Table Of ContentVIETNAM STUDIES
The Development and
Training of the
South Vietnamese Army
1950-1972
355
.5409597
C712d
c.13 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HANOI • TONKIN
DELTA
T H A I L A ND
\ C A M B O D I A
\
\
C U L F I
0 F X
*PENH 1 VIETNAM
TH A , L A N D / PHNOM
V
•—f MEKONG
DELTA
0 V T H C H I NA S EA
»OUNDA«I€S NOT AUTMOHTATIVt
VIETNASMT UDIES
THED EVELOPMEANNTD
,,,
TRAINIONFGT HES OUTH
VIETNAMEASREM Y,
1950-1972
by
BrigaGdeineeJrra amlLe asw tC}_oonl lJir n.s,
DEPARTMEONFTT HEA RMY
WashinDg.tC1o.9n, 7, 5
LibroafCr oyn grCeastsaC laorgNd u mbe7r4-:3 4409
FirPsrti nting
Fors albeyt hSeu perinteonfDd oecnutm enUt.sSG,.o vernmPernitn tOiffincge
WashingDt.oCn2.,0 40P2r i$c2e. (3p0a pceorv er)
StocNko .0 820-00532
Foreword
TheU nitSetda Atremshy a mse ta nu nusucaolmlpylc ehxa l
lenignSe o uthAesaiIsantc. o njunwcitttihhoo ent hseerr vtihcee s,
Armhya fso ugihnst u ppoofra tn atiopnoallio cfay s siasnt ing
emerging tond aetviegolnoo vpe rnmpernotcaeolsf is teossw n
choosfirneogefo, u tsciodeer cIinao dnd.i ttioto hnue s uparlo b
lemosfw agianrgm ecdo nfltihcaets ,s ignimnSe onutt hAesaita
harse quisruepde rimtphoiesm imnegn sseolpyh isttiacsoakfts e d
am odearrnm y uapnuo nnd erdeveenlvoipreodan nmaded natp t
intgh etmod emancdosv eraiw nigds ep ectTrhuemsi.en volved
helptiofn ugl tfihlbela sniece odfas n a graproipaunl adteiaolni,n g
witthh fer ustroafat nitoingsu oeprerrialtlaiano dcn osn,d ucting
conventciaomnpaalia ggnasi wnesltl -traandid neetde rmined
reguulnairt s.
Iti ss tinlelc esfsoatrrh Ayer mtyo c ontitnopu ree pfaorre
othcehra lltehnamgtae ysl iaeh eaWdh.i lceo gnitzhaahntit s tory
nevreerp eiattssee xlafc atnldty h antoa rmeyv eprr ofiftreodm
trytionmg e eatn ewc hal1ientn egreom fts h oel odn et,hA er my
nevertshtealtneodbs ses n eifimtm enfsreolamys tuodfiy t esx peri
enciets,sh ortcnooml ientsghssa i nta sc hievements.
Awarteh asto myee amruss etl abpesfeo trhoeeffi cihails tories
wiplrlo vaid deet aainlodeb dj ecatniavloeyf ts hieesx periienn ce
SouthAesaiwsaeth, a vseo ugafh otr wuhme rseobmyoe ft hmeo re
saliento fta hsaeptxe pcetrsic eabnnec m ea daev ailnaobwAl.te
three quoefts htCe h ioefSf t aaffr ,e presegnrtoautpsi evonefi or
officewrhsos ervienid m porptoasnittnVs i etnaanmdw hos till
cararh ye abvuyr doefdn a y-to-day rheaspspr oenpsaair beidl ities
seroifem so nogrTahpehsss.et udsiheosub leod f g revaatl iune
helptihnAegr mdye vefluotpu orpee ratcioonncaelp tsa t while
thsea mtei mceo ntritbout thhiein sgt orreiccoaarnlddp roviding
thAem eripcuabnlw iicta hni nterreipmoo rntt h pee rformance
ofm ena ndo fficewrhsoh avree sponadsoe tdh,eh rasvt eh rough
ouhri sttooer xya,c tainndtg r yidnegm ands.
