Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. (Source) Gray Fox operators and intelligence specialists operated alongside other special operations units, including Delta Force and DEVGRU, as well as other components of the US Army. 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. (Source), The failure of Operation Eagle Claw was a turning point for US special operations. This Intelligence Support Activity All-Inclusive Self-Assessment enables You to be that person. Years before its actual formation, the need for the ISA, or an operational entity like it, was already being examined. _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-21361708-1']); Special Operations (SO) encompass the use of small units in direct or indirect military actions focused on strategic or operational objectives. There's a lot of fascinating special operation history in the Netflix thriller "Lou," but going into details would reveal Jason McCarthy of goruck.com and Stew Smith discuss his journey to, through, and after Army Special Forces and being Copyright 2023 Military.com. Its skills 'perfected during missions over El Salvador,' Centra Spike honed in on Escobar's cellular phone calls and relayed the information back to Colombian police forces. As previously mentioned, its members cross train with the CIA, Americas most comprehensive civilian intelligence agency. Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. Unit Profile. ISA operatives often work in disguise and undercover. 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. Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Operations Response Team (SORT), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit Samuel is a King's College graduate with an MA in War Studies. No unit is quite as secretive as the Intelligence Support Activity. The ISAs HUMINT collectors gather information from human sources via coercion and interrogation depending on the asset. The Intelligence Support Activity, commonly called "The Activity" . In all cases, the Congressional members voiced support. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. . ISA members are often multilingual. FOG became permanent and renamed ISA on March 3, 1981. Marpat Camo Test |. 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. The vast majority of the ISAs operations in Afghanistan are still classified. 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. Had the force been aware of the actual hostage location and situation, the force could have continued past Desert One and probably succeeded. _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', '.specwar.info']); 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. An ISA agent was secretly infiltrated into Beirut where he provided real-time intelligence on the location of the hostages. ISA has been known to utlizes signal skimmers to pick up enemy radio transmissions and zero in on their location. 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. "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. This is how we block. The operation was codenamed Amber Star, and was a joint US-British-French-Dutch effort to apprehend the suspects. COL Nightingale is a retired Army Colonel who served two tours in Vietnam with Airborne and Ranger (American and Vietnamese) units. 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. "When TWA Flight 847 was hijacked on June 14, 1985, America's counter-terrorist forces went on full alert. Known as the Confederate Air Force, a joke refencing their title, the Army of Northern Virginia. "In 1984, political instability swept through the Seychelles, a group of islands off the coast of Africa. 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. That close-holding of his cards was typical of him. The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. The operation went smooth up until the force rolled away. I pulled out a pick and tension bar and handed them to him. In effect, the ISAs exploitation of signal intelligence saved the lives of 100s of US soldiers from the 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne divisions. 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. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. The planners in DAMO-ODSO were acutely aware of the different legal authorities contained in Title 10 and Title 50 statutes. The whole force drove north as planned, putting Kay and me upfront to clear ahead and report back to the assault force. 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. Boss Cantor seemed satisfied with how the mandarins gathered the necessary hardware for the mission and then marched smartly out the door. 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. Two task forces of JSOC took part in the search and rescue operations, Delta Force and a detachment of the ISA. Being highly proficient in the collection of HUMINT and SIGINT has made them a very effective, yet specifically dedicated, intelligence task force. During Anaconda, ISA intelligence helped save both the 10th Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division at Takur Ghar. Read Next: Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 operators on the loose? Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. It is unclear how often the ISA interrogates subjects, though given their covert operations they likely at least interrogate high-value targets. 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 ISA technicians were instrumental in the tracking and capture of a number of Red Brigades terrorists, and most probably the location of the kidnapped Dozier himself. Additionally, ISA recruits from other branches of the US military and potentially elsewhere in the intelligence community. 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. Intelligence Support Activity > Service branch: Army > Also known as: Gray Fox, ISA, USISA, The Activity . It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces . Eventually, agents had pinpointed the locations of a number of cartel hideouts and high-value targets, including Pablo. He would be given instructions and equipment along the way, and was required to perform certain assignments, for example, setting up a SATCOM system. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. Intelligence Support Activity provides US special forces with intelligence gatherers, man hunters, assassins and deep penetration agents. A simultaneous raid on the targets was to be made. He looked up at me momentarily though he did not repeat himself. 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 intelligence gathering part was named "Buckeye" and consisted of CIA, NSA and Torn Victor operatives. However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. Well, say that was certainly good news. "In 1981, the Central Intelligence Agency, along with a covert helicopter unit, Seaspray, was involved in the secret transport of Lebanese Christian leader Bashir Gemayel back to Beirut after a round of secret talks with the President Ronald Reagan. The Beechcrafts were made to appear normal from the outside, save for a wingspan six inches longer. 