intelligence support activity direct action

ISA would operate under a host of cover names to confuse anyone without the need to know. ISA operatives often work in disguise and undercover. Key was the requirement to develop a competent counter resolution force. Additionally, ISA recruits from other branches of the US military and potentially elsewhere in the intelligence community. The U.S. Army's Intelligence Support Activity is arguably the most secretive unit out of the five tier one units in the United States Military. Upon return to the Pentagon, he re-assigned the ACSI POC out of FOG-related issues. If they would have been caught, they were done. SMU operator (on ISA breaking into an Al-Qaeda safehouse), Additionally, HUMINT operatives working deep undercover will sometimes work in male-female teams. ISA was close to making the exchange, but the deal fell through at the last minute. US Navy SEALs | In effect, the ISAs exploitation of signal intelligence saved the lives of 100s of US soldiers from the 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne divisions. As with any clandestine unit, only so much can be known about any of the JSOC special mission units. The unit would be immediately deployed to any country where a terrorist act against the United States had taken place, and would start providing critical intelligence, as well as setting up landing zones and infiltration routes for the counter-terrorist force. The CIA would talk directly to the warlords while the ISA provided SIGINT support and ground security for them. The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . At one point during the Global War on Terror, ISA along with a component from the Airforce and Delta began to build a fleet of ISR aircraft. Working alongside SEASPRAY, a specialized aviation unit that would later form a part of Delta Force, the ISA would conduct aerial SIGINT operations to assist the Salvadoran Army against guerrillas. The rescue force was forced to launch with sketchy data forcing a worst-case force list. An ISA technician with a SATCOM was provided for the operation to aid in the tracking. The breakdown of this squadron isnt known either but it likely contains logistical support for the two operational squadrons. Read Next: Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 operators on the loose? In Evaluating Immunities before a Special Tribunal for Aggression Against Ukraine, the Type of Tribunal Matters, Chinas Ferry Tale Taiwan Invasion Plan Is A Legal Nightmare, China Maritime Report No. This has been more visible in their operations in Afghanistan, Operation Winter Harvest and Operation Queens Hunter. These operatives mirror the function of CIA case officers and even go through CIA training at the Farm in Virginia. A key driver for the meeting was the recognition that quality operational intelligence was virtually non-existent. A DOD lawyer was assigned to the development planning, and Col Jerry King (MG Vaught's Chief of Staff for the Iran JTF) became the first head of the FOG. It is common for the appearance and demeanour of an agent to be the key to their success as an infiltrator. It was Delta Forces first mission and a horrific failure. Operatives must also go unnoticed, being able to blend into crowds and not draw attention. Marpat Camo Test |. While the nerdiest Green Berets and special operators comprise the bulk of ISA, there are also non-traditional operatives who have not passed the selection course. Stationed in the fifth floor of the American embassy, and operating from specially outfitted Beechcraft 300 and 350 aircraft, Centra Spike tracked Escobar around the country. Get the weekly email from Grey Dynamics that makes reading intel articles and reports actually enjoyable. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. Samuel is a King's College graduate with an MA in War Studies. . Each chapter of the book brings a new chapter of the Activity's operations like Lebanon, where its efforts to rescue US hostages was stymied by its own government or Bosnia where it hunted down war criminals. As previously mentioned, its members cross train with the CIA, Americas most comprehensive civilian intelligence agency. In addition to covert operations, it provides the war on terrorism with the kind of so-called 'close-in' signals monitoring -- including the interception of cell phone conversations -- that helped bring down Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); The capture was to happen as he would be heading south to the city of Vlasenica. There are four primary battalions with various responsibilities being spread across them. That close-holding of his cards was typical of him. Army did likewise through DAMO-ODSO. The Intelligence Support Activity, commonly called "The Activity" . Boss Cantor seemed satisfied with how the mandarins gathered the necessary hardware for the mission and then marched smartly out the door. According to The Secret War by William M. Arkin, published in the Los Angeles Times on October 27, 2002, "The Army created a highly compartmentalized organization that could collect clandestine intelligence independent of the rest of the U.S. intelligence community and follow through with covert military action. This Intelligence Support Activity All-Inclusive Self-Assessment enables You to be that person. Key to the concept was that there would be a single in-house element (FOG) that either side could use e.g. Plus, they wouldnt