Ther eadsehro ublerd e mintdheamdto sotft hwer itwiansg
accomplwihsithlheewed a irn V ietnwaamas t i tpse aakn,dt he
monogrfarpehqsu enttloey v ernoetftfs he pera satsi ft hewye re
takipnlgai cnte h per esent.
Almlo nogrianpt hhsse e rairebesa sperdi maornio lffiyc ial
iii
recowridtashd, d itmiaotneafrlri oapmlu bliasnhuden dp ublished
seconwdoarrkfysr ,od me brireefipnogar ntdis n terwviitekhwe sy
particainpdfa rnottmsh ,pe e rsoenxaple rioeftn hcaeeu thToor .
facilsietcauctrleie tayr aannncoet,aa tniddo ent abiilbeldi ography
havbee eonm itftreodtm h peu blivsehresdai f ounld;lo yc umented
accowuinttbh i blioigsfir laepwdhi ytt hh Ue. S .A rmCye ntoefr
MiliHtiasrtyo ry.
BrigaGdeineerrJ aalm eLsa wtCoonl lJirn.ps,r, e setnhtel y
ChioefMf i liHtiasrtyUo .rSAy.r, m yh,at sh wee alotfeh x perience
requitrote edtl hlse t oorfay l lpiaerdt iciipnta htVeii oent nam
WarA.f thearv isnegr vienKd o raesat hAes sisCtoamnmta nId er,
Corp(sG roAurpt)i lGleenreyCr,oa lll hiandts w ot ouorfds uty
inV iettnhaiamnt v olcvleoldsi ea iwsiotanhln la tipoanrst icipating
int hael leiffeodr Itn1. 9 6h4ew asa ssiganste hdse e niUo.rS .
advitsote hrVe i etnaRmeegsieo Fnoarlca ensdP opuFloarrc es,
anidn M ay1 96w5a nsa meSdp ecAisasli sttota hnCeto mmander,
U.SM.i liAtsasriys CtoamnmcaenV di,e tnIantm h.le a tctaepra city
GeneCroalll wiantssh pee rsorneaplr eseonfGt eanteiWrveaesl t
moreltaont dhV ei etnaJmoeisGneet n eSrtaaloff n a lmla tters
pertaitnoti hncego -ordionfUa .tSiV.oi,ne tnaamnedas lel,i ed
forocpeesr atFioohrni ossu .t stasnedriviningVc iee tntahmRe,e
publoifVc i etnaawma rhdiemtd h Nea tioOnradlae nrtd h Aer my
DistingSueirsvMhieecddea t lw,oo f i tmso scto veatweadr ds.
WashinDg.tCo.n , VERNLE.B OWERS
15A pr1i9l7 4 MajGoern eUrSaAl ,
TheA djutGaennte ral
iv
Preface
In1 95t4hA er moyfS ouVtihe tnwaaamsc olleocfft oiromne r
Frenccohl otnrioaolwp istl hi tctolmem aenxdp eriaenndnc oe
suppfoorrtwc oerst ohfmy e ntiGorna.d uaanlddl eys paic toen
siderdaebglroeefp e o liatnisdco aclii naslt atbhiAelr imtywy,i, t h
stroAnmge riacsasni swtaamsno cled,ie ndta one ffecfitgihvtei ng
forbcyet heeff orotfVs i etnalmeeasdeAe frts1e.9r 6 t0h Seo uth
VietnaAmremsayel saoc quiar ceodu nterincsaupragbeinlciyt y,
bubty 1 96i5n crepaosleidtt uircmaholai dul n dermiitneseff de c
tiveannedns esc esstihtiean tteedr voefns ttirooUnn. gSc .o mbat
forces.
Fro1m9 6t5o1 96w8h,i Ul.eS f.o rbcoerste h ber uonftt he
fighttihnSego ,u Vtihe tnasmleosrweel gyr oaunpdwe,id t ihn creas
inAgm eriacdavni assosriys atnamdna ctee sruipeploo nrctae,g ain
becaamnee ff ecfitgihvtefi onrgDc uer.i tnhgpi esr itohmdei litary
provisdeecdu froitrth yce i viploipaunl aatnidao dnm inistration
andi,ns choaonltdsr aicneinntgle artishd,be a sfioasrl aragnedr
morree spomnisliivfteoa rrcye .
