Redstone sought and received permission from the Fifth Civil Service Region, to  start a nation-wide publicity and recruiting campaign. ABMA continued this program after it became an independent agency. The initial goal was to fill  2,349 positions, including GMDD incumbents and hew hires 19 . Several pitfalls were met as skilled employees were needed by the new missile development agency; Redstone Arsenal had to maintain its forces; and  industry, which was on the threshold of a heavy missile production program, had a requirement to recruit highly technical personnel. Also, the Air Force  and its prime contractors were similarly affected. This created a highly competitive atmosphere, and one given to proselyting, since the qualified  manpower source was quite scant. So recruiting ground rules, as effective as possible, were drafted. Despite the obstacles, ABMA recruitment was  relatively successful, for, by 30 June 1956, against an authorization of 3,301 civilian positions, 2,702 had been filled and a number of others had been  committed. Additionally, 513 military personnel were on duty, as compared with 535 authorized 20 . Facilities, Private Housing In a sense, during its early years of operation, ABMA had a direct and indirect facilities problem; one related to the task of constructing facilities associated with the development program, the other to private housing for its employees. With respect to housing, Huntsville, Alabama, a comparatively small town of ______________________________

19. Hist, ABMA, 1 Feb-30 Jun 56, Chap VIII, Hist Off files. 20. Ibid.; Memo, Dep Cmdr, ABMA to all Staff & Div Chfs, 14 Feb 56, subj: Recruiting & Employment by ABMA; Ltr, RSA to ABMA, 9 Apr 56, subj: Recruitment for Staff and Divs of ABMA; Ltr, ABMA to 0C0 & DA, 14 Aug 56, subj: Competition with  Govt Contractors for Key Professional & Managerial Pers; Ltr, Ramo-Woolridge Corp to Maj Gen B. A. Schriever, with cc to Maj Gen J. B. Medaris, 30 Apr 56, subj: Ramo-Woolridge Procedure When a RSA Employee Applies to Us, all in Hist Off  files. See Appendix 2 for semiannual strength totals during peak years of JUPITER development.