SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION COMMITTEE (SEC) GRILL FLAME REPORT, DATED NOVEMBER 1979
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This document is a memorandum from 13 February 1980 regarding the Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC) GRILL FLAME report dated November 1979. The report was found to be ambiguous and confusing, with a recommendation to terminate all AMSAA GRILL FLAME efforts. However, the author disagrees with this recommendation, stating that it is based on a partial understanding and considering the AMSAA challenge/validation efforts to be part of the SRI contract is a mistake. The author also believes that directing a principal independent evaluation organization to terminate all efforts on an Army application is an inappropriate recommendation. The author agrees with the conclusions and recommendations of the report, stating that observation of unexplained human capabilities to generate data of potential intelligence utility has been documented but not scientifically proven. The author recommends continuing exploratory testing of these capabilities but believes that basic scientific research in this area is unlikely to succeed based on currently available information. The author also states that a central authority is needed to manage and fund GRILL FLAME activities. Finally, the author recommends that AMSAA continue monitoring and analyzing results of Project GRILL FLAME and be allowed to challenge and attempt replication of typical results to gain a better understanding of the associated capabilities and limitations. The memorandum is addressed to various individuals including Mr. Gale from HQDA(DAMA-ZD) and Dr. Haley from Cdr, DARCOM, ATTN: DRCDE.
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;A_pproved For Release 2000/08/07 :CIA-RDP96-00788R00110008~007-6
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
13 February 1980
SUBJECT: Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC) GRILL FLAME Report,
Dated November 1979
1. Subject report, transmitted to AMSAA January 1980, was found to be
somewhat ambiguous and confusing. As a result, I feel that as the
GRILL FLAME Project Officer, I must state for the record an exception
to the following element of that report:
Terminate all AMSAA GRILL FLAME efforts. This recom-
mendation, as best as can be determined, is based only on a
partial understanding of AMSAA's initial effort, which was
terminated before the SEC came into being. There is an
apparent mistake by the SEC in considering the AMSAA
challenge/validation efforts to be an integral part of the
SRI contract. Lastly, a precedent of directing a principal
independent evaluation organization to terminate all efforts
on a matter of Army application is considered to be an inap-
propriate recommendation.
2. The following conclusions and recommendations of the subject report
appear to be sound and also to reflect AMSAA GRILL FLAME Project personnel's
use:
a. Observation of unexplained human capability to generate data of
potential intelligence utility has been documented; however, scientific
proof of these unexplained capabilities has not been accomplished due
to lack of controls, repeatability and other limitations.
b. Exploratory testing of the utility of these capabilities should
continue; however, basic scientific research in this area is unlikely
to succeed if based on currently available information.
c. A central authority is needed to manage and fund GRILL FLAME
activities.
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A ~1S ~ 1980
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
U. S. ARMY b1ATERIEL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS ACTIVITY
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005
~~~6 -196
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DRXSY-DS
SUBJECT: Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC) GRILL FLAME Report,
Dated November 1979
3. I feel that AMSAA should continue monitoring and analyzing results
of Project GRILL FLAME, and that it should, within proper constraints,
be allowed to challenge through attempted replication some of the typical
results in order to obtain a better .perception of the associated
capabilities and limitations.
/-~~liv'W . KRAMAR
AMSAA GRILL FLAME Project Officer
CF:
HQDA(DAMA-ZD/Mr. Gale)
Cdr, DARCOM, ATTN: DRCDE/Dr. Haley
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 :CIA-RDP96-007888001100080007-6