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. 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. Distinctive Unit Insignia of the US Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), Task Force Orange; the Intelligence Support Activity; The Activity; the Army of Northern Virginia; the Field Operations Group (FOG); the United States Army Intelligence Support Activity, or just shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (USISA). The operation went smooth up until the force rolled away. However, his several interventions and temporary blockage of many initiatives, showed that his primary intent was to arrest the development and contain the capability. On the one occasion where he accompanied DSCOPS representatives to the Hill for a closed classified session regarding FOG activities, he voiced his concern regarding management, where the Committee Chairman, in plain, but polite language, told him that the Committee was satisfied with the arrangements. ISA was asked to develop a plan of action. What was needed was a SOF unit devoted to intelligence gathering and preparing the battlespace for other SOF operators. The aim of the operation was to monitor cross-border raids and movements of Sandinista forces and rebels in El Salvador. US intelligence gathering methods centre around the US intelligence process, composed of the phases Plan, Prepare, Collect, Process, and Produce. Based on photos of ISA operatives and reasonable assumption, they are most likely to carry: For a unit like ISA, firearms are not its primary weapons. Working closely with Special Forces and the CIA, Gray Fox also places operatives inside hostile territory. The monitoring of guerilla factions allowed the Salvadoran Army to successfully defend against their attacks. No unit is quite as secretive as the Intelligence Support Activity. (Source). However, the CIA couldnt provide these answers so Delta turned to the FOG. When government officials found out, they were horrified, they seemed to have a rogue agency within its ranks. 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. Cake duty! He commanded airborne battalions in both the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. 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. Operatives infiltrated internet cafes in Baghdad and conducted flyover operations in aircraft filled with signal interception gear. HUMINT-related activities at the Department of Defense and Defense Intelligence Agency level, subsequent to the disestablishment of the DHS, included continued issuance of DoD directives or instructions governing elements of HUMINT operations - including those concerning human source validation ( Document 44 ), creation of the since Intelligence Support Activity | The Activity | Gray Fox The plan involved flying feet above the turbulent Mediterranean Sea, at night, through hostile airspace. "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. 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. ", Sources: 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. Featured Book: Jose Solano - Intelligence Analyst - CACI International Inc | LinkedIn The Beechcrafts were made to appear normal from the outside, save for a wingspan six inches longer. Originally the ISA operated as a tactical arm of the National Security Agency. Once inside, Centra Spike agents would plug in laptops into the airplane's power and could simultaneously track four frequencies. This site uses cookies. All rights reserved. Operation Anaconda was, by most standards, a very difficult engagement. A top-secret 'Army electronic surveillance team', was sent to aid the Colombians in August of 1989, as a part of Operation Heavy Shadow. ISA was close to making the exchange, but the deal fell through at the last minute. 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 8 years' rapidly progressive experience with US Army and a DoD Contractor 4 years in direct support of conventional intelligence units 3 deployments in support of a SOF Task Force. Additionally, these operative can remotely turn on a cellphone thats been turned off, which allows them to hear everything going on near it. However, our personal favorite is a toss-up between Cemetery Wind and Gray Fox. This Intelligence Support Activity All-Inclusive Self-Assessment enables You to be that person. (Source). Me, I dont like to be on the delivery end of harsh criticism; however, I do find that whole situation with the mandarins to be just ever so slightly south of sensational, and fairly fundamentally novice! World conditions in the early 1980s suggested that some capability was required to address the ambiguous conflicts of each Title authority into some form of credible operational capability. 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. Original content is published under aCreative Commons Licenseper ourTerms of Use. Guerrilla insurgents in Nicaragua composed only one part of the multitude of threats facing the US With cartels all over South America creating chaos for pro-US forces, Pablo Escobar and his cartel were the targets of several US government agencies and departments, including the ISA. "In late 1981, ISA agents were involved in the attempt to acquire a Soviet T-72 tank, which had obsessed intelligence analysts. (Source). Or these operatives can clone a cellphone, allowing them to send and receive communications to and from the phone from a remote locations. (Source). Escobar was shot as he was trying to escape from the roof of his house. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of the Intelligence Community Green Berets are considered unique from other special operators for various reasons, most . He scurried off to the barricade. Are you one of them? 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The third known squadron is the Mission Support Squadron. Each chapter of the book brings a new chapter of the Activity's operations like Lebanon, where its efforts to rescue US hostages was stymied by its own government or Bosnia where it hunted down war criminals. They must maintain a demeanour of trustworthiness and calmness, so any approached HUMINT sources feel safe and trusted. 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. 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 unit selects operatives for deployments based on their language proficiency and their ability to blend in with the locals. 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. "ISA was divided into branches of signals intelligence (SIGINT) specialists, human intelligence (HUMINT) specialists, and a highly compartmentalized direct action element, the 'shooters'. The second rescue force was not going to be affected by the same problem, and the FOG was established in July of 1980, under the control of Colonel Jerry King. Fort Belvoir, North Virginia, United States. When the CIA took credit for Centra Spike's work, the Army became furious and a competition was arranged between the two units. 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. Within these battalions, there is a cyber ops teams, technology ops teams and mission support teams. Army did likewise through DAMO-ODSO. 