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. Operatives must also go unnoticed, being able to blend into crowds and not draw attention. They discovered there was no co-ordination between them, and vital information regarding terrorist attacks was not being shared. The selection process and training for special operations groups are secret. Special Boat Service (SBS) |, Camouflage patterns: Centra Spike agents operated all around Colombia, as well as neighbouring countries where the cartels influence extended. During these operations, the ISA operated alongside other combat groups, providing them with signals intelligence support and field intelligence, including HUMINT. 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. The unit was raised in 1979 as the Foreign Operating Group (FOG), who was created to overthrow the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. ISA would operate under a host of cover names to confuse anyone without the need to know. They also have direct action elements within their battalions, alongside specialists in HUMINT and SIGINT. A key driver for the meeting was the recognition that quality operational intelligence was virtually non-existent. 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 CIA was leading extraordinary rendition operations in Somalia in conjunction with the ISA and the help of local warlords. This is especially useful in countries where men and women socializing is frowned upon outside of the family. 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. The force is supposedly around 250-275 operators. At last, he came back, and, handing me the tools lamented: I couldnt get that fucker!. 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. They were never used. They also noted the specific funding line and agreed to manage it as a priority classified line absent committee discussion. However, the CIA couldnt provide these answers so Delta turned to the FOG. With dramatis personae that include the CIA, Delta Force, DEVGRU, the Intelligence Support Activity, Pakistani Commandos, the Taliban, and spies from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI), this story has the makings of a future Brad Thor bestseller. 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. Though its history is relatively brief and known missions it has undertaken even briefer, it has become one of the most interesting and influential special operations groups at the disposal of JSOC and the US military. While driving through northern Lebanon, Cowan and his mates suffered several close calls with Syrian roadblocks and patrols. 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 However, Operation Anaconda is one of few of the ISAs Afghanistan operations known to the public. The ISAs execution of SIGINT monitoring was so successful that the month-long operation was extended to three years. "ISA's existence became public in 1982 as a result of a scandal involving US POWs in Vietnam. The cover of these operatives is typically much harder to develop since it requires a reason to be in and out of the target country on a frequent basis, and to have inauspicious ties to the target country. Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. 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. 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. 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. The support provided can come in a range of different forms. (Dominique Sumner and Peter Tomich). If an operative is in a country with an official cover, possessing a firearm can mean being sent to prison or death. 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. 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. Establishing cover as husband and wife to live in and conduct intelligence collection missions within a target country. Bravo and Delta troops utilize commercial or non-official cover. ISA focuses on gathering human intelligence based on contact with field agents, and signals intelligence (intercepted communications) to support Delta Force and DEVGRU operations. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. When hostages were taken in the Tehran embassy in 1980, it became clear that FOG needed to become a larger group with more resources. This extends beyond knowledge of things like general location, language and culture. Wickham did transfer authority to the ACSI with predictable and less than beneficial results. 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. 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. What was needed was a SOF unit devoted to intelligence gathering and preparing the battlespace for other SOF operators. by Michael Smith He later commanded both the 1/75th Rangers and the 1st Ranger Training Brigade. The ISA agent was ordered to stop the recording, an order to which he complied. Due to their specialization in intelligence, they can operate as vanguard teams to support another units operations. There are four primary battalions with various responsibilities being spread across them. When the CIA took credit for Centra Spike's work, the Army became furious and a competition was arranged between the two units. All the tools you need to an in-depth Intelligence Support Activity Self-Assessment. The Cantor finally said something, and he said it very very loudly when the mandarins lost control of some weapons and encrypted radios. 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. Some of ISA's most recent deployments was in 1993 in Somalia. I delivered the unemotional skinny to the Cantor who neither commented nor looked up from his work. 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. "Today, the ISA operates under the code name Gray Fox. "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. 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). The ISA initially had only support activity and HUMINT gathering functions. (Source), Additionally, the ISA has acted as a pseudo-security element for the CIA. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; The ISA is perhaps the most major outlier doctrinally from its other, better known, counterparts within JSOC and SOCOM as a whole. The vast majority of their operations are clouded not just in shadow, but in complete darkness. Little is known about the organization or its activities, but it is clear that they serve as a. "Gray Fox's low-profile eavesdropping planes also fly without military markings. (Source). The TRADOC DCS, G-2 develops, describes, and delivers the OE in order to support the Army's preparations to fight and win the nation's wars. The Intelligence Support Activitys operations in El Salvador, under Operation Queens Hunter, demonstrated the effectiveness of the newly founded squadrons mastery of SIGINT and cross-departmental cooperation. "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. Tracking dummy targets over Medellin, Centra Spike managed to pinpoint their locations within 200 meters, while Majestic Eagle came no closer than four miles. The unit was raised in 1979 as the Foreign Operating Group (FOG), who was created to overthrow the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. Initially, the raid appeared to be a bust until a Delta operator kicked some debris on exfil. 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. Does the army's intelligence support activity also do direct action? 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.
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