AN ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR U.S. CITIZENS GOING TO THE IAEA - DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

An orientation program for U.S. citizens going to the IAEA in safeguards has been designed and is being implemented. Four major elements of the program are (1) the preparation of a guidebook, (2) personal briefings on topics covered in the guidebook, (3) the establishment of a hostfamily system in Vienna, and (4) the maintenance of a list of names of past IAEA safeguards staff in the U.S. willing to provide consultation to new appointees in advance of their departure. The major topics covered in the guidebook are the IAEA and its role in U.S. non-proliferation policy, working at the IAEA, and moving to and living in Vienna. Briefings on these topics are conducted by knowledgeable persons from government and Brookhaven National Laboratory, and by private consultants as needed. The hostfamily system consists of volunteers among present U.S. safeguards employees at the IAEA who provide advice and guidance to new arrivals during their first 30 days in Vienna. The objective of the program is to prepare U.S. appointees to safeguards positions at the IAEA as well as possible before they take up their posts, and to facilitate the initial transition to life in Vienna.