NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011 TOP SECRET – Sensitive
callups. He calculated that at the current rates of desertion, casualties and recruitment the RVNAF at the end of the year would be smaller not larger than at present.
Finally, on 7 May, Harkins was able to report that a USG-GVN agreement had been reached on calendar year 1964 force goals for the RVNAF, Civil Guard and the National Police, although there was not yet an agreement on the SDC and Combat Youth. The agreement on the RVNAF, CG, and SDC force levels were as shown in the tabulation below: 77/
Current Authorized Strength | Recommended Strength CY 64 | Amount Increase | Estimated Cost | |
RVNAF | 227,000 | 237,600 | 10,600 | 1. GVN = 1.4 billion piastres 2. U.S. = $18 million for pay; $5 million MAP |
Civil Guard | 90,015 | 97,615 | 7,600 | 1. .8 billion piastres 2. $2.2 million MAP (no estimate of cost of pay increase) |
SDC | 110,000 | 110,000 | - | No estimates of cost (no agreement yet) |
Combat Youth | 180,00 (trained) | 200,000 | 20,00 | No estimates of cost (no agreement yet) |
80-90,000 (trained and armed) | ||||
National Police | 24,250 | 34,900 | 10,650 | 500,000 million piastres $1.2 million |
With respect to the perennial problem of assisting the Vietnamese to develop their own offensive guerrilla force, in mid-May there was some progress to report, although the accomplishments were less than had been hoped. Efforts were continuing to improve the distribution of Ranger battalions for use against VC base areas and in border areas of I and II Corps. Plans also were being developed at that time for better border control, and for intelligence integration, coordination of Vietnamese Special Forces operations, and air surveillance. Efforts were also being made towards integration of Vietnamese Special Forces and U.S. Special Forces staffs at all command echelons. Vietnamese junior officers and NCO's, including Montagnards, were being initiated to training and guerrilla warfare techniques in the new VNSF/USSF Center at Nha Trang. This was