NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH COMMITTEE 27 



first scientists were serving as volunteers. Arrangements were made with 

 the Civil Service Commission for the establishment of a series of positions 

 as Technical Aide to be filled by qualified scientists. The Technical Aides 

 were an important element in the scientific staff; they furnished the con- 

 tinuity needed for the day-to-day operations. While many were younger 

 men who operated under the supervision of their seniors, others were men 

 of distinction comparable to the volunteer scientists heading the organ- 

 ization. 



The story of the recruiting and retention of scientific personnel is told in 

 a later chapter as is the story of the administrative personnel. Note need 

 be made here only of the fact that at no time during the five years of its 

 very active existence was the NDRC or its successor OSRD adequately 

 manned. Starting from nothing, the staff was built gradually only after 

 the need for particular positions became clear. By the time individuals 

 were trained in particular jobs, the organization had grown to the point 

 where further recruiting was necessary and additional types of activities 

 were added. The outbreak of the war which mushroomed the OSRD pro- 

 gram and expenditures was accompanied by a general tightening of the 

 manpower situation which made it impossible to recruit personnel in 

 adequate numbers. 



Security 



The Committee recognized that the Army and the Navy would have 

 to be convinced that it could make use of civilian scientists under condi- 

 tions compatible with military security; for, after all, to be most useful 

 the Committee should work in areas of military weakness, and it would 

 hardly be appropriate to indicate those areas to a potential enemy. At 

 the same time, it recognized the equal importance of convincing scientists 

 that ways could be found to permit them to work effectively within the 

 limits of military security. 



As a first step the members of the Committee took an oath of allegiance 

 to the United States and required each person accepting appointment in 

 any division or section to do so. Clerical personnel were required to take 

 an oath not to divulge any secret or confidential information acquired by 

 reason of their connection with the Committee unless authorized to do so 

 by the Chairman or a member of the Committee. Each person receiving 

 an appointment from the Committee received a letter stressing the need 

 for the utmost secrecy in regard to all the activities which would come to 

 his attention in connection with the appointment. The letter pointed out 

 that the problems with which the Committee was concerned originated in 

 the Army and the Navy and that only high officers of those Services were 

 in a position to decide to whom the results obtained should be communi- 



