removed from the Human Resource Command database, which tracks the career assignments and locations of Army personnel, and placed on the Department of the Army's Special Roster, which keeps them out of view of the broader Army and allows assignment with more flexibility and secrecy. The arrangement allows members to serve in high-classification special access programs without concern for rotation or reassignment, and members in these roles can work without uniforms or rank to protect secrecy. There are ways for members of other services to operate within the program.

Recruitment in the Elizondo account

Luis Elizondo, a former Army counterintelligence agent, has given an account of his own recruitment into the program.⁴ He writes that he was offered an officer commission after college but enlisted instead, because an officer commission would have left his specialty to the Army's needs. He says he was then trained as a counterintelligence special agent.⁵ His second assignment was with the 902d Military Intelligence Group out of Fort Meade, Maryland, but his duty station was Fort Huachuca, Arizona.⁵

About a year later, Elizondo writes, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Seage recommended him for a specialized cadre he had never heard of, the Army's Great Skills program.⁴ At a motel in the Arizona desert, he was interviewed by Eugene Lessman, whom he calls the lead recruiter for unconventional work in the Army.⁴ Elizondo writes that Lessman had served in Vietnam with the Special Operations Group and in Project Phoenix, and that Lessman was a civilian intelligence case officer working for the Army. He identifies Lessman's designation as MICACP, which he expands as Military Intelligence Civilian Accepted Career Program.⁴

In Elizondo's account, Lessman described the program as recruiting young soldiers with special talents and training them as soldier spies. Lessman then asked him about remote viewing, which Elizondo says he did not know.⁴

Elizondo writes that Lessman told him the Great Skills program was also called Grey Fox. He also writes that Lessman recruited soldiers into the Stargate Project in what Elizondo calls the remains of that operation, and that it was never made clear whether that work was part of Grey Fox's official mission.⁴

Elizondo later writes that he was released from his enlisted obligations and became a civilian official working for the Army, though he says the National Security Agency paid him for that work. He says he never learned whether Lessman intended him to be one of his remote viewers or was only assessing him.⁶

Personnel arrangements and cover, 1982

A memorandum of September 22, 1982 from the Security Support Detachment of the 902d Military Intelligence Group to LTC Robert Jachim explored cover options for Detachment G under a pending reorganization. Its author wrote that Congress had denied National Foreign Intelligence Board money to the Army in the FY 83 budget to continue investigating the parapsychological (psi) phenomenon, and that Congress evidently considered the DIA Grill Flame program sufficient for that purpose. The memo records that the commanding general of INSCOM had decided to continue using INSCOM psi resources in an intelligence collection role without NFIB money, with a $250,000 effort in FY 83 for which no program funds had been identified.⁷

The memo offered three redesignation options: sponsorship by the NSA, with Detachment G personnel forming a division in the CONUS Military Intelligence Group or in the Security Support Detachment; sponsorship by the 902d Military Intelligence Group, as a sixth division of the Security Support Detachment named the "Security Systems Planning and Review Division"; or transfer to the INSCOM headquarters support detachment as a "Security Readiness and Mobilization Planning Division" under the ADCSOPS/OPSEC. Each carried a nickname representing the true mission.⁷

On personnel, the memo states that Great Skill Program members in Detachment G were serviced by the Administrative Survey Detachment, while other Detachment G "open system" personnel were serviced by the Ops Group personnel section. Great Skill Program members would continue to be serviced by the Administrative Survey Detachment in a reorganization. Open system personnel could be serviced by the joined organization or be placed on the Department of the Army's Special Roster (DASR) and serviced by the Administrative Survey Detachment, and the author recommended that everyone be serviced by that detachment.⁷

Under the heading "COVER FOR STATUS," the memo states that Detachment G must completely sever all direct ties with Project Grill Flame, ADCSOPS/HUMINT, the Ops Group and the designation "Det G". It proposes a cover front of at least one officer and a secretary to "live the cover", with only the detachment commander or division chief, an operations and security officer and the secretary identified overtly. It also lists returning all Detachment G telephone numbers to the telephone company, replacing the sign on the building with the cover name, removing all desk nameplates except three, placing maps and mobilization planning manuals on desks, sanitizing the area of every reference to the behavioral sciences, and requiring everyone to dress with a coat and tie or in uniform during normal duty hours to correspond with the cover story. As a Great Skill or DASR member, an individual's travel for education would be covered by cover orders published by the Administrative Survey Detachment, which would disassociate the individual from the true organization.⁷

