(. They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. Delta Force | Gen Meyer, Gen Vaught (DAMO-OD), and LTC Jim Longhofer (DAMO-ODSO), traveled to Langley and met with the new Director and his operational elements director. This was the birth of the Field Operations Group (FOG)-later ISA/Secret Army of Northern Virginia. October 16, 2020 They are known by many names: 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). The ISA also has likely integrated other new intelligence fields into its scope. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ . The ISA comprises 5 primary elements: administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT and direct action. The other half flew to Cyprus to join the rest of the rescue force. 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By the time though, the situation had begun to subside. 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. Feeling the working end of my pick with my fingers I could tell that it was destroyed; the neck had a corkscrew twist in it and it was staved to shit. These missions include finding Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, locating Army Gen. James Dozier when he was kidnapped by the Red Brigade in 1981 and taking out observation points in Afghanistan to protect friendly forces in the area. 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. 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. Key was the requirement to develop a competent counter resolution force. However, Operation Anaconda is one of few of the ISAs Afghanistan operations known to the public. The unit is provided with the best equipment money can buy and it is known it maintained a fleet of aircraft at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. People know ISA mostly for its involvement in Operation Anaconda. 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. 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). Reconnaissance overflights revealed a possible location where POWs, still believed to be held by the Vietnamese early in the year. [2] Unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance and direct action roles have merged throughout the decades and are typically performed primarily by the same units. FOG became permanent and renamed ISA on March 3, 1981. (Source) This allowed the forces involved in the surrounding Shahikot Valley to be more informed of enemy movements and positions. 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He scurried off to the barricade. Meaning that the government of the country these troops are operating in known that they work for the US government, however they dont necessarily know that theyre a spy. The CIA would talk directly to the warlords while the ISA provided SIGINT support and ground security for them. Come again, Cantor? I was trying to make him look at me while he repeated that last instruction. Killer Elite A top-secret 'Army electronic surveillance team', was sent to aid the Colombians in August of 1989, as a part of Operation Heavy Shadow. Delta troop is tasked with countries that are a softer target for infiltration such as the Philippines or Morocco. The Headquarters element of ISA is located in Fort Belvoir, VA but the squadrons and supporting elements are scattered across the Maryland/D.C./Virginia area. They are known by many names: 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). 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. 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. (Source). Officials developed a contingency plan for the new situation: ISA operators were to infiltrate the city and confirm the locations of the hostages, as well as make contact with the Lebanese Christian militia. The force is supposedly around 250-275 operators, who excel in intelligence gathering, languages and electronic surveillance. ISA was allegedly co-operating with Task Force Ranger, and was responsible for tracking down Somali warlord Mohammed Farah Adid, through electronic surveillance and Somalian informants. As previously mentioned, its members cross train with the CIA, Americas most comprehensive civilian intelligence agency. The unit's history, the politics that have shaped it and the operations it has carried out are recounted in great and fascinating detail. (Source) Training involves different espionage and intelligence methods that allow ISA members to carry out their essential HUMINT operations. Once admitted, candidates must pass the operations training course, which teaches infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, offensive and off-road driving, personal defensive measures and communications. 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. Initially, the raid appeared to be a bust until a Delta operator kicked some debris on exfil. The most important thing to know is that intelligence drives "direct action" operations. It was Delta Forces first mission and a horrific failure. The debris revealed a spider hole and as an operator prepared a grenade, Saddam poked his head out of the hole. Read Next: Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 operators on the loose? However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. Developed hunt methodology for Albuquerque-based Counter Human Traffic organization DeliverFund llc as an Intelligence Analyst and Network Disruption Team Leader in the Get The Daily Situation. Every modern military relies on intelligence, and the US military is a voracious consumer of intelligence, from both an analytical and functional standpoint. The "Pakistani cook" piece, delivered as Delta boarded the aircraft, was viewed as an implausible source though subsequent inquiry revealed that the crucial info was available much earlier, but intentionally not shared for several reasons. Since that time the unit reports to Special Operations Command or SOCOM in Tampa Florida, United States. 