have to load the car back up again the next day what a grand and magnanimous plan that proved to be. Distinctive Unit Insignia of the US Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), Task Force Orange; the Intelligence Support Activity; The Activity; the Army of Northern Virginia; the Field Operations Group (FOG); the United States Army Intelligence Support Activity, or just shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (USISA). (amazon.com). The aim of the operation was to monitor cross-border raids and movements of Sandinista forces and rebels in El Salvador. LTG Odom acquiesced but took every opportunity to oppose actions engaging his traditional intelligence elements. "The ISA's origins are in the Foreign Operating Group (FOG), whose origin in turn is in the 1979 overthrow of Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. Delta troop is tasked with countries that are a softer target for infiltration such as the Philippines or Morocco. Both the CSA and the Director understood that each offered something the other did not and that together, a much better response capability could be generateda point that POTUS emphasized through the National Security Council to both. It was late in the evening after a long day and long drive for the mandarins, who finally stopped to stay the night in one of the many safe houses we had scattered throughout the country. ISA was asked to form an Algerian-based plan and a Beirut-based one for rescue. Since 2003, t. Special Operations Forces: Its scope is quite large, and it often works in support of JSOC, SOCOM and even other intelligence agencies. Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Here, Ive got it, offered the mandarin with hand extended to my lock pick set. This is directed from , waaay above my pay grade yeah, I get it.. Both were doing the same thing in Colombia, except Centra Spike was doing a better job, at a much lower cost. Once a member of the ISA passes the initial selection, it trains alongside different intelligence specialists, including members of the CIA. By the time though, the situation had begun to subside. >Develops and . "ISA was also rumoured to be operating in Bosnia in the last few years under the code-name Torn Victor. non-covert action intelligence activityoften a collection programto be of such sensitivity that 1 Oral notifications shall be followed by a written notification. After a massive effort, including remote viewers from the United States, turned up nothing, a team of ISA signals intelligence specialists was also sent over to Italy to provide any assistance they could, along with sophisticated equipment and specially outfitted helicopters. Based on photos of ISA operatives and reasonable assumption, they are most likely to carry: For a unit like ISA, firearms are not its primary weapons. (Source). Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, otherwise known as Force Recon, are a company-sized (about 200) recon and direct-action element that falls directly under the Marine Expeditionary Force. action is "necessary to support identifiable foreign policy objectives of the United States, and is The unit has been under command of the US Army but some time after September 11th 2001 command was placed under direct control of the Joint Special Operations Command or JSOC at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States. As such, the activities and specifics of Gray Fox are not widely made available. Things became more complicated though, as the airplane took on more terrorists and weapons on one of its hops to Beirut, and Algerian authorities refused Delta permission to mount a rescue on their soil. More technical training on SIGINT, such as transmission and signals interpretation is also a component of the training. There are also teams within the ISA who can conduct direct action missions should the need arise. Some of ISA's most recent deployments was in 1993 in Somalia. Small Wars Journal is published by Small Wars Foundation - a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Featuring 931 new and updated case-based questions, organized into seven core areas of process design, this Self-Assessment will help you identify areas in which . Covert operations are shrouded in plausible deniability. Or these operatives can clone a cellphone, allowing them to send and receive communications to and from the phone from a remote locations. (Source). Unfortunately, the hostages were dispersed throughout the country, and the chance never came for a second attempt, but the seeds were planted for the Intelligence Support Activity. Support Veteran Journalism . Each of these groups achieves different specialised tasks for their assigned mission. The most important thing to know is that intelligence drives "direct action" operations. Unless you plan to body-check those cars I would junk up.. Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. The Activity grew out of the need for specialized intel support for US Special Operations that was highlighted by the failed US attempt to rescue American hostages from Iran in 1980. The mission support teams help actualize the other major goal of supporting other forces in a battlespace. Centra Spike was withdrawn in 1993 for a temporary assignment in Somalia to aid US special forces there, but resumed the hunt later in the year. Nowadays the ISA focuses on the preparation of the battlespace for military operations across the globe. INSCOM's functional brigades and groups may provide general support, general support reinforcing, or direct sup-port to theaters through intelligence reach, or they may be Along with Queens Hunter, ISA was involved in many operations across Central America, in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. On October 23, 1983, a truck bomb slammed into the US Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Americans, and injuring scores more. (Source), Outlined as the primary purpose of the ISA since its inception, intelligence gathering is one of its most essential tasks. