The Joint U.S. Military Advisory and Planning Group

Abstract

Abstract By early November the Truman administration was moving toward the establishment of an advisory and planning group in Greece. Following the President’s approval of the program, the National Security Council worked out the details. The group would be comprised of ninety officers and eighty enlisted men divided among the army, navy, and air force, and would be part of the military section of the aid mission but have direct communications with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The head of USAGG as senior army officer would be director of planning and operations and responsible to the chief of the American mission. Final authority, however, would rest with the ambassador, who would approve decisions and continue to deal with the Athens government on high policy. Military matters relating to such policy would come to his attention by the director and through the mission chief’s office. Forrestal, now secretary of defense, directed the joint chiefs to select the men for the operational advisory task force.