SEGRET

OEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 

UNITED STATES ARI.4Y INTEWGEI-lCE AI-lD SECURITY COMMAND 

B82S BEULAH STREET 

FORT BEL.VOIR. VIRGINIA 22060-5246 

REPtY TO
AffiKTlON OF

lACS

1 December 1995

MEMORANDUM FOR Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, U.S.
Army/ 1000 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC
20310-1000
SUBJECT:
INSCOH Involvement in Extra Sensory perception
Activities (ESPA)

(U)
1. ~ At the urging of the ACSI, (MG Edmond Thompson) in
October 1978, INSeOM began to evaluate and devote resources to
ESPA.
Driven by the notion that the Soviets might develop
capabilities in this arena, key personalities in the intelligence
community were determined to explore the potential usefulness of
psychic phenomena in augmenting other collection disciplines.
Initially, INSCOM established an ad hoc team drawing personnel
from in-house and from other INSCOM elements in the local area.
Based on preliminary results and high level interest, INseOM
requested additional funds and 16 manpower spaces in the HUMINT
GDIP input to the FY82-B6 POM.
The project was codified under the
title GRILL FLAME and a Letter of Instruction, outlining policy
and direction for the operational management of the activity was
approved by BG Thomas J. Flynn, Deputy Commander, Intelligence,
INSeOM in September 1981.
(U)
2. ~ In 1981, MG Albert N. Stubblebine III assumed command of
INseOM.
Creative and headstrong, MG stubblebine became an ardent
advocate of ESPA, putting his personal stamp on the expansion of
paranormal projects.
GRILL FLAME flourished.
Although highly
compartmented, its existence and vague understandings of its
workings were known by many members of the INseOM HUMINT staff.
The center piece of GRILL FLAME was a practice called "remote
viewing." In short, i t involved placing an individual in a
control led darkened environment, descending him or her into a
self-hypnotic trance and causing him/her to vocally describe
irr~ges and other impressions that came to mind.
In an
intelligence context, the subject would be given some parameters
of a target area or an intelligence question and the subject's
verbalization would be closely monitored.
The thought process was
for the subject to place himself or herself at the target site.
The feedback developed from these sessions would, in theory, aid
and expand other collection activities.
Remote viewing,
especially in the early 80's had a distinct cadre of supporters
CLASSIFIED MY

Regraded l TNCL'l.SSIFIED on

17 Au!! 2016

byUSA~~OM FOFPA
Auth End 5, para I-d, DOD 5200-01-V1

SEQREf

~CLASSIFY

INSeOM

ON_O""A_D.,R.-.-_ __

 ,

.

lACS
SUBJECT:
INSCOM Involvement in Extra Sensory Perception
Activities (ESPA)
(U)
"
.

who really believed that this aspect of psychic phenomena
represented a new and exciting breakthrough in intelligence
gathering. They did their best to market its perceived success
and to throw off the label of clairvoyance.
The claims of remote
viewing however, met with growing skepticism in the years that
followed.
Despite some success stories credited to remote viewing
in the GRILL FLAME project, no claims have ever been accepted as
truly real and independently verified.
3. ~ Concurrently, MG Stubblebine's preoccupation with
paranormal events was causing alarm among the Army leadership.
Most were the frequent references to his psycokinetic spoon
bending sessions and other examples contradictory to established
military protocols.
In 1984, MG Stubblebine was succeeded by
then MG Ed Soyster.
The atmosphere at INseOM changed. Many of
the other psychic inspired activities went away.
GRILL FLAME

Referred
4.
(U) Within INseOM the office of the Inspector General has
bean tasked to monitor this issue and has created a small summary
file of media reports pertaining to this subject.
FOR THE COMMANDER:

~'\~~
MAi~ L. HOLL
SWORTH
Chief of Staff

All Amw infom13tion contained
herein ,.\:as regraded
UNCL~~SSIFlED on 17

Aug 2016

By USAINSCOM FOL'PA
}\ulh End 5, para 1-<1, DOD 5200·01-V1