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EOP SER 4. In April 1960, the Cuban leader Manuel Artime, who was in Miami, offered a number of his followers as recruits for this program. Useppa Island was acquired as an assessment and holding site, and a preliminary screening of the candidates for the training program began. 5+ During May and June 1960 complete polygraphs » psycho- logical and psychiatric tests » and evaluations were obtained on 66 individuals. Basic Morse code training was begun -at the island. In Jue 29 trainees were sent from Useppe Island to Panama for basic paramilitary. training. -In July 32 trainees were sent to Guatemala to be trained as radio operators » and : Useppa Island was then closed down. The Training Site 6. A worse training. site could hardly have been chosen than the one in Guatemala, it being almost inaccessible, with no training facilities and.almost.no living facilities. The trainees were put to work building the camp, working during the dey and studying at night. This went on for several months. 7. ‘The number of Americans at the camp was held to a bare minimum for security reasons. They were represented to be either tourists or adventurers. The camp commander was also the chief of training and the project officer for Guatemala. When he arrived, he had to set up the temporary ‘camp, find an area for a permanent camp, contract for buildings, supplies,