The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. 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. Highly detailed knowledge of an infiltration location is also key. In 2003 four troops: A,B,C, and D made up the squadron. "Gray Fox's low-profile eavesdropping planes also fly without military markings. Good enough, I thought. 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.. So where are the pilots? A critical component of clandestine activity is the ability to infiltrate enemy territory ahead of more formal military action. 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Highly recommended. Establishing cover as husband and wife to live in and conduct intelligence collection missions within a target country. The whole force drove north as planned, putting Kay and me upfront to clear ahead and report back to the assault force. Before it operated under the name ISA, the group was referred to as the Field Operations Group (FOG). It is not certain that ISA operators were on the scene at the moment of his capture, but the operational intelligence provided was critical to the success of the operation. 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. Traditions (religious, political, societal). ", Sources: The most important thing to know is that intelligence drives "direct action" operations. 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. They set up protection for the president and installed a security system. They acquainted themselves with the layout and landmarks of the city for future reference. Almost simultaneously, another truck bomb exploded in the French barracks, killing 56. Subsequently, theyre protected by diplomatic immunity if theyre compromised during an espionage operation. 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. (Source) Once the safe house was located, using a mixture of SIGINT, GEOINT and HUMINT, a raid was initiated. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. Intelligence Support Activity - Wikipedia They also provided protection for numerous Arabian princes, and established good contacts while down there. 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 Members of FOG infiltrated Nicaragua using false passports. No unit is quite as secretive as the Intelligence Support Activity. (Source), Under the operational codename Centra Spike, the Intelligence Support Activity operated alongside CIA and local police elements to track down Escobar. Plus, they wouldnt have to load the car back up again the next day what a grand and magnanimous plan that proved to be. Intelligence Support Activity A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition Originally the ISA operated as a tactical arm of the National Security Agency. The SEALs, SAS, and SBS added additional capabilities over time, responding to the needs of modern conflict. A Congressional hearing was held, and the media revealed the existence of a 'classified military intelligence unit'. 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. His elements were being heavily tasked, and a directed intelligence pipeline was established to FOG. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; He would be given instructions and equipment along the way, and was required to perform certain assignments, for example, setting up a SATCOM system. [2] Unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance and direct action roles have merged throughout the decades and are typically performed primarily by the same units. Infiltration relies much less on stealthy engagement, and much more on subtlety and effective tradecraft. When Escobar surrendered in 1991, Centra Spike was pulled out, only to return a year later, when Escobar escaped from his comfortable prison. While Delta and DEVGRU focus on direct engagement and specialized combat tactics, the ISA conducts intelligence and espionage operations at a tactical level. > Role: HUMINT (human intelligence), SIGINT (signals intelligence), direct action. COL Nightingale is a retired Army Colonel who served two tours in Vietnam with Airborne and Ranger (American and Vietnamese) units. This is a potentially significant compromise. the Cantor lamented in earnest. Along with Queens Hunter, ISA was involved in many operations across Central America, in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. As with both the establishment of JSOC, TF160/SOAR and Ranger SOF, the task was not easy. "Apparently, ISA's direct action element was also put on alert during the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. Come again, Cantor? I was trying to make him look at me while he repeated that last instruction. Most ISA trainees are from Army Special Forces, meaning many have skills in CQC, sniping, counter-sniping and general tactical engagements. ODSO/FOG overcame much of this through replication of capability generously funded and supported by CIA. 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. Primarily acting as enablers for JSOC special mission units. Units in Sarajevo tracked Karadzic electronically, while other agents were on the ground in Pale, Karadzic's home. Intelligence Support Activity - Person of Interest Wiki Bickering between the CIA and JSOC further complicated matters. And now somebody SOMEBODY knows that somebody is recording all the cars turning down that specific road. That night, the mandarin and I stashed our car and cut through an orchard whose northwest corner gave way to the bollards and the chain barricade. (Source) The US military sought to carry out intelligence operations without the direct need of US intelligence agencies. Every component of the US military was involved in the Invasion of Afghanistan, including the ISA. 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. 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. The Cantor said nothing. The Pentagon's Spies: Military Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Activities Years before its actual formation, the need for the ISA, or an operational entity like it, was already being examined. Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. 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. These members function as case officers. (Source). A top-secret 'Army electronic surveillance team', was sent to aid the Colombians in August of 1989, as a part of Operation Heavy Shadow. