Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXXIV, National Security Policy, 1969–1972

77. Paper Prepared in the Operations Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff¹

Washington, undated.

Point Paper for the Chairman, JCS, for a Meeting With the President

• SUBJECT
  • Plan for US Military Readiness

Main Thrust of Point Paper

• —Initial actions have been taken to achieve readiness posture with selected US forces for the period 12–25 October 1969. Posture will be discernible to the Soviets but not threatening.

Actions Taken

—CINCSAC

• —Commencing at 0800 local, 13 October 1969 stand-down all training flights until further advised.
• —Reinstate degraded alert sorties to maximum extent possible.
• —(Actions taken will not affect SEA operations).

—CINCPAC

• —Commencing at 0800 local, 15 October 1969 stand-down all training flights within the Korean ADIZ until further advised.
• —Reinstate degraded SIOP alert sorties extent feasible.
• —Air units during stand-down will achieve maximum state of readiness. No DEFCON change.

—USCINCEUR

• —Commencing at 0800 local, 15 October 1969 stand-down all training flights until further advised.
• —Sixth Fleet operate maximum practicable EMCON commensurate with safety.
• —Air units during stand-down will achieve maximum state of readiness. No DEFCON change.

—CINCSTRIKE/CINCONAD

• —Commencing at 0800 local, 15 October 1969 stand-down all training flights.
• —Air units during stand-down will achieve maximum state of readiness. No DEFCON change.

Second Phase of Operations

• —Dispatched personal message to CINCs² which:
• —Alerts them to forthcoming operation.
• —Requests their nomination further actions which can be taken under guidelines provided.
• —All actions taken will be compatible with Project 703.
• —Reaction from CINCs expected NLT 1900 EDT, 12 October—basis for further activity will stem from these inputs.

1. Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Records of the Chairman, General Wheeler, Box 111, 381, World-Wide Increased Readiness Posture (Oct. 69). Top Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Colonel Jack L. Buckley, General Operations Division of the JCS. This paper was prepared for Wheeler’s meeting with Nixon, held on October 11 from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and also attended by Laird, Kissinger, Moorer, Ryan, and Chapman. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)
2. Document 76.