Attachment 2-A
      MEMORANDUM FOR: ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF, ILLEGIBLE-3
                                 
SUBJECT: Indoctrination of Personnel in Atomic Warfare Operations

     1. The Armed Forces Special Weapons Project Manual,
Radiological Defense, Vol. II, indicates that "nominal" atomic
weapons used in support of ground forces can be exploded within
1,500 yards of properly protected personnel with a reasonable
factor of safety, assuming that under operational conditions,
troops will be permitted to take a dose of approximately 10 to 20
roentgens.  In fact, under conditions of a tower explosion, such
as currently being conducted in the Nevada tests, it may be
possible to place troops in deep fox holes as close as 800 yards
from ground zero without those troops suffering serious injury. 
These distances are much less than any used to date at the Nevada
test site.

     2.   In view of the possible impact of an atomic explosion
and its attendant psychological effect on troops for whom close
atomic weapons support is provided, further investigation should
be made at the earliest practicable date of the conditions
involved in such a situation by actual troop participation in
test explosions as close to ground zero as safety will permit. 
It is desired that a study be made to determine the minimum
distance from ground zero that should be permitted in a peacetime
maneuver, and that appropriate recommendations for troop
participation. at least in small numbers, under such conditions
be made in connection with the next series of tests of atomic
weapons to be conducted in Nevada.

     3.   Under the somewhat involved psychological effects that
may be expected, the use of highly trained and carefully
indoctrinated volunteers should be considered.

     BY DIRECTION OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF:

                                   JOHN C. CAKES
                                   Colonel, GS
                                   Secretary of the General Staff

Lt. Gen. Charles L. Bolte', Maj. Gen. K.D. Nichols, and Brig.
Gen. H.B. Loper approve.

CCS Copy