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! The ISA wasn't popular within JSOC. The FOG was re-named the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), and given an initial budget of $7 million. The most elite special operations forces in the US Intelligence Support Activity - SourceWatch ISA operators were said to be so skilled that they could tell whether a tank needed a tune-up from background noise of transmissions. This time, the manhunt for Escobar was being led by Col. Hugo Martinez, who did not intend to let Escobar get away, and who operated with ruthless efficiency, aided by Centra Spike's intelligence. About: Intelligence Support Activity - DBpedia An ISA agent was secretly infiltrated into Beirut where he provided real-time intelligence on the location of the hostages. Meyer was determined that no future SOF OP with Army forces would be conducted absent credible quality CIA/DOD/NSA and Army intelligence. Upon return to the Pentagon, he re-assigned the ACSI POC out of FOG-related issues. Special Recon, Direct Action. He looked up at me momentarily though he did not repeat himself. Check, chief! and she yanked the gat our of my hand. (Source), Outlined as the primary purpose of the ISA since its inception, intelligence gathering is one of its most essential tasks. 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), The ACSI, LTG Odom, strongly objected to the authority lines for FOG and asked Meyer to switch the Army portion from DCSOPS to the ACSI. When conducting more integrated operations with other parts of the military, the skill of intelligence support comes into play. "ISA's existence became public in 1982 as a result of a scandal involving US POWs in Vietnam. Additionally, these operative can remotely turn on a cellphone thats been turned off, which allows them to hear everything going on near it. Or these operatives can clone a cellphone, allowing them to send and receive communications to and from the phone from a remote locations. "When the first rescue attempt of the hostages in Iran failed, a second attempt, code-named Honey Badger, immediately started. 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'). Some of ISA's most recent deployments was in 1993 in Somalia. Im telling you, they are packed parachutes for you; all you have to do is jump they dont need any training or preparation they can do it all!. . These operatives have a cover in the commercial sector, typically as an international businessperson. 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 Elite Within the Elite: A Guide to U.S. Special Forces "In 1984, political instability swept through the Seychelles, a group of islands off the coast of Africa. I delivered the unemotional skinny to the Cantor who neither commented nor looked up from his work. Given the nature of their operations and the close work and training they receive alongside other US special operations forces, much of their equipment is likely to mimic that of the special mission units they support and work alongside. Parsing one from the other can be quite difficult and largely determined by the location and nature of the target. 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. Task Force Orange: Supporting Delta Force | SOFREP 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. These techniques include intelligence gathering, infiltration and intelligence support. 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. The selection process and training for special operations groups are secret. 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 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. Meaning that the government of the country these troops are operating in known that they work for the US government, however they dont necessarily know that theyre a spy. The unit conducts close survelliance with cameras, even going as far as covertly entering terrorists safe houses and planting hidden cameras. G-2 - U.S. Army Training Doctrine and Command Hostages were dispersed around Beirut and those with Jewish sounding names were being isolated. 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 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. Under the guiding hand of JSOC, the ISA operated alongside other JSOC and CIA elements, under the codename Gray Fox. (Source). Under the US Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service, there is a Special Activities Division to operate without apparent national identification for plausible deniability. SIGINT operations extended to areas with overlapping guerrilla operations, such as Nicaragua, which was facing the increased foe of the Contras. ISA operatives are highly skilled in the various arts of HUMINT gathering including: (Source). If successful, the candidate would then continue training within ISA in such skills as parachuting, survival, weapons and intelligence gathering. 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. If an operative is in a country with an official cover, possessing a firearm can mean being sent to prison or death. The fleet was comprised of 15 different types of aircraft for a combined total of 40 aircraft, all decked out with SIGINT interception technology. Under the umbrella group of Joint Special Operations Task Force 20, the Intelligence Support Activity helped track down and locate Saddam Hussein. Operationally, the ISA is a dedicated intelligence group, doing the intelligence leg work for special operations groups. (Source). Once admitted, candidates must pass the operations training course, which teaches infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, offensive and off-road driving, personal defensive measures and communications. US ARMY INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY - YouTube 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. At last, he came back, and, handing me the tools lamented: I couldnt get that fucker!. find out more 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. The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . The vast majority of the ISAs operations in Afghanistan are still classified. 