Ground Observer Corps
Ground Observer Corps :
The Federal Civil Defense Administration has participated in the Joint Public Education Program on Air Defense since the summer on 1952. This program, designed to build and maintain an awareness of the need for a strong air defense and assist State civil defense organizations with their ground oberver corps recruiting, moved into a completely new phase in 1955. In July 1955 the Air Force announced the expansion of the GOC to include the entire United States. Previously, its activities had been confined to 36 States, Alaska, and the District of Columbia. Whereas earlier requiremens listed a need for 19,500 observatin posts and 49 filter centers, the expanded corps requires over 28,000 observation posts and 73 filter centers. (FCDA, 1955 Annual Report, 1956, p. 61)