Tet
Theb attolfte hse offensoif1v 9e6w 8e rfeo llobwyte hde
genemroabli liozfaS toiuVotinhe tnaanmdo ,n yee alra tbeytr h,e
deciosfit hoUenn itSetda ttobe esg tirno roepd eploTyhmeesnet s.
movseestt h set afgoterh teh iprhda isnte h Aer myd'esv elopment,
VietnamiTzhaeyt eiaforrnso.1 m 9 6t8o1 97s2aa wg reeaxtp ansion
ofS ouVtihe tntaemr'rsi steocruifraoilrt acyne dms i liatnidta h,e
contiinmuparlo veamnedmn otd erniozfat thireoe ng uAlramry
asi otn caeg aaisns ucmoemdp lreetsep onsfiotbrhi wela iertff yo rt.
Thimso nogrcaopvhe,rt ihtnehg r setea ignet shg er owatnhd
develoopfmt ehnSeto uVtihe tnaAmremsyhe,i ghltihgreho tlse
oft hUe. SA.r mye,s pectihaMelA lCyVa dvissyosrtyMe oms.ot f
thmea terpiraels einsbt aesdoe ndo fficihails tosruimcmaalr ies
prepaornae r de gublaasbriy ts h mea jUo.rS m.i lictoamrmya nds
inS ouVtihe tnSapme.ca itatle nitsgi iovnte ont heex panosfi on
SouVtihe tntarma'isbn aisnaegn dh eirn creassoipnhgilsyt icated
milistcahrosyoy ls tWehmi.ls eu cahs tucdaydn o n om orteh an
survtehye ascet iviitdt oieersse ,fl etchtde e eapn dc ontinuous
commitbmyet nhto usoafAn mdesr iscoalnd tiome arkste h Seo uth
VietnaAmremsayse e lf-sfuoffirccciaeep naotbf dl eef enidtisnegl f
witmhi nimouumt saisdsei stance.
WashinDg.tCo.n , JAMELSA WTOCNO LLIJNRS.,
15A pr1i9l7 4 BrigaGdeineeUrr. aASlrm·,y.
V
Contents
Chpater Page
I.THEF ORMATIYVEEA R1S9,5 0-1959 1
Backgr.o un.d . . . . . . 1 . .
MiliAtsasriys AtdavnicsGeor royuV pi,e t.nam _2
OrganiaznadtF ioorSnct er ucture 8
Train.i ng. . . . . . . 1.2 . . . . .
IIT.HEC RUCIAYLE AR1S9,6 0-1964 17
TheP robl1e9m5,9 -.1 96.0 . 17
TheI mmedRieastpeo 1n9s6e0,- 1961 18
CounterinPslua1rn9g,6.e 1n cy 20
PresidSeunptpi.oa rlt . . . . . .21
U.SB.u ild1u9p6,1 -.1 96.2 . . . 25
Establiosfth hmMeei nlti Atsasriys Ctoamnmcaen d,
Vietn.a m . .. . . 27
YeaorfPs r ogr1e9s6s2,-. 1 96.3 . . . 2.9 . . . .
YeaorfCs r i1s9i6s3,- .1 96.4 . . . .3 0 . . . . .
Trainoiftn hgSe o uVtihe tnaAmremsy1e,9 60-196343
AiSru pp.o rt. . . . . . . 36. . . . . .
38
Roloeft hUe. ASr.m Syp ecFioarlc. e s. . . . . .
TheC iviIlriraeng DuelfaeGrnr soeuP pr ogr.a m. 40
TerriFtoorrciCeaislvG: iu la radn Sde lf-DCeofrepns4s 1e
43
Civil .A ffa.i r.s . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IITIH.EB UILDYUEPA R1S9,6 5-1967. 47
47
Backgr.o un· d . . . . . . .