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 var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); . They set up protection for the president and installed a security system. It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces . Some of the more well-documented operations of the ISA shed light on the general nature of the ISAs overall operations. This is directed from , waaay above my pay grade yeah, I get it.. ISA focuses on gathering human intelligence based on contact with field agents, and signals intelligence (intercepted communications) to support Delta Force and DEVGRU operations. The amount of accurate and up-to-date information about the ISA is very small, due to the extremely high secrecy surrounding the unit, but over the years, various books and reports have gleamed some information about the ISA. It was the type of mission ISA was designed for, but no agents were sent in. In short order, Langley provided people, training, and a conduit to its various intelligence and planning aspects. Originally the ISA operated as a tactical arm of the National Security Agency. They also noted the specific funding line and agreed to manage it as a priority classified line absent committee discussion. Smith's book lifts the lid of secrecy on the Activity, one of America's least well known Special Ops units. He tasked them to install a clandestine video camera (clandcam) framed such that it would record all the license plates of all vehicles turning down a specifically designated road. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. and other specialized capabilities to support Army, joint, unified action partners, and the U.S. intelligence commu-nity. In effect, the ISAs exploitation of signal intelligence saved the lives of 100s of US soldiers from the 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne divisions. The support provided can come in a range of different forms. Given the nature of their operations and the close work and training they receive alongside other US special operations forces, much of their equipment is likely to mimic that of the special mission units they support and work alongside. Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. and other specialized capabilities to support Army, joint, unified action partners, and the U.S. intelligence commu-nity. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: HUMINT (HUMan INTellgence) Featured Book: On December 2, 1993, with help from Centra Spike and a mobile Colombian surveillance team, Escobar's hideout was pinpointed, and Colombian police moved in. US Navy SEALs | Kay-Kay and I sat at a table jamming some 12 magazines and chatting over our actions at our blocking position. During the operation, a rivalry developed between Centra Spike, and a CIA intelligence unit named Majestic Eagle. The ISA consistently attaches itself to other units, either as a temporary or more permanent component. That close-holding of his cards was typical of him. With the expansion, the FOG has renamed the ISA and officially established as a unit on January 29th, 1981. The manhunt was over. Are you one of them? They skillfully pushed the car down the dirt driveway and out onto the hardball road a-ways where they could hot-wire and start the car without being heard by the slumbering princesses in the safe house. The CIA was leading extraordinary rendition operations in Somalia in conjunction with the ISA and the help of local warlords. The situation quickly worsened, until officials in the US embassy were in genuine concern for their lives, so much that the ambassador cabled for immediate help. The operation went smooth up until the force rolled away. Establishing cover as husband and wife to live in and conduct intelligence collection missions within a target country. Their role is to bridge the gaps when it is simply too dangerous for other agencies to put boots on the ground, and as these gaps change in every operational environment, so too do their responsibilities and activities. Then, Delta and SEAL Team 6 operators would make their way into the city in small groups and wait at safe-houses until the time was right. The US Department of Defense has defined direct action as "Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy, capture, exploit, recover, or damage designated targets. They acquainted themselves with the layout and landmarks of the city for future reference. Both sides would work together on developing the intel, and then a decision would be made regarding a specific operational tasking to avoid statutory conflict. No unit is quite as secretive as the Intelligence Support Activity. Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era by Steven Emerson Killer Elite As a result, ISA was almost disbanded, but Army officials succeeded in ensuring its survival, albeit on a much tighter leash. _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); US Army intelligence defines HUMINT as including: The sources of this information can come from enemy combatants, including regular armed forces, and civilian sources. After the rescue attempt, then CSA Shy Meyer, convened a small group of people within Army DCSOPS to address future SOF/CT structure in the aftermath of the failure, and while still under a POTUS mandate, to be prepared to conduct an In-Extremis rescue within 10 days. Operationally, the ISA is a dedicated intelligence group, doing the intelligence leg work for special operations groups. (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. FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- Leaders from the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) G-6/Ground Intelligence Support Activity (GISA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACoE) Honolulu . The fleet was comprised of 15 different types of aircraft for a combined total of 40 aircraft, all decked out with SIGINT interception technology. The unit's history, the politics that have shaped it and the operations it has carried out are recounted in great and fascinating detail. They marked secret infiltration routes and bases American forces could use if they were ever sent into the country. Hostages were dispersed around Beirut and those with Jewish sounding names were being isolated. 