GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ved For Release 2003/09/16 : CIA-RDP96-00788RO01 100440051-7
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20101
2 0 FEB 1981
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR, DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
SUBJECT: Procedure 18, DoD Regulation 5240.1-R (U)
(S) This is in response to an inquiry f rom the DIA, General
Counsell/ as to whether a proposed contract with Stanford Research
institute (SRI) to analyze the capabilities of psychics requires
prior approval of the Secretary of Def ense pursuant t6 Procedure
3.8 of DoD Regulation 5240.1-R.
(U) Procedure IS is applicable if the activity to be
undertaken constitutes "experimentation" on human subjects.
Experimentation is defined to mean:
research, development, or related activity that
may expose an individual to the possibility of
injury (including physical, psychological or
social injury) that increases the ordinary risks
of daily life for the subject (including the
recognized risks inherent in a chosen occupation
or field of service), or that temporarily ad-
versely affects a person's mental or physical
condition.
While this definition is quite broad in scope, it stops short of
potentially stressful situations created and within the control
of the subject, not the analyst. It is concluded for this reason
that the limited activity described herein does not fall within
t.he definition of "experimentation."!-*/
(S) SRI will assist persons with psyshic ability to use and
improve that skill for remote viewing of targets, including some
with practical intelligence value to DIA. The analyst will
attempt to define the mental process of the psychic. The proce-
dure will be stxictly limited to a dialogue between the analyst
and the psychic. It will take place in a quiet setting such as a
T
W
-1 ' (S) This request was made following Army advise that
its participation with DIA in a project (codename GRILL
FLAME) described in your 2 Feb 1981 memorandum to the
Secretary of Defense would have to &wait further review.
**/ (U) This opinion does
01scussed in your 2 Feb 19BI
opinion is expressed as to
with no history of psychic
human experimentation.
not address other activities
memorandum. For example, no
whether involvement of persons
experiences would constitute
Classified by DIA
Approved For Release 2003/09/1 F"rPw'%P96-00788R&fflvl~Illf4C~91-?9 Sep 2000
Approved For Release 2003/09/16 : CIA-RDR96-00788'RO01 100440051-7
room with limited access and'noise levels. The analyst will
coordinates
other data
provide the psychic with
or
map
identifying a remote geographic location. He will then ask
the psychic to mentally visit the location and describe
events or things on the scene in the past, present or future.
The psychic will be advised in advance that the scene en-
countered could be an explosion or other event that would be
extremely unpleasant or dangerous if a person were physically
present. The analyst will ask the psychic questions about
his remote viewing experience and provide the psychic with
encouragenent and suggestions for improvement of the process.
The psychic will be provided with no internal or external
assistance such as drugs or electrical shock. Nor will any
physical devices be used in the process. The psychicwill
not be deprived of sleep, food, or an opportunity to exercise
normal body functions. Also, the activity will be strictly
limited to volunteers who have previously used their psychic
ability to have remote viewing experiences on behalf of -
others without adverse effect, either temporary or permanent,
on his or her mental or physical condition.
(S) There is no medical evidence that the activity
described above would be harmful to the psychics involved.
To the contrary, we are advised by DIA representatives that
there were no reports of ill effects during the course of
SRI's prior encouragement of psychics to have remote viewing
experiences. While a successful remote viewing experience
could be unpleasant, it appears that the stress would be
within the control of the psychic, particularly since the
subjects have previously had remote viewing experiences
without any adverse effect.
(S) In essence, the voluntary activity of analysts
working with practicing psychics to have and improve the
clarity of remote viewing experiences is analogous to a
coach prompting an athlete to voluntarily perform feats of
increasing difficulty and to explain in the process how he
is able to achieve the concentration necessary for positive
results. While this type of effort may be stressful, the
stress is created and controlled by the psychic, not the
analyst. Bence, the activity described above is not ex-
perimentation on human subjects within the meaning of
Procedure 18.
L. Niederlehner
Acting General Counsel
Concurrence:
@11 ", /,-"I
ASD/HA
Approved For Release 2003/09/16: (SaRa-'00788RO01 100440051-7