CIA Training Like Jason Bourne

[Modin Godstalker]

I am looking for some books on CIA training tecniques. I want to make d20 modern Espionage campaign similar to Bourne Identity/Bourne Supremecy.

 

[The_Universe]

Bear in mind that the movies are fictional, and as such you're not going to find anyone detailing CIA Assassin training a la Jason Bourne. Even if the books were significantly grounded in actual Agency activities, methinks they'd lock down anyone trying to publish their secrets, quite correctly under the aegis of National Security.

So, my advice - make it up, because you're not going to find a source that's worth anything to reproduce what you're looking for beyond your own imagination.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Keep in mind that the Bourne books -- in addition to just plain being different from the movies -- are far more in-depth as to Bourne's past, personality, and motivations. (I like both the books and films, so that's not a criticism.) Basically, in the books Bourne became a willing brainwashing subject of the U.S. government after his family was killed in Vietnam. The thing that made him so outstanding as an operative was that he was able to retain the training imparted by the brainwashing techniques, even while recovering his independence and initiative. Other members of the team of agents trained along with Bourne did not retain his flexibility under pressure, although they were all very deadly.

The techniques actually used to "train" Bourne aren't really discussed in depth, and even where they're mentioned, they're scarcely more realistic than something out of a 007 film. For more realistic films about training intelligence operatives, I highly recommend Spy Game, and give a lukewarm recommendation for The Recruit. Spy Game in particular struck me as the type of recruitment and training that can happen, and probably has, in intelligence agencies.

Otherwise, I have to go with the earlier suggestion: "make it up." By doing so, you control how gritty or cinematic your espionage game is.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

http://stickymedia.com/Scripts/Aquarium.htm

See also the book "A Man Called Intrepid".

 

[Turanil]

I am looking for some books on CIA training techniques. I want to make d20 modern Espionage campaign similar to Bourne Identity/Bourne Supremecy.

Training techniques for CIA members, for your d20 modern game? What for? I don't really understand your question. It's like wanting a book on karate training because your campaign will be about martial artists. You don't need to know how your PCs and NPCs gain skill ranks. You just need to watch the film a couple of times and note what skills Jason Bourne obviously uses. IMO, he is high level (above 10th) and has, among other things, many ranks in Bluff, Hear, Spot, and Sense Motive (looking at a guy he knows if the guy is dangerous, etc.).

 

[Modin Godstalker]

If you look at Bourne Identiy and Supremecy, you could tell that the main character would be pretty high level. I would like to run the lower levels of the campaign to incorporate mostly training, part of it how the characters are recruited. It would be interesting to know how an organization like the CIA for example, trains their operatives. I could then structure the first 10 levels to be pre CIA training, recruiting and then CIA training.

 

[trancejeremy]

The Bourne books are pretty much to the CIA, what the X-files is to the FBI.

CIA agents are essentially bureauacrats. Most are recruited out of college.

See the book "See No Evil" by Robert Baer. Despite the title of the book, it's largely an autobiographical account of his early days with the CIA, including how he was recruited.

 

[Rel]

It would be interesting to know how an organization like the CIA for example, trains their operatives.

I could tell you. But then I would have to kill you.




I'm sorry about that, Modin. But SOMEBODY had to say it.

 

[Plane Sailing]

You could try reading Brotherhood of the Rose for some extra ideas.

 

[Dark Jezter]

I am looking for some books on CIA training tecniques. I want to make d20 modern Espionage campaign similar to Bourne Identity/Bourne Supremecy.

You have to realize that in real life, CIA field officers are very unlike how they're depicted in movies. They don't carry weapons, drive fast cars with machine guns hidden under the hood, or score with beautiful women as the end credits begin to roll.

Intelligence officers are divided into two basic categories: "Legal" officers and "illegal" officers. "Legal" officers are usually attached to an embassy and have diplomatic immunity. If they are discovered to be spies, they will be expelled and sent back to their home country. "Illegal" officers are not attached to an embassy, and if they are captured in an unfriendly country they could be sent to prison or even executed (although they may occasionally be returned to their home country in exchange for one of their own spies).

Despite how it's depicted in the movies, the intelligence gathering game is actually a civilized, predictable one. Intelligence officers seek out and try to recruit individuals who can give them sensitive information (these people are referred to as agents). Intelligence officers rarely participate in assassinations (President Gerald Ford passed an Executive Order in the 1970s forbidding the CIA to take part in assassinations) because if intelligence agents started killing each other off, then very little intelligence-gathering would ever get done. Most intelligence gathering work is boring and tedious, with only occasional moments of excitement.

If you want to read a spy novel that's at least somewhat grounded in reality, and explains how real-life spies operate, I recommend The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy. The characters of Ed and Mary Pat Foley are "legal" CIA officers, while John Clark is an "illegal" CIA officer.