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. Almost simultaneously, another truck bomb exploded in the French barracks, killing 56. "In 1984, political instability swept through the Seychelles, a group of islands off the coast of Africa. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. During the 1990's the unit was known as Capacity Gear. Me, I dont like to be on the delivery end of harsh criticism; however, I do find that whole situation with the mandarins to be just ever so slightly south of sensational, and fairly fundamentally novice! An investigation by journalist Mark Bowden (author of Blackhawk Down) revealed that in 1989, the Colombian government asked for US help in tracking down Escobar. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. The ISAs HUMINT collectors gather information from human sources via coercion and interrogation depending on the asset. Clothing worn by locals, even in specific areas. Prior to Saddams capture, over 40 members of his family were captured and interrogated to determine his whereabouts with little success. Special Air Service (SAS) | Special Operations Forces are the elite commandos of the U.S. military. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. (Source). Later that same year, Delta Force and ISA operators were sent to Saudi Arabia to help organize and train a Special Purpose Detachment of the Saudi National Guard. But, it was also clear that some form of operational melding was essential to effectively address operational requirements. The ISA agent was ordered to stop the recording, an order to which he complied. Intelligence Support Activity The Army's most obscure special-ops unit is the roughly 300-strong Intelligence Support Activity, formed in 1981, which has gone by various codenames over the years. This was the birth of the Field Operations Group (FOG)-later ISA/Secret Army of Northern Virginia. Nonetheless, it is known that these operators have shown their indispensable worth to both the intelligence and SOF communities in matters of national security, supporting Delta and SEAL Team Six operations by hitting the ground first to prep the environment: gathering actionable intelligence, pathfinding, and performing a broad range of operational support. Since incorporating under JSOC in 2003, Gray Fox has expanded into direct action and hostage rescue, showing that they may be the most diversely equipped, trained and adaptable Special Missions Unit in the SOF community. (Source), Under the operational codename Centra Spike, the Intelligence Support Activity operated alongside CIA and local police elements to track down Escobar. It was so simple that we didnt even need to create a nursery rhyme to recite to help us remember all the steps. A top-secret 'Army electronic surveillance team', was sent to aid the Colombians in August of 1989, as a part of Operation Heavy Shadow. To lawyers, this is a distinction with a difference. The survey was successful, which led defense officials to create ad hoc Special Forces units to survey US embassies in hotspots around the world. Royal Cape, Granite Rock and Powder Keg were some, Centra Spike and Torn Victor being other possible cover names. A declassified document provides background information about the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA ), a little known intelligence gathering unit that collects tactical intel for Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and other Special Operations units. Task Force Mandarin [better known as Task Force Orange or the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA)] was a support organization formed to provide signal intercept and intelligence gathering capabilities to Tier One organizations. Gaining entry into the ISA is not easy; candidates already must be part of a special operations forces group. The third known squadron is the Mission Support Squadron. (Dominique Sumner and Peter Tomich). A goodly amount of minutes went by. US Air Force Pararescue | Check, chief! and she yanked the gat our of my hand. So where are the pilots? Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. The Intelligence Support Activity conducts its operations during and in advance of US military operations. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! One such organization, the Red Brigades, composed of far-left communist-leaning extremists, kidnapped U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier. One problem that plagued the first attempt was the lack of valuable intelligence. Candidates then are put through a battery of assessment and selection courses as well as background checks and psychological testing. to FOG, SOG, SAD, SMU, ISA, and, FID, the focus of which is the ISA through 2015. US Army intelligence defines HUMINT as including: The sources of this information can come from enemy combatants, including regular armed forces, and civilian sources. It has since changed names several times to avoid media publicity, having been alternately known as the Tactical Concept Activity, the Tactical Coordination Detachment, the Tactical Support Team, and the Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA), among other designations. A critical component of clandestine activity is the ability to infiltrate enemy territory ahead of more formal military action. It later took on other roles like SIGINT as battlefield requirements changed over time. Operatives infiltrated internet cafes in Baghdad and conducted flyover operations in aircraft filled with signal interception gear. It was a body of men and women first sent to Japan to study Ninjitzu, then on to Chinas Shao Lin Temple to study Kung Fu, then finally to Iran to study the ways of the Immortals under the former King of the Persian Empire, Xerxes the Great. Within these battalions, there is a cyber ops teams, technology ops teams and mission support teams. The Cantor said nothing. (Source). Centra Spike agents operated all around Colombia, as well as neighbouring countries where the cartels influence extended. The force is supposedly around 250-275 operators, who excel in intelligence gathering, languages and electronic surveillance. The rapidly deteriorating situation in the country prompted the United States to create a small Special Forces unit with the purpose of surveying the US embassy. Delta's deployment was stalled by bureaucratic dealings, so ISA mobilized its most compartmentalized unit, the direct action element, the shooters. His elements were being heavily tasked, and a directed intelligence pipeline was established to FOG. "Perhaps the least known, and most classified unit within the realm of US special operations is the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), a small, highly trained and capable intelligence unit. Afghanistan: The Fox and The Anaconda. The southern blocking force team of mystified mandarins meandered in where we were stacking mags and: What are you guys doing with all the hardware?, Mission prep for the Klandanj takedown., Well were a blocking force; were supposed to block cars keep them from getting around us to the ambush site. It was agreed that FOG would be a Joint organization and roles and tasks were developed for eachalways mindful of the Title 10/50 issues. Russia and Ukraine battle daily in the sky. The emerging problems our Nation faced in the early 1980s with terrorism, airplane hijacking, and hostage taking, created considerable challenges for the government (USG) to resolve. Such as procuring equipment, getting funding for operations/training, and human resources functions. USSOCOM receives, reviews, coordinates and prioritizes all Defense Department plans that support the global campaign against terrorism. (Source). Law and the killing of a Russian propagandist: Some Q & A BY CHARLIE DUNLAP, J.D. Original content is published under aCreative Commons Licenseper ourTerms of Use. However, through OSINT collection we know that there are three primary squadrons: Sometimes referred to as HUMINT or Ground squadron, Operations Squadron functions as ISAs HUMINT collection squadron. Direct action (DA) is a term used in the context of military special operations for small-scale raids, ambushes, sabotage or similar actions. The SEALs, SAS, and SBS added additional capabilities over time, responding to the needs of modern conflict. 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Case officers also target and recruit potential assets. (Source) The US military sought to carry out intelligence operations without the direct need of US intelligence agencies. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. The eventual shootout that ended Pablos life may not have directly involved the ISA, however, its efforts certainly aided in the eventual locating and killing of the cartel boss. They were so adept that observers commented they could literally pluck information from the air, speaking not only to the revolutionary use of SIGINT but also the skill of the ISA. Special Operations (SO) encompass the use of small units in direct or indirect military actions focused on strategic or operational objectives. Featured Book: It is known that the unit has changed its codename over the years. The Activity grew out of the need for specialized intel support for US Special Operations that was highlighted by the failed US attempt to rescue American hostages from Iran in 1980. (Source), Additionally, the ISA has acted as a pseudo-security element for the CIA. The ISA differs from its brother and sister task forces in that it is not primarily a combat-oriented team, excelling in HUMINT and SIGINT operations that allow it to provide extremely valuable intelligence to other military elements. The Department of Defense in 1965 outlined its need to be more involved with collecting intelligence, supported by Robert McNamara. Centra Spike was known to operate under several cover names, including Torn Victor, Cemetery Wind, Capacity Gear and Robin Court, and closely matched ISA's description. The specialists, nicknamed 'knob turners' operated sophisticated electronic eavesdropping equipment located in the back cabin of specially-outfitted Seaspray Beechcraft 100 airplanes. The web portal tool will maintain a repository of all INSCOM and non -INSCOM FOG became permanent and renamed ISA on March 3, 1981. This extra length concealed the main eavesdropping antennas, while others could be lowered from the belly while in flight. ISA operatives are masters of tradecraft. Cake duty! The negotiations were going so well that Iraq decided to throw in a Mil Mi-24 Hind D helicopter and a MiG-25 fighter-interceptor. The US wanted a team to covertly survey the situation on the ground and provide officials with a survey of the US embassy. During the operation, a rivalry developed between Centra Spike, and a CIA intelligence unit named Majestic Eagle. In 2003 four troops: A,B,C, and D made up the squadron. Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. As with both the establishment of JSOC, TF160/SOAR and Ranger SOF, the task was not easy. But, ISA also sponsored a private rescue mission by Vietnam War veteran Bo Gritz, providing him with thousands of dollars worth of communications equipment, cameras, along with plane tickets and intelligence photos. In short order, Langley provided people, training, and a conduit to its various intelligence and planning aspects. Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis. Intelligence Support Activity The Army's most obscure special-ops unit is the roughly 300-strong Intelligence Support Activity, formed in 1981, which has gone by various codenames over the years. Special Recon, Direct Action. All Rights Reserved. The United States Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), frequently shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), also known at various times as Joint Reconnaissance Evaluation Group (JREG), Mission Support Activity (MSA), Office of Military Support (OMS), Field Operations Group (FOG), Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA), Tactical ", Sources: This is a potentially significant compromise. the Cantor lamented in earnest. Funding was to be a joint undertaking. Candidates pulled from computer records, or by word of mouth were required to pass a tough selection course, physical and psychological tests. When the CIA took credit for Centra Spike's work, the Army became furious and a competition was arranged between the two units. In sum, Uniforms do Clandestine, Civvies do Covert. The Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), the 1st Capabilities Integration Group (Airborne), or simply The Activity is a component of the US Army and acts as a dedicated intelligence group for SOCOM. The debris revealed a spider hole and as an operator prepared a grenade, Saddam poked his head out of the hole. It is unclear how often the ISA interrogates subjects, though given their covert operations they likely at least interrogate high-value targets. "Also in 1989, ISA was rumoured to have taken part in the hunt for the richest drug trafficker in the world, Pablo Escobar, operating under the code-name Centra Spike. The vast majority of the ISAs operations in Afghanistan are still classified. A simultaneous raid on the targets was to be made. The CIA was leading extraordinary rendition operations in Somalia in conjunction with the ISA and the help of local warlords. Retired Army Col. Paris Davis stood in the White House as President Biden draped the Medal of Honor around his neck, nearly Chief Special Warfare Operator Michael T. Ernst died following a "military freefall training accident" on Feb. 19 in Marana Lt. Col. Collin Charlie Christopherson, the commander of the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, was arrested How much do you know about the morale machine that's been deploying with U.S. troops since WWII? Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-21361708-1']); He commanded airborne battalions in both the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. Originally the ISA operated as a tactical arm of the National Security Agency. It was provided with a cover name, Tactical Concept Activity, and would never be acknowledged by the Pentagon. Well, say that was certainly good news. . Initially, Delta Force turned to the CIA for information regarding the number of guards, how they were armed and what security measures they had in place. On the ground, these operatives can use a directional antenna programmed to pick up a specific cellphones signal, even if it was turned off, providing Delta Force with a target building to raid. ISA focuses on gathering human intelligence based on contact with field agents, and signals intelligence (intercepted communications) to support Delta Force and DEVGRU operations. "These commands and white Special Forces like the Green Berets, as well as Air Force combat controllers and commandos of eight different nations report to a mind-boggling array of new command cells and coordination units set up after Sept. and other specialized capabilities to support Army, joint, unified action partners, and the U.S. intelligence commu-nity. No unit is quite as secretive as the Intelligence Support Activity. The ISA also has a direct action arm comprised of men and women recruited from the US Army Delta . The United States Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), frequently shortened to Intelligence Support Activity or ISA, and nicknamed The Activity, is a United States Army Special Operations unit originally subordinated to the US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). ISA has been known to utlizes signal skimmers to pick up enemy radio transmissions and zero in on their location. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations.