(Source). It is common for the appearance and demeanour of an agent to be the key to their success as an infiltrator. find out more . Smith's book lifts the lid of secrecy on the Activity, one of America's least well known Special Ops units. One selection exercise involved dropping a candidate off in the desert without food, water or means of communication. (Source). The examples and perspective in this article, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Joint Publication 1-02 Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms", United States Army Special Operations Command, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Direct_action_(military)&oldid=1081847487, This page was last edited on 10 April 2022, at 01:40. Good enough, I thought. ISA was asked to develop a plan of action. ISA operatives are highly skilled in the various arts of HUMINT gathering including: (Source). 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. 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. Cowan and another ISA agent managed to drive through every sector of Beirut, even the Shiite suburb, a dangerous practice at the time. The mission criteria were pretty simple: we would fail our mission if we missed reporting the generals car, or if we allowed someone to get around our blocking position and into the ambush site. 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. Direct action (DA) is a term used in the context of military special operations for small-scale raids, ambushes, sabotage or similar actions. They also noted the specific funding line and agreed to manage it as a priority classified line absent committee discussion. Killer Elite It was provided with a cover name, Tactical Concept Activity, and would never be acknowledged by the Pentagon. Sound Like You? a Title 10 operation or a Title 50 operation. This was the birth of the Field Operations Group (FOG)-later ISA/Secret Army of Northern Virginia. ISA. (Source), Additionally, the ISA has acted as a pseudo-security element for the CIA. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. But what if I dont need signal intercept and intelligence gathering support for my mission?, Look, Geo theyre here, theyre queer, and theyd like so say hello just deal with it because theyre not going away. It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces . But if the copyright owners want to get in touch to have them immediately removed from this site then please contact our webmaster. 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. 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. INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL OPERATIONS - Federation of American Scientists 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? The ISAs HUMINT collectors gather information from human sources via coercion and interrogation depending on the asset. non-covert action intelligence activityoften a collection programto be of such sensitivity that 1 Oral notifications shall be followed by a written notification. (Source). In line with their proficiency in infiltration, they had an array of passports, credit cards and falsified documents to allow easy movement between territories. ISA was asked to form an Algerian-based plan and a Beirut-based one for rescue. (Source), Outlined as the primary purpose of the ISA since its inception, intelligence gathering is one of its most essential tasks. 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. This extra length concealed the main eavesdropping antennas, while others could be lowered from the belly while in flight. The moronic mandarins merely blinked and nothing more. US Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), also known as ISA, The Activity, GREY FOX and, in recent times, the Mission Support Activity (MSA), is a top secret Army intelligence unit. Support Veteran Journalism . Special Air Service (SAS) | Does the army's intelligence support activity also do direct action? During the operations training course, candidates are taught infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, offensive and off-road driving, personal defensive measures and communications. When Escobar surrendered in 1991, Centra Spike was pulled out, only to return a year later, when Escobar escaped from his comfortable prison. (Source) These collectively will compose some of the roles within a primary battalion of the ISA. The U.S. Army's Special Operations Forces Explained 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. Highly detailed knowledge of an infiltration location is also key. When the CIA took credit for Centra Spike's work, the Army became furious and a competition was arranged between the two units. (Source) This allowed the forces involved in the surrounding Shahikot Valley to be more informed of enemy movements and positions. It was settled, and Majestic Eagle withdrew from the operation. 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 "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. Had the force been aware of the actual hostage location and situation, the force could have continued past Desert One and probably succeeded. An operation was planned for their rescue, with Seaspray, Delta Force and the ISA all playing a role. The ISA's HUMINT collectors gather information from human sources via coercion and interrogation depending on the asset. Its scope is quite large, and it often works in support of JSOC, SOCOM and even other intelligence agencies. This time around, travel through the city was a very dangerous endeavour, with roadblocks everywhere. 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. The Elite Within the Elite: A Guide to U.S. Special Forces Intelligence Support Activity | Military Wiki | Fandom The trials of the ISA in Queens Hunter were not the only time the team was tested in South America. The US military and many of its allies consider DA one of the basic special operations missions. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ The next morning arrived, but the moping mandarins came empty-handed: Ok, give me a rundown on the entire operation starting from when you arrived at the install site.. The rescue force was forced to launch with sketchy data forcing a worst-case force list. The operation went smooth up until the force rolled away. Some of ISA's most recent deployments was in 1993 in Somalia. During the 1990's the unit was known as Capacity Gear. As they soundly slept in the reverie of their grand plan, the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy happened by and found the car unlocked. When government officials found out, they were horrified, they seemed to have a rogue agency within its ranks. Some of the more well-documented operations of the ISA shed light on the general nature of the ISAs overall operations. Additionally, ISA gathers SIGINT primarily by intercepting enemy communications or sending an agent to physically bug a target. Get the weekly email from Grey Dynamics that makes reading intel articles and reports actually enjoyable. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. In 2003 four troops: A,B,C, and D made up the squadron. A critical component of clandestine activity is the ability to infiltrate enemy territory ahead of more formal military action. A Congressional hearing was held, and the media revealed the existence of a 'classified military intelligence unit'. The agents prepared contingency plans for a commando force to enter Beirut clandestinely, and to strike at Hizbollah and Syrian 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. 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. 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. The exact makeup of ISAs force structure is hard to determine. In all cases, the Congressional members voiced support. Title 10 is the broad statute regarding what DOD is authorized to do. Operation Anaconda highlights how vital of a role the ISA plays in the battlespace. As a result, ISA was almost disbanded, but Army officials succeeded in ensuring its survival, albeit on a much tighter leash. A case officer is someone who handles a foreign asset by giving them collection requirements and ensuring their safety. Originally the ISA operated as a tactical arm of the National Security Agency. Reconnaissance overflights revealed a possible location where POWs, still believed to be held by the Vietnamese early in the year. Marpat Camo Test |. We had a key to that lock that the MUPs did not know about; that is, I could pick the lock with consistency. However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. 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. The authors note that "All information used in this article has been obtained from publicly available, open source documents." A simultaneous raid on the targets was to be made. PDF National and Joint Intelligence Support - United States Army find out more For instance, while US Army Special Forces were originally created for unconventional warfare (UW) missions and gradually added other capabilities, the US Navy SEALs, and the UK Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) continue to perform a primary DA role with special reconnaissance (SR) as original missions. Its worth noting that Bravo troop was never compromised while conducting espionage against the Assad regime in Syria. 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). Not wishing to be a dire critic, I found it rather novice of him, but drew another pick from my kit and threw open the lock. Unfortunately, the police were either heavily corrupted or unwilling to arrest Escobar, and the intelligence went to waste. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman. The strategists decided the best option would be to send an ISA team in to provide accurate intelligence on the situation, and to prepare to secure landing zones for a Delta rescue force. 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. The ISA initially had only support activity and HUMINT gathering functions. 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. Intelligence Support Activity A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition 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. Geo, take a mandarin with you, the Cantor directed without looking at me. Bickering between the CIA and JSOC further complicated matters. The aim of the operation was to monitor cross-border raids and movements of Sandinista forces and rebels in El Salvador. 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. "Gray Fox's low-profile eavesdropping planes also fly without military markings. Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. Small Wars Journal is published by Small Wars Foundation - a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. 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. 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 . So where are the pilots? The CIA would talk directly to the warlords while the ISA provided SIGINT support and ground security for them. They discovered there was no co-ordination between them, and vital information regarding terrorist attacks was not being shared. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. The team put together a detailed critique and proposed changes to the organization of the forces, but the document was ignored by the higher officials insisting that security was adequate. US Army intelligence defines HUMINT as including: The sources of this information can come from enemy combatants, including regular armed forces, and civilian sources. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. What was needed was a SOF unit devoted to intelligence gathering and preparing the battlespace for other SOF operators. (Source), The tactics and techniques of the ISA are some of the most unique among all the JSOC special operations groups. The U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) is a special operations unit that collects "actionable" intelligence in preparation for activities by other special operations units, particularly those related to counter-terrorism missions. Since that time the unit reports to Special Operations Command or SOCOM in Tampa Florida, United States. Check, chief! and she yanked the gat our of my hand. _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. This page was last edited on 1 April 2008, at 06:57. Lets just settle on Gray Fox for now, as these operators fill in the gray area between Title 50 intelligence gathering and Title 10 unconventional warfare operations. The capture was to happen as he would be heading south to the city of Vlasenica. Spec Ops Profile: Intelligence Support Activity | Military.com 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. "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. It is known that the unit has changed its codename over . The unit is organized into several elements. Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. (Source). The ISA also has likely integrated other new intelligence fields into its scope. For a Tier 1 group dedicated primarily to intelligence collection and support, the equipment of the ISA cannot be completely verified, nor can any weapons or equipments continued use be verified. 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. ISA was highly classified. No unit is quite as secretive as the Intelligence Support Activity. ISA would operate under a host of cover names to confuse anyone without the need to know. (Source). The mandarins decided they were much too tired and sleepy to unload their car to safekeep all of their sensitive items in the house with them. Every modern military relies on intelligence, and the US military is a voracious consumer of intelligence, from both an analytical and functional standpoint. In the aftermath, the FOG was hard at work gathering intelligence in Iran in preparation for Operation Credible Sport, the second attempt to rescue the hostages. There was a task I did for the Cantor routinely and at a moments notice. As with any clandestine unit, only so much can be known about any of the JSOC special mission units. 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 OSS was a direct action "group" that was directly involved in sabotage, infiltration, combat and even assassination. Wickham did transfer authority to the ACSI with predictable and less than beneficial results. Samuel is a King's College graduate with an MA in War Studies. The Beechcrafts were made to appear normal from the outside, save for a wingspan six inches longer. Little is known about the organization or its activities, but it is clear that they serve as a military intelligence unit and have partaken in numerous missions around the globe. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; (Source). In 1979 the need for a dedicated special operations intelligence unit was solidified following the overthrowing of Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. (Source), Under the operational codename Centra Spike, the Intelligence Support Activity operated alongside CIA and local police elements to track down Escobar. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. They require units with combinations of trained specialized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed the routine capabilities of conventional military forces. The Secret Army of Northern Virginia - SOAA Before it operated under the name ISA, the group was referred to as the Field Operations Group (FOG). If some elements (especially photos) were originally yours please consider Specwar.info to host for free. Clothing worn by locals, even in specific areas. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. In short order, Langley provided people, training, and a conduit to its various intelligence and planning aspects. Operatives tradecraft for avoiding detection is impeccable. 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 (Source), Active operational support is also a crucial role of the ISA. The monitoring of guerilla factions allowed the Salvadoran Army to successfully defend against their attacks. They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. On Gen Meyer's departure, his successor, John Wickham, attempted to disband the unit, but Jack Marsh, in his role as ASD SO/LIC prevented it, and required it be retained, and resourced. He scurried off to the barricade. 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. Jose Solano - Intelligence Analyst - CACI International Inc | LinkedIn "On December 17, 1981, Colonel James Dozier, the highest ranking American army officer in the NATO southern European Command was kidnapped by members of the Red Brigade terrorist faction. 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. Mission. A key driver for the meeting was the recognition that quality operational intelligence was virtually non-existent. 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. During these operations, the ISA operated alongside other combat groups, providing them with signals intelligence support and field intelligence, including HUMINT. Boss Cantor seemed satisfied with how the mandarins gathered the necessary hardware for the mission and then marched smartly out the door. "When the first rescue attempt of the hostages in Iran failed, a second attempt, code-named Honey Badger, immediately started. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! 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. The cyber operations team extends into other offsets of intelligence gathering, including OSINT, cyber threat intelligence and cyber warfare. 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. Additionally, conceal meant can be a factor in weapon selection too. Ironically, the embassy in Iran was on their itinerary, but, history intervened, and it was overrun by a mob who took the larger part of the staff hostage. 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. 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. They marked secret infiltration routes and bases American forces could use if they were ever sent into the country. 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 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. Gray Fox was formed in 1980 in response to the infamous failed rescue attempt of American hostages under Operation Eagle Claw in the Tehran embassy. On October 23, 1983, a truck bomb slammed into the US Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Americans, and injuring scores more. Though its freelance tendencies were curbed, the ISA continued to operate under different guises through the ill-starred U.S. involvement in Somalia in 1992 and was reportedly active in the hunt for Bosnian Serbs suspected of war crimes. They also have direct action elements within their battalions, alongside specialists in HUMINT and SIGINT. Dream of Becoming a Navy Seal or Part of Delta Force? Here is the >Develops and . These are primarily preparation intelligence and tactical/ strategic intelligence for active operations. All Rights Reserved, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). 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. I could tell by her skunk-eye that she had a dagger in the pipe ready to launch, so I lightened up.