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ACTION EA-07
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 A-01 MMS-01 SS-14 SP-02 PER-01 ABF-01
DRC-01 RSC-01 /030 W
--------------------- 071690
R 100955Z OCT 74
FM AMEMBASSY SAIGON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9472
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: APER, AFSP, VS
SUBJECT: REINSTITUTION OF VIETNAMESE AS INCENTIVE LANGUAGE
1. RECENT PUBLICATIONS NO LONGER LIST VIETNAMESE AS AN INCENTIVE
LANGUAGE. UNDERSTAND THIS DECISION BASED ON THE COMPUTER SHOWING
25 PER CENT OF FS PERSONNEL WITH LANGUAGE TRAINING IN VIETNAMESE.
WE FEEL THE INCENTIVE CUT-OFF IGNORES OUR SERIOUS PERSONNEL STAFFING
PROBLEM. THE EMBASSY AND THE CONSULATES GENERAL HAVE NOW, AND HAVE
HAD, STAFFING VACANCIES FOR PROTRACTED PERIODS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF
THE RELUCTANCE OF JUNIOR OFFICERS TO ENTER THE VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE
TRAINING PIPELINE. ELIMINATING THE LANGUAGE INCENTIVE WILL ADD TO THE
SCARCITY OF CANDIDATES. FURTHER, THERE IS NO HEADLONG RUSH FOR VIETNA
M
ASSIGNMENTS. A LARGE INPUT INTO THAT STATISTICAL 25 PER CENT CONSISTS
OF OFFICERS WHO, HAVING ALREADY SERVED TWO TOURS IN THE COUNTRY,
QUITE REASONABLY PREFER TO MOVE ON TO OTHER AREAS. AS WE HAVE POINTED
OUT, DRAWING FROM THE RANKS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED HERE BEFORE
IS AN ACCEPTABLE SOURCE FOR THE MORE SENIOR OFFICERS BUT IS UNWORK-
ABLE FOR MORE JUNIOR OFFICER SLOTS. RE-CYCLING THE SAME OFFICERS
THROUGH THE MISSION AND THE CONSTITUENT POSTS IS A STRAIN ON THEIR
CARREER DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS. THE NEW BLOOD WE NEED MUST COME
FROM AN EXPANDED LANGUAGE PROGRAM.
2. DESPITE PER'S ASSIGNMENT PLANNING, OUR CURRENT STAFFING PROFILE
ILLUSTRATES THE DIFFICULTY IN IDENTIFYING SUITABLE LANGUAGE REPLACE-
MENTS:
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SAIGON:
(A) A JANUARY VACANCY IN THE SECOND JOB IN INTERNAL POLITICAL,
VICE WRIGHT, A VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE DESIGNATED POSITION;
(B) O/A MARCH OF 1974, CHARLES CURRIER, WITH TESTED S/2-R-2,
SCHEDULED FOR REASSIGNMENT FROM POSITION 133 TO A CONSULATE
GENERAL. WHILE CAN THO VICE MOSHER PROBABLY BEST CHOICE,
DILEMMA ARISES FROM INTERNAL UNIT LOSING THE BENEFITS OF A LANGUAGE
OFFICER SINCE MOSHER NOT A VIETNAMESE-SPEAKING OFFICER;
(C) NEW OFFICERS IN INTERNAL POLITICAL, AT THE INTERMEDIATE
AND JUNIOR LEVEL, HAVE NOT HAD LANGUAGE TRAINING THUS LESSENING
GVN CONTACTS, INTERPRETATION SKILLS, AND ABILITY TO CHECK TRANS-
LATIONS WHICH PLACES UNACCEPTABLE BURDEN ON THE REMAINING TWO
LANGUAGE QUALIFIED OFFICERS IN POLITICAL SECTION.
CONSULATES:
(A) DA NANG. DEPARTMENT, AT THE EMBASSY'S SUGGESTION,
REASSIGNED A VIETNAMESE-SPEAKING OFFICER TO BIEN HOA WHO HAD A
CRITICAL NEED FOR AT LEAST ONE VIETNAMESE OFFICER. DA NANG,
WHILE GENEROUSLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE URGENCY OF BIEN HOA'S
SITUATION, WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A VIETNAMESE-SPEAKING OFFICER;
(B) CAN THO. VACANT POSITION 006, O-3 POLITICAL OFFICER,
FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY LACY WRIGHT, WHO HAS FLUENT VIETNAMESE.
AGAIN, IF THE CHOICE AVAILABLE, THE CG WOULD HAVE OPTED FOR AN
S-2, R-2 REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, REQUIREMENT DROPPED TO FACILITATE
AN EARLIER ETA OF A REPLACEMENT. WE ARE NOW WAITING FOR
IDENTIFICATION AND ETA OF A CANDIDATE.
3. WHEN LANGUAGE-SPEAKING FS PERSONNEL NOT FORTHCOMING, USADI
OFFICER FILLED NHA TRANG'S ECONOMIC SLOT AND USIS JUNIOR OFFICER
SCHEDULED ARRIVE JANUARY FOR BIEN HOA'S O-5 POLITICAL POSITION.
OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NOT A CONTINUUM OF ADEQUATELY TRAINED OFFICERS
COMING OUT OF THE 25 PER CENT FIGURE.
4. IN SUM, NEED FOR CONTINUING FLOW OF QUALIFIED VIETNAMESE
LANGUAGE OFFICERS IS CLEARLY ESTABLISHED AND WILL CONTINUE FOR
FORESSEEABLE FUTURE. AS RESULT FAILURE TO FILL DESIGNATED LANGUAGE
POSITIONS WITH LANGUAGE OFFICERS OUR NEED IS NOW CRITICAL. WE
STRONGLY URGE THAT DEPARTMENT IN ADDITION TO OTHER MEASURES TO
MEET SITUATION REINSTITUTE VIETNAMESE AS INCENTIVE LANGUAGE AND
GIVE DECISION FULL PUBLICITY WITHIN THE SERVICE.
MARTIN
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