A March 23, 1982 tasking, forwarded over the signature of Major General Albert Stubblebine as commander of INSCOM, asked the 902d Military Intelligence Group to evaluate whether INSCOM's participation in Grill Flame needed to be protected by a Special Access Program. Among the items to review was "Cover for status/operations (DASR)".⁸

Records of November 1984 describe the Great Skill asset in the Center Lane project as a source of continuing risk, along with the association with the Administrative Survey Detachment that the DASR required.⁹ An October 1983 personnel assignments record states that information about Great Skill spaces is maintained by the commander of the Administrative Survey Detachment.¹⁰ An August 30, 1984 list of required coordination for the transfer of Center Lane to the Defense Intelligence Agency includes the entries "ASD (DASR)" and "GS slot procedures", with badges, identification and cover among the adjoining items.¹¹ Warning notices on the Center Lane distribution were marked as a Special Access Programs.¹²

In the 2011 revision of Army Regulation 614-200, soldiers in the enlisted Intelligence Career Program are assigned in their primary military occupational specialty unless the Human Resource Command approves otherwise, and the program's objectives include providing an inventory of soldiers directly engaged in intelligence activities.¹³

An undated memorandum from the chief of the Intelligence Systems Analysis Branch describes the Great Skills program as a way to extend tours for military personnel. It states that Great Skills does not guarantee a person will spend a career at one location, but does guarantee a career in Great Skills, and calls the choice a career decision that could damage a return to the regular Army.¹⁴

Operational use, 1981 to 1984

On May 15, 1981, Brigadier General Flynn directed a second look at the Great Skills situation involving LTC Boyce of the Administrative Survey Detachment. The directive concerned the assignment of CPT Frederick Atwater after the career course in May 1982. If no Great Skills slot could be found, Flynn would sign a letter to the commander of the U.S. Army Military Personnel Center. Flynn also agreed that CW2 Joe McMoneagle be reassigned (PCS) to Fort Meade, and he directed a review of the access list to remove anyone without a strict need-to-know.¹⁵

A February 23, 1982 memorandum from the Administrative Survey Detachment to the commander of Detachment G of the U.S. Army Operational Group at Fort Meade refers to a February 22 meeting among Jachim of Grill Flame, Hartzell, the command psychologist of INSCOM, and Smay of the Great Skill program. The memorandum is signed by LTC Donald R. Smay, Chief, Great Skill Division. It records that the commander of the Administrative Survey Detachment concurred on February 23 in the use of Great Skill division recruiters to spot, approach and make a preliminary assessment of possible Grill Flame operatives among Military Intelligence warrant officers and noncommissioned officers, and requests that three Great Skill division personnel (Major Richard Hutchison, CW4 Peter Conway and SGM Harry Kreger) receive a general indoctrination in the Grill Flame mission.¹⁶

Undated working papers describe a second operational group at Fort Meade made up of Army personnel selected and trained to do remote viewing. They state that no selection criteria were available for the group and that its members were submitted to an unevaluated training program.¹⁷

On October 5, 1983, a briefing for the Secretary of the Army, John O. Marsh, records that CPT Atwater, asked his status, replied that he was a Great Skills officer working for LTC Brian Buzby. The Secretary indicated an understanding of the program and did not pursue the subject.¹⁸ A personnel spaces listing for Center Lane from the same period names McMoneagle and Atwater under ASD with the Great Skill designation and the civilian title Mr.¹⁹

A December 1984 record of a meeting on transferring Center Lane activities to the Defense Intelligence Agency lists satisfying Great Skills program requirements as necessary to permit detailing Great Skills personnel to the DIA, and assigns meeting with ASD on the actual detailing of personnel.²⁰

Officer and enlisted scope

The 1978 publication entry titles the program in terms of enlisted personnel.³ The February 2019 Army special assignments listing describes the program as one for experienced active duty NCOs, warrant officers and officers of all MOS and branches, with qualification entries of CPT or above with key developmental or command time, CW2 or above, or SGT or above with the Advanced Leader Course, a minimum age of 25, a GT score of 110 or higher, a TS/SCI clearance, and willingness to take a CI scope polygraph.¹ Records from 1981 to 1984 describe a captain, a warrant officer, a major, a sergeant major and civilians in Great Skill roles.¹⁵¹⁶¹⁸¹⁹

