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. "Gray Fox's low-profile eavesdropping planes also fly without military markings. Small Wars Journal is published by Small Wars Foundation - a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Infiltration relies much less on stealthy engagement, and much more on subtlety and effective tradecraft. As with both the establishment of JSOC, TF160/SOAR and Ranger SOF, the task was not easy. 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 CIA proved unable to provide the critical intelligence Delta Force needed, such as the number of guards, the type of weapons they were using and what kinds of locks were on the doors. Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. As with any clandestine unit, only so much can be known about any of the JSOC special mission units. In the summer of 1980, FOG agents were infiltrated into Teheran to report back on the hostages' whereabouts, movements of the Iranians, as well as to recruit local agents. The ISA also has likely integrated other new intelligence fields into its scope. 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. These operatives mirror the function of CIA case officers and even go through CIA training at the Farm in Virginia. The Chiefs planning element determined that DOD/Army needed to create a Joint Army-CIA force that would both develop quality intelligence abroad, but also provide site support for direct action operations. 11.". This Intelligence Support Activity All-Inclusive Self-Assessment enables You to be that person. The Cantor finally said something, and he said it very very loudly when the mandarins lost control of some weapons and encrypted radios. The Cantor said nothing. Centra Spike was withdrawn in 1993 for a temporary assignment in Somalia to aid US special forces there, but resumed the hunt later in the year. The Department of Defense in 1965 outlined its need to be more involved with collecting intelligence, supported by Robert McNamara. The vast majority of the ISAs operations in Afghanistan are still classified. More technical training on SIGINT, such as transmission and signals interpretation is also a component of the training. An operation was planned for their rescue, with Seaspray, Delta Force and the ISA all playing a role. (Source) At the time, the Salvadoran Army was facing attacks from leftist groups and more lethal right-wing death squads. Delta was finally given the go-ahead and flew to Sicily and Cyprus along with Task Force 160 and Seaspray helicopters, thus ending the need for ISA's help. 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. Check, chief! and she yanked the gat our of my hand. They also noted the specific funding line and agreed to manage it as a priority classified line absent committee discussion. non-covert action intelligence activityoften a collection programto be of such sensitivity that 1 Oral notifications shall be followed by a written notification. Both were doing the same thing in Colombia, except Centra Spike was doing a better job, at a much lower cost. Intelligence Support Activity - Role The Activity's primary role is to gather actionable intelligence in order to pave the way for special operations undertook by units such as Delta Force (known as 'operational preparation of the battlespace'). The ISAs execution of SIGINT monitoring was so successful that the month-long operation was extended to three years. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . That close-holding of his cards was typical of him. (Source) This allowed the forces involved in the surrounding Shahikot Valley to be more informed of enemy movements and positions. At the point of execution, the road became bureaucratically bumpy.
Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. Along with reviewing the security and organization again, ISA was also tasked with formulating plans for reprisals against the Syrians who had shot down two US fighters. I grabbed assault rifles and ammo can from our stash in the attic of the safe house and reluctantly handed one to Kay-Kay: You keep this damned thing on safe at all times! by Michael Smith Moscow Should Prepare For Probable US Nuclear Aggression: Reports Russian Military Journal, Destroying American Monster Abrams: Pro-Russian Group Release A How-To Video, Dr. Mary E. Walker: The First AND Only Female Medal Of Honor Recipient, Bakhmut on the Brink of Falling to Russian Troops, Decorated Navy SEAL Died in HALO Training Accident, Adam Brown: A SEALs Life of Courage and Redemption, Complete List: Ticonderoga-class Missile Cruisers To Retire By 2027, Nuclear Close Calls That Nearly Caused World War III, Russian Sausage Millionaire and Putin Critic Falls to His Death in India, Deadly Russian Rifle Brigade Wiped Out During War in Ukraine. The FOG was able to clandestinely enter Tehran and gather the required intelligence. 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. As an ancillary, but crucial action during this period, LTC Bruce Mauldin and I, with the CSAs concurrence and support, visited the Hill and had several closed-door sessions with appropriate committee Chairs and Ranking Members regarding the unit's establishment, roles and missions, and funding lines. A key driver for the meeting was the recognition that quality operational intelligence was virtually non-existent. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman. Law and the killing of a Russian propagandist: Some Q & A BY CHARLIE DUNLAP, J.D. 