About this Unit
The OICCRVN (Operational Intelligence Command Center, Republic of Vietnam Navy) was established in the late 1960s during the Vietnam War to coordinate naval intelligence and operational planning for the Republic of Vietnam Navy (RVNN). Its primary mission was to gather, analyze, and disseminate intelligence on enemy maritime movements, supporting riverine and coastal operations against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces. The OICCRVN worked closely with U.S. Navy advisors and participated in joint operations, such as Operation Market Time, to disrupt enemy supply lines along the coast and inland waterways. The unit played a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of RVNN operations until the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Historical Facts
• Origins of OICCRVN: The Office of the Chief, Counterinsurgency and Revolutionary Development Support, Vietnam (OICCRVN) was established in the 1960s to coordinate U.S. and South Vietnamese efforts in pacification and counterinsurgency during the Vietnam War.
• Civil-Military Integration: OICCRVN was unique in its integration of civilian and military personnel, blending U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) experts with military advisors to address both security and development.
• CORDS Program: OICCRVN oversaw the Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support (CORDS) program, which aimed to win "hearts and minds" of the rural Vietnamese population through infrastructure, education, and security initiatives.
• Leadership: The organization was led by Robert W. Komer, a civilian with a reputation for aggressive management, who reported directly to the Commander of U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (COMUSMACV).
• Phoenix Program: OICCRVN played a significant role in the controversial Phoenix Program, which targeted Viet Cong infrastructure through intelligence gathering, infiltration, and neutralization operations.
• Largest Civil-Military Program: At its height, OICCRVN directed the largest civil-military operation of the Vietnam War, overseeing tens of thousands of personnel and vast resources.
• Village Security: The unit helped organize and support the South Vietnamese Popular Forces and Regional Forces, as well as the Armed Propaganda Teams, to provide local security and counter Viet Cong influence.
• Women’s Involvement: OICCRVN employed women in various roles, including intelligence and psychological operations, marking one of the more integrated gender roles in U.S. military advisory history up to that point.
• Mixed Legacy: The effectiveness of OICCRVN is still debated by historians, with some citing improvements in rural security and others pointing to persistent corruption and limited long-term success.
• Dissolution: OICCRVN was dissolved as part of the gradual U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam, but its programs influenced later U.S. counterinsurgency and nation-building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