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. FOG was developed because of a perceived need for greater intelligence-gathering capabilities for the U.S. military. Intelligence Support Activity provides US special forces with intelligence gatherers, man hunters, assassins and deep penetration agents. During the 1990's the unit was known as Capacity Gear. The unit's missions range from Latin America, fighting communist guerrillas and drugs barons, to Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, tracking down terrorists. Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. The simple plan called for pipe-hitters to deploy from the states and set up an ambush at a blind S-curve along the generals route. This was never forthcoming despite the greatest pressure upon the Agency. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Electronic specialists and SIGINT operators comprised part of the force. Due to their specialization in intelligence, they can operate as vanguard teams to support another units operations. Centra Spike agents operated all around Colombia, as well as neighbouring countries where the cartels influence extended. Lawyers for both Titles within the respective DOD and CIA bureaucracies, fought to preserve their interpretations of applications, to prevent one department from intruding into the territory of the other. (Source), The failure of Operation Eagle Claw was a turning point for US special operations. Such as procuring equipment, getting funding for operations/training, and human resources functions. This has been more visible in their operations in Afghanistan, Operation Winter Harvest and Operation Queens Hunter. He commanded airborne battalions in both the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. Sadly, the team's evaluation did not serve to upgrade American security standards, and a truck bomb exploded from within 40 feet of the embassy entrance later that year. Approval was given for ISA's deployment, and operators flew to Frankfurt, where some stayed in case the airliner, now back in Beirut, flew back to Algiers. Under the US Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service, there is a Special Activities Division to operate without apparent national identification for plausible deniability. "In 1982, ISA SIGINT specialists took part in Operation Queens Hunter, a Seaspray operation in the skies above El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. The aim of the operation was to monitor cross-border raids and movements of Sandinista forces and rebels in El Salvador. Delta Force and SEAL Team Six were scrambled in preparation to liberate the hostages if needed, as the airplane hopped back and forth from Beirut to Algiers. "Known as the Intelligence Support Activity, or ISA, when it was established in 1981, this unit fought in drug wars and counter-terror operations from the Middle East to South America. Authors cartoon depicting the mandarins installing the soon-to-be compromised surveillance camera. ISA agents even managed to obtain Lebanese license plates, which would allow Delta to be parachuted in with their own cars, then 'legitimized' with the plates. Once they arrived they took pictures of the embassy from every angle, recorded the types of locks on all doors, inside and outside, recorded the number of windows and exits, and created a blueprint of the building. I though not wanting to be the harsh critic at jump street found it rather novice of them the way they got their camera compromised. Special Boat Service (SBS) |, Camouflage patterns: A vehicle on time and on target rolled through the barricade. Ultimately, Operation Credible Sport was cancelled but the FOG had proven its usefulness. 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. (Source). Within these battalions, there is a cyber ops teams, technology ops teams and mission support teams. The planners in DAMO-ODSO were acutely aware of the different legal authorities contained in Title 10 and Title 50 statutes. The capture was to happen as he would be heading south to the city of Vlasenica. "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. This is a potentially significant compromise. the Cantor lamented in earnest. and direct action combat. ISA operatives are masters of tradecraft. A critical component of clandestine activity is the ability to infiltrate enemy territory ahead of more formal military action. The rescue force was forced to launch with sketchy data forcing a worst-case force list. It was provided with a cover name, Tactical Concept Activity, and would never be acknowledged by the Pentagon. Marpat Camo Test |. Gen Meyer demurred on the request, citing the several parts of the world where Army FOG personnel were actively supporting SOF elements, the Agency, and CINC. There are also teams within the ISA who can conduct direct action missions should the need arise. The direct action element reportedly trains with Delta Force and DEVGRU to maintain their skills. Almost simultaneously, another truck bomb exploded in the French barracks, killing 56. This site uses cookies. Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. "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. When government officials found out, they were horrified, they seemed to have a rogue agency within its ranks. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! HUMINT collection cant be done without boots on the ground, so members of the main battalions are likely conducting field operations. (Source) Operatives must not look out of placeor easily recognizable. 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. One such organization, the Red Brigades, composed of far-left communist-leaning extremists, kidnapped U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier. 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. Direct action (DA) is a term used in the context of military special operations for small-scale raids, ambushes, sabotage or similar actions.