Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part-V-B-3c.djvu/135

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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

Draft Recommendations for OCB on Training in Viet Nam

The OCB today took the following position on this matter in order to carry out paragraphs 10-a and 10-d of Part IV of NSC 5429/2:

1) It is necessary for US MAAG/Saigon to be authorized immediately to undertake the functions of providing military advice and training as appropriate to Vietnamese forces at all levels for the development and maintenance of internal security. Within its capabilities, US MAAG/Saigon should assist in the reorganization of the Vietnamese armed forces and give them such training and support as required to sustain the legal government or Vietnam.

2) The training and advisory activities of us MAAG/Saigon should be closely coordinated with tho Ambassador to assure that military advice and training support the policies of the United States regarding the maintenance of a legal Vietnamese Government having a broad base of national union and under the premiership of Mr. Ngo Dinh Diem.

3) Utilizing existing Vietnamese Armed Forces tho appropriate agencies of tho US Government and existing US MAAG/Saigon should develop immediately, and take initial steps to execute with the Vietnamese Government a plan for training minimum Vietnamese security forces necessary to counteract Viot Minh infiltration and paramilitary activities. The mission of such forces should be to enable tho Government of free Viet Nam to establish and maintain its control throughout that territory. No efforts should be spared in finding ways to begin and carry out such training in the shortest possible time. The use of areas outside of Viet Nam and various moans of increasing US training personnel should be exploited.

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