A study was undertaken to arrive at a broad overview of the Soviet training utilization of foreign area specialists. To gather data for the study, researchers examined European, United States, and Soviet publications and interviewed Soviet emigres and U.S. specialists on the Soviet Union. According to these data sources, specialized training for Soviet foreign and double area specialists can begin as early as primary school and continue through postgraduate studies. An examination of the career opportunities and career roles of Soviet area specialists reveals that they occupy positions in the educational community, research organizations, the media, government agencies, party organizations, military organizations, intelligence services, missions abroad, commercial enterprises, and international exchanges. Because the foreign area specialty is one of the few Soviet professions that legitimizes contacts with foreigners and travel abroad and because a steady demand for their services exists, Soviet foreign area specialists enjoy a prestigious, relatively risk-free career position. The Soviet recognition of the need for numerous African, Latin American, Chinese, and Middle Eastern specialists ensures a trend toward diversity in the Soviet international field. Finally, it would appear that the large group of double area specialists in the Soviet Union reflects Soviet efforts both to counterbalance a closed society and to benefit from other countries' successes. (MN)