210

KGB/SVR101: The Evolution of Russian Espionage Tradecraft Training

 

This one-of-a-kind course is given by CI Centre professors who were officers in the KGB. What kind of training does a Russian intelligence officer receive? Learn the theories, subjects and tradecraft a KGB officer studies and gain better insight into the other side. The course has great value and application to today in light of the fact that in addition to training its own officers, the KGB trained many intelligence services antagonistic to the West and supported terrorist groups around the world. Given the continuities, this is as relevant today in understanding our adversaries as it was during the Cold War era. [2 days]

Course Overview:

The first day of this unique and special seminar is designed to provide an inside view directly from a former KGB Intelligence Officer on how the KGB and now the SVR (the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service) selected and trained its officers. This seminar will discuss how this same training was provided by the KGB/SVR academies to other intelligence services from around the world, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Egypt, and Iran.

The seminar will provide a comprehensive review of the evolution of the KGB and its espionage tradecraft in theory, training and practical implementation from the Okhrana to the SVR. It will also examine the KGB’s tradition of commitment to excellence and evolution of training provided to KGB officers. The seminar will review the agenda taught at the 15 KGB Intelligence and counterintelligence academies and explore the intensity of the one to five years of mandatory training provided to their officers. This will provide a backdrop to understanding the professional training provided KGB/SVR officers before they become operational. The “four pillars” of KGB training provided to officers to be dispatched to foreign countries to conduct espionage against the USA and its allies will be examined in depth.

Moscow Rules Moscow Rules Tile CoasterA comprehensive review of KGB espionage tradecraft training and how this tradecraft is implemented in the field will be examined through the real life experience of the KGB officer who was trained and assigned to spy in the USA. Keith Melton will discuss the evolution of KGB/SVR agent communication methods, and will demonstrate how COVCOM (covert communications) is being conducted in the digital world by both spies and terrorists. Tony and Jonna Mendez, who were both top disguise experts at the CIA, will discuss how disguise is used by intelligence services to support espionage operations. They will discuss how their set of “Moscow Rules” was developed and evolved for conducting their very successful disguise operations against the KGB’s Second Chief Directorate on the streets of Moscow and how those rules were and can be applied in other operations in the world today.

Course Topics

© Copyright The Centre for Counterintelligence and Security Studies/David G. Major Associates, Inc.

 

The past is prologue

 

Commitment to excellence

 

The role of training

 

Joining the KGB

 

The role of training

 

Foreign Intelligence Training

  • The KGB's first intelligence school

General KGB Training

  • The four pillars of KGB training

  • Social critiques

  • State security history

Four Pillars Continued

  • Area studies

  • Intelligence tradecraft

  • Leading by example

Operations: From Theory to Practice

  • Some KGB concepts

  • Using the “Dead Zone”

  • Soncepts in practice

  • A KGB ethical discussion

Fundamentals of Covert Communications (COVCOM) for Spies and Terrorists

  • Principles of agent communication

  • Differences in how spies and terrorists communicate

  • Basics of codes and ciphers

  • Agent communication: Dead drops and concealment devices

  • Demonstration of various steganographic techniques

  • “Digital dead drops” and the emergence of the internet

  • Exploiting weaknesses in covert communication systems

Operating Against the KGB in Moscow

  • Evolution of US Intelligence Operations in increasingly hostile environments during the depths of the Cold War

  • CIA Moscow Station vs. the KGB Second Chief Directorate: Pre-1976

  • CIA Moscow Station vs. the KGB Second Chief Directorate: 1976-1985

  • CIA Moscow Station vs. the KGB Second Chief Directorate: 1985, A Trail of Tears

  • Applying the lessons from the Moscow Rules elsewhere in the global conflict

Feedback

“Excellent course, great speakers, very interesting.”

“Most interesting—excellent presentation!”

“This information is very valuable to any line of work.”

"Excellent presentation. This class exposes topics that we must bring forward to our awareness. We cannot forget these activities not historic context. Nice work bringing these topics to life."

"Great class. Learned a lot of new info. Will definitely recommend to others."

"The course was wonderful. I was especially excited to hear from the wonderful speakers."

"I think everyone in this Intelligence Community should be required to take this course. The information was staggering and the presentations are incredible."

"It's a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"The enthusiasm, experience and knowledge offered by the presenters in this course were very impressive. Their teaching skills surpasses anything I have ever seen. They were excited to be in class, they loved the material and they had actually worked the material."

"I was very impressed by the level of expertise of the speakers."

"Excellent course--I rated all a "10". This is one of the best CI courses I've taken."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course. All the presenters were remarkable and unique. Altogether fascinating."

"This was an amazing opportunity to learn from very skilled, knowledgeable and really fascinating professionals. I've very glad I took this course."

"Great stories throughout the course; fascinating background. Good points to keep in mind as I do my daily work."

"I always learn something new with CI Centre courses. Another great course, interesting information."

"Very interesting and eye-opening. A course for all CI officers."

"As usual, an outstanding course! Very good information presented by personable, knowledgeable instructors."

"It was great to get a historical perspective, a KGB perspective and a CIA perspective. Very useful course."

"Extremely enjoyed this course. This is something my entire organization should have. Just to be aware of how real these operations are and how vulnerable we are by not knowing is an eye-opening experience and can benefit anyone in the intelligence field."

"Excellent course information backed by first-hand experience."

 

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