MiliAtsasriys CtoamnmcaeAn ddv isEoxrpya nsion4 8
U.SA.r mSyp ecFioarlcA edsv isPorroyg r.ams 53
FinanScuipapl.o rt. . 55
Mapno wReers ou.r ce.s . . . . .56
TheD eserPtrioobn.l em. . . . 60
EconoamniSdco cIimaplr ove.ment 63
ForScter ucEtxupraen .sion 65
67
LimiotfEs x pan.s io.n . . . .
71
TerriFtoorrci.e asl. . . . . .
TheC iviIlriraengD uelfaeGrnr soeu. p 74
vii
Chapter Page
TrainainndLg e adership 75
OffshoTrrea in.ing 79
SoutVhi etnam .Schools 80
IVV.IETNAMIZAT1I9O6N8,- 1972 85
Backgro.und 85
Mobiliz.ation 85
ForScter uc.ture 86
Desertions 91
Paya ndA llowances 93
VeteArffaani .rs 94
Leadership 97
Mater.iel 100
Training Overview 103
SchoaonldT rainCienngtI emrp rove.ments 105
CombiAnremdTs r ain.ing 109
110
MiddMlaen agemTernati n.ing
AdvancTeedc hniTcraali n.ing 111
Pilot Tfroatrih nSeio nugtV hi etnAaiFmro r.ce 112
114
On-theT-rJaoibn. ing
CombinOepde rat.ions 117
Mobile ATdevaims.so ry 119
V.OVERVIEW 123
General 123
Training Centers 123
UniTtr ain.ing 162
MilitSacrhyo ols 126
SummaarnydC onclu.sions 127
Appendix
A.MajRoVrN ASFc hoaonlTdsr ainingE xCiesnattttie hnregs
Endo f1 95.8 131
B.RVNAAFc ademCioelsl,ea gnedSs c,h o.ols 132
C.RVNAFT rainSicnhgoE onlr ollfmoe1rn9 t7s0 150
D.RepubolfVi ice tnAarmm eFdo rces 151
GLOSSARY 153
INDE.X 155
Maps
No.
1.LocatoifRoV nN AFA cademCioelsl,ea gnSedcs h,o Io9 l6.s9, 8 1
2.LocatoifRo VnN ATFr ainCienngtD eercse,m 1b9e7.r1 107
viii
Illustrations
Page
U.SM.i liAtdavriysG orroyuH pe adquaSratieg.ro .sn , 3
CivGiula rBda sTirca inCilna.gs s
11
OfficeCra ndidTartaaeitsnT huD ue. . .. .. .. . .
15
U.ASr.m Ayd viTsrearia ntBs a ttaLleivoenl .
25
U.SA.r mAyv iatSiuopnp oSrotuVsti he tnaUmnei.st es
26
LoneOluyt poofSs etl f-DCeofre.pn ss e 31
CIDUGn iTtr ain.i n.g 41
NewT erritRoercirauli ts . .
57
TrainaitPn hguC a.t
77
RangPer acWtiitcNhee wM l6 Rifl.e .
78
CadeattDs a l.a t .. .. .. . .
82
RangDeerfse Snadi gToent,
87
InstruactDt aiN oannV go catiSochnoa.ol .l
96
MainteCnlaansfcsoeNer es wE quipm.e .n .t
103
BridCgoen strTurcatiinoEinnn ggi,nS ecehro ol
121
StudaetVn utnsTg a uS igSncahlo. o l. . . 1.1 3 . . .
VietnaSmteusdPeei nltFo ttS.st ,e wGaar..t , . . . 1.1 4 .
115
SignTarla infioVnrig e tna.m e.s e . . . . .
MATA dviEsxearm iHnoemse maPdFMe o rtar .
121
SouVtihe tnaAmremsoiern C ambo.d ia . . . .
129
130
SouVtihe tnaFmieeOslpede ra.t io.n . . . . . . . . .
Alill lustarrfaert oDimeo pnasr tomfDe enftefi nlsees .
ix
