◆ SpookStack

ne a eee aoa and equipment; he also had to find sites for a suitable air base , @ & maritime base, and a prison and contract for these facilities to be built. He had three assistants: a communications officer and two contract employees. - 8. The initial group of paramilitary trainees was trans- ferred to the Guatemala Base from Panama after two months of training. By 23 August there were 78 paramilitary trainees, 34 communications trainees ; and nine staff and contract employees. _¢ 9. By. September the training camp had enovgh facilities and instructors to begin a four-week basic training course. The trainees were sorted into seven-man teams according to. their area knowledge and their aptitudes. Sixty were selected ‘a : to go into Cuba (either ‘legally or illegally) and to contact @ resistance groups; 60 were selected for action teams to go in ‘illegally and join the resistance groups that had been contacted by the first teams; the remainder of the trainees would be formed - into a ‘small conventional strike force. The training base expected the teams to be ready to go in October and asked Head- quarters to provide the infiltration plans. io. The trainers did not realize that Headquarters had - changed the plan. Already in July the FRD, the exile political front, had been asked to provide 500 individuals for a para- military action cadre, and the training base was asked if it could. accommodate this number. Obviously, it could not. op 4 woo ghee ~ ~ he : ay we ea ie ett Ree eR ee ee ee SL