The 2023 Talent Based Career Alignment Program guide lists Army Strategic Intelligence Recruiting as formerly the Great Skill Program. It describes an assured mid-career pathway open to junior officers attending the Captains Career Course, applications for which require officer evaluation reports. The guide says program members perform specialized worldwide intelligence operations supporting the collection requirements of the Department of Defense and other national agencies, and that no prior intelligence experience is necessary.²

U.S. Army (armyreenlistment.com), Special Assignments, "Great Skill Program," updated February 2019, https://armyreenlistment.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Special-Assignments-February-2019.pdf (Wayback Machine capture of January 4, 2024, https://web.archive.org/web/20240104160915id_/https://armyreenlistment.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Special-Assignments-February-2019.pdf). ↩︎
U.S. Army Talent Management Task Force, Talent Based Career Alignment Program Guide, current as of 17 March 2023 (Phase 8), "Army Strategic Intelligence Recruiting (Formerly Known as Great Skill Program (GSP))," https://talent.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/TBCA-Program-Guide_Phase-8.pdf. ↩︎
Headquarters, Department of the Army, Military Publications: Index of administrative publications (1978), entries on pages 26, 86 and 96, https://www.google.com/books/edition/Military_Publications/LiQzp6onTXkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=great%20skill%20. ↩︎
Luis Elizondo, Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 31 to 33 (printed index entries: Great Skills program, 31 to 33; Grey Fox, 32 to 33; Lessman, 32 to 35; Seage, 31 to 33). Sole source for the recruitment, Lessman and Grey Fox passages. ↩︎
Luis Elizondo, Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 30 to 31. Sole source for the enlistment and assignment passages. ↩︎
Luis Elizondo, Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 32 to 38. Sole source for the release and NSA payment passage. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001700350013-3, Security Support Detachment, 902d Military Intelligence Group, memorandum to LTC Jachim, "Detachment G Reorganization," September 22, 1982, paragraphs 2 to 5, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001700350013-3. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R002000170002-1, Headquarters, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, "OPSEC Support for Project GRILL FLAME," with attached tasking dated March 23, 1982, paragraphs 1 and 2c, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r002000170002-1. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001500090028-8, Memorandum for Record, "CENTER LANE Discussion with INSCOM Command Group," November 27, 1984, paragraph c, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001500090028-8. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001700300005-7, Memorandum for Record, "Personnel Assignments," October 3, 1983 (archive record date), https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001700300005-7. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001500090052-1, Memorandum for Record, "Required Coordination for CENTER LANE Transfer to DIA," August 30, 1984, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001500090052-1. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001500090030-5, "CENTER LANE Support to INSCOM Subsequent to Transfer," October 22, 1984 (archive record date), warning notice "CENTER LANE SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM," https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001500090030-5. ↩︎
Army Regulation 614-200, Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management, Rapid Action Revision, 11 October 2011, paragraphs 3-10a(7) and 6-2a(4) (Intelligence Career Program), Wayback Machine capture of http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r614_200.pdf, https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r614_200.pdf. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00789R001100020003-5, memorandum "Personnel Continuity" from the Chief, Intelligence Systems Analysis Branch, undated, paragraphs 2 and 4, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00789r001100020003-5. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001200180001-0, Memorandum for the Record, "Update Briefing for DCG-I," May 15, 1981, paragraphs 5 to 7, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001200180001-0. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001200060023-9, U.S. Army Administrative Survey Detachment, INSCOM, memorandum to the Commander, Detachment G, U.S. Army Operational Group, "Request for Indoctrination Authorization," February 23, 1982, paragraphs 1 to 4 and signature block, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001200060023-9. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001100110007-2, undated working papers, "Psi Operational Capability," section on the second operational group at Ft. Meade, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001100110007-2. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270014-1, "Secretary of the Army Briefing 5 October 1983," memorandum of October 12, 1983, questions and answers, item 1(a), https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001700270014-1. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001700300002-0, "CENTER LANE Personnel Spaces," listing lines e and f, archive record date August 2, 1983, with spaces required in April 1984, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001700300002-0. ↩︎
CIA-RDP96-00788R001500020011-3, "Meeting on the Transfer of CENTER LANE Activities to DIA," archive record date December 19, 1984, action item e, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001500020011-3. ↩︎

19 KiB Raw Blame History