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. (Source) Training involves different espionage and intelligence methods that allow ISA members to carry out their essential HUMINT operations. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. 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. (. The survey was successful, which led defense officials to create ad hoc Special Forces units to survey US embassies in hotspots around the world. All information and multimedia on Specwar.info comes from a wide number of sources. Intelligence Support Activity - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core 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. Highly recommended. action is "necessary to support identifiable foreign policy objectives of the United States, and is There are also teams within the ISA who can conduct direct action missions should the need arise. Working closely with Special Forces and the CIA, Gray Fox also places operatives inside hostile territory. As previously mentioned, its members cross train with the CIA, Americas most comprehensive civilian intelligence agency. The unit's history, the politics that have shaped it and the operations it has carried out are recounted in great and fascinating detail. Once inside, Centra Spike agents would plug in laptops into the airplane's power and could simultaneously track four frequencies. and direct action combat. With the expansion, the FOG has renamed the ISA and officially established as a unit on January 29th, 1981. The ISA also has likely integrated other new intelligence fields into its scope. What does one actually do with such persons? 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. Special Operations (SO) encompass the use of small units in direct or indirect military actions focused on strategic or operational objectives. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: HUMINT (HUMan INTellgence) Spec Ops Profile: Intelligence Support Activity, Paris Davis, Black Green Beret in Vietnam, Finally Awarded Medal of Honor at White House, Navy SEAL Dies in Parachute Mishap, 4th Training Death in 14 Months, Special Operations Commander Fired After Being Arrested for Alleged Drunk Driving, Hit and Run, 8 Fun Facts About the USO to Celebrate Its Birthday. 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. ISA operatives are masters of tradecraft. Additionally, ISA gathers SIGINT primarily by intercepting enemy communications or sending an agent to physically bug a target. Prior to Saddams capture, over 40 members of his family were captured and interrogated to determine his whereabouts with little success. This is especially useful in countries where men and women socializing is frowned upon outside of the family. The eventual shootout that ended Pablos life may not have directly involved the ISA, however, its efforts certainly aided in the eventual locating and killing of the cartel boss. ISA recommended covert deployment of its operatives to both airports to secure landing zones and infiltration routes. At the point of execution, the road became bureaucratically bumpy. 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. These deployments include Operation Winter Harvest, Operation Queens Hunter and their role in Operation Anaconda. Both were doing the same thing in Colombia, except Centra Spike was doing a better job, at a much lower cost. The operation, code-named Great Falcon, made a deal with the Iraqi government for a T-72, in exchange for 175mm cannons. The Cantor, busy writing, asked me how it went. As such discussing their capabilities is frowned upon. The FOG was able to clandestinely enter Tehran and gather the required intelligence. Declassified documents on the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) 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. When hostages were taken in the Tehran embassy in 1980, it became clear that FOG needed to become a larger group with more resources. ISA was close to making the exchange, but the deal fell through at the last minute. Marpat Camo Test |. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: The Activity is thought to made up of around 300 operators and is under the command of JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command). 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? His areas of focus are extremism in the Western world, military privatization and the impact of climate change on global security. 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. International Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Interview with Dr. Niamh Gaynor, Transnistria and Russian Tensions: Moldova 12-month Forecast, Terrorist Threat in Senegal: A 12-month Forecast, Terrorist Threat in Guinea: A 12-Month Forecast, 7.3. ISA operators would infiltrate either Beirut or Algiers on commercial flights to avoid tipping off the terrorists or the authorities. The capture was to happen as he would be heading south to the city of Vlasenica. 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 unit selects operatives for deployments based on their language proficiency and their ability to blend in with the locals. 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. Army did likewise through DAMO-ODSO. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. As with any clandestine unit, only so much can be known about any of the JSOC special mission units. This page was last edited on 1 April 2008, at 06:57. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. Its scope is quite large, and it often works in support of JSOC, SOCOM and even other intelligence agencies. The situation looked dire. An ISA technician with a SATCOM was provided for the operation to aid in the tracking. In sum, Uniforms do Clandestine, Civvies do Covert. 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. Reconnaissance overflights revealed a possible location where POWs, still believed to be held by the Vietnamese early in the year. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. The ISA is perhaps the most major outlier doctrinally from its other, better known, counterparts within JSOC and SOCOM as a whole.

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