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),[citation needed]Mission Support Activity (MSA), Office of Military Support (OMS), Field Operations Group (FOG), Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA), Talk about close target recce. Thats pretty frickin ballsy. Two people with a lockpick kit and a camera. A much more classified component was a solely-US effort codenamed Green Light, focusing specifically on former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. 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. Ultimately, Operation Credible Sport was cancelled but the FOG had proven its usefulness. This includes Clandestine operations, but not those which are Covert. A team of mandarins was tasked with blocking traffic in the same fashion on the south side of the ambush site, then with following the assault force north to provide rearguard to the convoy. The operation went smooth up until the force rolled away. And with that our boss, the Cantor, doled out a mission for a two-man team of mandarins. The separation did not fit real world requirements which was finally recognized in the aftermath of the failed Iran rescue. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. Army did likewise through DAMO-ODSO. Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. At last, he came back, and, handing me the tools lamented: I couldnt get that fucker!. 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. 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. Intelligence Support Activity-Bragg developed an online tool, the pilot for which was planned to commence on June 1, 2019, to standardize the System Authorization Access Request, Acceptable Use Policy and Privileged Access Agreement for the command. Authors cartoon depicting the mandarins installing the soon-to-be compromised surveillance camera. We provided documents for viewing from both the Agency and DOD lawyers supporting the organization and outlining the rationale. Wickham did transfer authority to the ACSI with predictable and less than beneficial results. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: HUMINT (HUMan INTellgence) In all cases, the Congressional members voiced support. Green Berets are considered unique from other special operators for various reasons, most . "When the first rescue attempt of the hostages in Iran failed, a second attempt, code-named Honey Badger, immediately started. The unit was raised in 1979 as the Foreign Operating Group (FOG), who was created to overthrow the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. Almost simultaneously, another truck bomb exploded in the French barracks, killing 56. 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. Highly recommended. He scurried off to the barricade. People know ISA mostly for its involvement in Operation Anaconda. (Source). Well, ok we arrived at just around 1630hrs and the mandarin began. 160th SOAR |
Subsequently, theyre protected by diplomatic immunity if theyre compromised during an espionage operation. 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 (Source) Once the safe house was located, using a mixture of SIGINT, GEOINT and HUMINT, a raid was initiated. Intelligence Support Activity - Role The Activity's primary role is to gather actionable intelligence in order to pave the way for special operations undertook by units such as Delta Force (known as 'operational preparation of the battlespace'). Known as the Confederate Air Force, a joke refencing their title, the Army of Northern Virginia. 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. 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. During the operation, a rivalry developed between Centra Spike, and a CIA intelligence unit named Majestic Eagle. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
When government officials found out, they were horrified, they seemed to have a rogue agency within its ranks. By November 1993, the noose was tightening around Escobar, and Centra Spike managed to track him down to a suburb of Medellin called Los Olivos. As a result, ISA was almost disbanded, but Army officials succeeded in ensuring its survival, albeit on a much tighter leash. Highly detailed knowledge of an infiltration location is also key. 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. These operatives have a cover in the commercial sector, typically as an international businessperson. They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. The SEALs, SAS, and SBS added additional capabilities over time, responding to the needs of modern conflict. (Source) These collectively will compose some of the roles within a primary battalion of the ISA. The US recognized the usefulness of this unit and began surveying embassies across the world. Traditions (religious, political, societal). 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. An Examination of the Importance of Mosques, El Salvador Deploys Security Forces to Contain Criminal Groups, Honduras declares war against gangs and for control of popular narrative, Complexities and conveniences in the international drug trade: the involvement of Mexican criminal actors in the EU drug market, Mexico: Declassification of the Three Armed Conflicts Involving Drug Cartels on RULAC - The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Technology, Data, & The Future of Warfare: A Review Essay by James Torrence, Rinaldo Nazzaro, Leader of the Neo-Nazi Terrorist GroupThe Base: Probable Linkages to the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM), A Social Network Analysis of Mexicos Dark Network Alliance Structure, Disentangling The Digital Battlefield: How the Internet Has Changed War, "Hybrid Warriors" GROUND TRUTH ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF WAR IN UKRAINE, DEFENSE SUPPORT TO STABILIZATION (DSS) A GUIDE FOR STABILIZATION PRACTITIONERS, Byte, With, and Through: How Special Operations and Cyber Command Can Support Each Other, Ukraines drone raid on Russian naval base was tactically innovative but not revolutionary, Improvised Anti-Vehicle Land Mines (IAVMs) in Mexico: Cartel Emergent Weaponry Use, Countering Chinese Overseas Police Influence Operations, Israel Rolls Out Legion-X Drone Swarm For The Urban Battlefield, The Great Equalizer: Irregular Warfare in the City. The order never came; a secret arms-for-hostages deal was cut by the American government. 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. But it had no effect on me or what I was doing not for now at least. Operators from the unit entered Nicaragua using false passports, and proceeded to photograph the embassy from every angle, record the types of locks on all doors, inside and outside, record the number of exits and windows, and finally drew up the internal layout of the building. 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. US Air Force Pararescue |
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. (Source) The US military sought to carry out intelligence operations without the direct need of US intelligence agencies. I didnt think a thing of it, as it had taken me a while to throw that lock open on my first few tries. The Untold Story of Women in Special Operations, We Are Abandoning the Women of the Special Forces, SOAA Calls for Support of our Afghan Allies in The Hill, SOAA Supports Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret. . The unit exists in an altered form today, but it is an example as to how the USG can effectively mix Title 10 and 50 rules to achieve a common end and how conventional bureaucracies can stifle needed imaginative resolutions. 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). But the poor Cantor had to suffer through the mandarin menace sure enough. ISA was asked to develop a plan of action. (Source). When the CIA took credit for Centra Spike's work, the Army became furious and a competition was arranged between the two units. "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. Dozier was taken hostage and mistreated, with the Red Brigades viewing him as an ideological foe that needed to be made an example of. This has been more visible in their operations in Afghanistan, Operation Winter Harvest and Operation Queens Hunter. And now somebody SOMEBODY knows that somebody is recording all the cars turning down that specific road. HUMINT collection cant be done without boots on the ground, so members of the main battalions are likely conducting field operations. ISA focuses on gathering human intelligence based on contact with field agents, and signals intelligence (intercepted communications) to support Delta Force and DEVGRU operations. (amazon.com). 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. 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. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. US News & World Report describes Torn Victor as 'trained as high-risk intelligence gatherers,' a title fitting the ISA. 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. >Develops and .
It was so simple that we didnt even need to create a nursery rhyme to recite to help us remember all the steps. 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). But if the copyright owners want to get in touch to have them immediately removed from this site then please contact our webmaster. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! However, the CIA couldnt provide these answers so Delta turned to the FOG. See Intelligence Collection Directive (ICD) 112, . However, due to the nature of ISAs mission, its operators are rarely likely to carry weapons into the field. The exact breakdown of this squadron isnt known, however it is a reasonable assumption that its divided into troops based on the specific mission, such as airborne SIGINT or ground SIGINT. ", Sources: It was completely hidden from view, covering its existence with a series of regularly changing code names like Centra Spike, Royal Cape, and Grey Fox. An ISA agent was secretly infiltrated into Beirut where he provided real-time intelligence on the location of the hostages. 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. (Source). ISA would operate under a host of cover names to confuse anyone without the need to know. Special Air Service (SAS) |
. 25: More Chinese Ferry Tales: China's Use of Civilian Shipping in Military Activities, 2021-2022, Hospital Ships: A Vital Asset for SOUTHCOM and South American Navies, The Goshen Massacre and the Specter of Cartel Spillover Into the US, Dangerous Alliances: Russias Strategic Inroads in Latin America, Year Ahead Emerging Technologies and the Collection of Battlefield Evidence, How Does Matter Matter In International Conflict and Security? find out more As such, the activities and specifics of Gray Fox are not widely made available. In sum, Uniforms do Clandestine, Civvies do Covert. It was the type of mission ISA was designed for, but no agents were sent in. Both Army and the Agency recognized the changed nature of the world and the requirements of the emerging terrorist/hostage issues. On October 23, 1983, a truck bomb slammed into the US Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Americans, and injuring scores more. 