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. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman. Operatives must also go unnoticed, being able to blend into crowds and not draw attention. 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. Along with Queens Hunter, ISA was involved in many operations across Central America, in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. The United States realized that insufficient intelligence gathering was the critical point of failure in our attempt to rescue the American hostages and that there was a gap between the Intelligence and Special Operations communities. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. ISA operatives are masters of tradecraft. The unit is organized into several elements. Intelligence Support Activity > Service branch: Army > Also known as: Gray Fox, ISA, USISA, The Activity . PDF (U) Results in Brief - U.S. Department of Defense 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. . When operatives are in less restrictive environments they can often be seen carrying weapons used by locals, most often in the form of AKs. The whole force drove north as planned, putting Kay and me upfront to clear ahead and report back to the assault force. (function() { They acquainted themselves with the layout and landmarks of the city for future reference. The support provided can come in a range of different forms. 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 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. 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. Establishing cover as husband and wife to live in and conduct intelligence collection missions within a target country. Killer Elite Hostages were dispersed around Beirut and those with Jewish sounding names were being isolated. to FOG, SOG, SAD, SMU, ISA, and, FID, the focus of which is the ISA through 2015. The Birth of the Field Operations Group (Later Intelligence Support Russia and Ukraine battle daily in the sky. The web portal tool will maintain a repository of all INSCOM and non -INSCOM The selection process and training for special operations groups are secret. These techniques include intelligence gathering, infiltration and intelligence support. 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. 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. 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. 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? There was a chain barricade that the Serbian police (MUPs) used to block access to a side road that junctioned with highway M4. 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. (Source) Training involves different espionage and intelligence methods that allow ISA members to carry out their essential HUMINT operations. But, it was also clear that some form of operational melding was essential to effectively address operational requirements. (Source). Everyone in the unit is on on the Department of the Armys Special Roster, which means they dont exist. For obvious reasons, the unit doesnt exactly publicize their makeup. Highly recommended. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. Tracking dummy targets over Medellin, Centra Spike managed to pinpoint their locations within 200 meters, while Majestic Eagle came no closer than four miles. It was Delta Forces first mission and a horrific failure. The ISAs execution of SIGINT monitoring was so successful that the month-long operation was extended to three years. 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'). 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. I didnt think a thing of it, as it had taken me a while to throw that lock open on my first few tries. "Cowan put together another five-man team, but their deployment was stalled for three weeks. What is the difference between the Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization programs recently developed vs. previous years? The order never came; a secret arms-for-hostages deal was cut by the American government. 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. When conducting more integrated operations with other parts of the military, the skill of intelligence support comes into play. Intelligence Support Activity - SourceWatch 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. I delivered the unemotional skinny to the Cantor who neither commented nor looked up from his work. Centra Spike agents operated all around Colombia, as well as neighbouring countries where the cartels influence extended. These operatives have a cover in the commercial sector, typically as an international businessperson. 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 U.S. Army's Special Operations Forces Explained US Army Special Forces | However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. Operatives can covertly enter enemy buildings to plant cameras. (Source) These collectively will compose some of the roles within a primary battalion of the ISA. It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces . 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). Samuel is a King's College graduate with an MA in War Studies. (Source). Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. In short order, Langley provided people, training, and a conduit to its various intelligence and planning aspects. National and Joint Intelligence Support - United States Army 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. A case officer is someone who handles a foreign asset by giving them collection requirements and ensuring their safety. SIGINT operations extended to areas with overlapping guerrilla operations, such as Nicaragua, which was facing the increased foe of the Contras. "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. He would be given instructions and equipment along the way, and was required to perform certain assignments, for example, setting up a SATCOM system. We provided documents for viewing from both the Agency and DOD lawyers supporting the organization and outlining the rationale. 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. Title 10 is the broad statute regarding what DOD is authorized to do. The Cantor sent me out as usual to throw the lock, wait for our operational vehicle to pass, then shut it again. They marked secret infiltration routes and bases American forces could use if they were ever sent into the country. 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. The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. US News & World Report describes Torn Victor as 'trained as high-risk intelligence gatherers,' a title fitting the ISA. 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. People know ISA mostly for its involvement in Operation Anaconda. US Army intelligence defines HUMINT as including: The sources of this information can come from enemy combatants, including regular armed forces, and civilian sources. non-covert action intelligence activityoften a collection programto be of such sensitivity that 1 Oral notifications shall be followed by a written notification. When hostages were taken in the Tehran embassy in 1980, it became clear that FOG needed to become a larger group with more resources.