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. Additionally, ISA operates a number of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and these pilots fit somewhere into the puzzle that is ISA. Initially, the raid appeared to be a bust until a Delta operator kicked some debris on exfil. Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. The JTF was largely dependent upon the CIA to provide the vital confirming HUMINT as to the hostage location. Tracking dummy targets over Medellin, Centra Spike managed to pinpoint their locations within 200 meters, while Majestic Eagle came no closer than four miles. Special Operations Forces are the elite commandos of the U.S. military. 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. Funding was to be a joint undertaking. There are four primary battalions with various responsibilities being spread across them. 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. The aim of the operation was to monitor cross-border raids and movements of Sandinista forces and rebels in El Salvador. When conducting more integrated operations with other parts of the military, the skill of intelligence support comes into play. 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. The manhunt was over. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. Its scope is quite large, and it often works in support of JSOC, SOCOM and even other intelligence agencies. 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. The agents prepared contingency plans for a commando force to enter Beirut clandestinely, and to strike at Hizbollah and Syrian targets. This intelligence then triangulated the possible location of Dozier. The operation, code-named Great Falcon, made a deal with the Iraqi government for a T-72, in exchange for 175mm cannons. The SIGINT group of the ISA gathered signal intelligence via aircraft, that was then passed on to NSA analysts. Once inside, Centra Spike agents would plug in laptops into the airplane's power and could simultaneously track four frequencies. The raid was cancelled over fears that the French and Italians tipped Karadzic off. Parsing one from the other can be quite difficult and largely determined by the location and nature of the target. The direct action element reportedly trains with Delta Force and DEVGRU to maintain their skills. "Known as the Intelligence Support Activity, or ISA, when it was established in . FOG was developed because of a perceived need for greater intelligence-gathering capabilities for the U.S. military. 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. These deployments include Operation Winter Harvest, Operation Queens Hunter and their role in Operation Anaconda. As such discussing their capabilities is frowned upon. Plus, they wouldnt have to load the car back up again the next day what a grand and magnanimous plan that proved to be. All rights reserved. This time around, travel through the city was a very dangerous endeavour, with roadblocks everywhere. They require units with combinations of trained specialized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed the routine capabilities of conventional military forces.
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. 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. Come again, Cantor? I was trying to make him look at me while he repeated that last instruction. Russia's Spetsnaz combines DA and SR units. During the period leading up to the engagement, as well as potentially during the infamous Battle of Takur Ghar (aka the Battle of Roberts Ridge), ISA operators conducted aggressive SIGINT operations, intercepting enemy communications and feeding them to allied forces. Officially formed in 1980 as FOG then transitioning to the USAISA from 1981 to 1989, this unit now operates under changing names like Capacity Gear or Quiet Enable. 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. As they soundly slept in the reverie of their grand plan, the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy happened by and found the car unlocked. The US military and many of its allies consider DA one of the basic special operations missions. One such organization, the Red Brigades, composed of far-left communist-leaning extremists, kidnapped U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier. Additionally, conceal meant can be a factor in weapon selection too. ISA was asked to form an Algerian-based plan and a Beirut-based one for rescue. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: HUMINT (HUMan INTellgence) Unit Profile. "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. Smith's book lifts the lid of secrecy on the Activity, one of America's least well known Special Ops units. When operatives are in less restrictive environments they can often be seen carrying weapons used by locals, most often in the form of AKs. Delta troop is tasked with countries that are a softer target for infiltration such as the Philippines or Morocco.
All information and multimedia on Specwar.info comes from a wide number of sources. In one particular situation, Delta and Torn Victor agents supposedly donned French uniforms (Pale is in the French sector of the UN zone) and traveled to Pale hoping to conduct closer surveillance of his whereabouts. The ISA comprises 5 primary elements: administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT and direct action. All the tools you need to an in-depth Intelligence Support Activity Self-Assessment.