Cowan and another ISA agent managed to drive through every sector of Beirut, even the Shiite suburb, a dangerous practice at the time. "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. Its members often use disguises to avoid detection and if they are compromised they can quickly disappear from sight and completely change their appearance. "In late 1981, ISA agents were involved in the attempt to acquire a Soviet T-72 tank, which had obsessed intelligence analysts. 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. The force is supposedly around 250-275 operators. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. Featured Book: Marpat Camo Test |. 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. This was never forthcoming despite the greatest pressure upon the Agency. This extra length concealed the main eavesdropping antennas, while others could be lowered from the belly while in flight. ISA recommended covert deployment of its operatives to both airports to secure landing zones and infiltration routes. But the poor Cantor had to suffer through the mandarin menace sure enough. (Source). 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. ISA was highly classified. " Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. 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. Along with reviewing the security and organization again, ISA was also tasked with formulating plans for reprisals against the Syrians who had shot down two US fighters. The planners in DAMO-ODSO were acutely aware of the different legal authorities contained in Title 10 and Title 50 statutes. He looked up at me momentarily though he did not repeat himself. 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'). 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. . Mission. This is directed from , waaay above my pay grade yeah, I get it.. Immediately after, he would be dropped off in a city, and asked to perform clandestine activities. Unless you plan to body-check those cars I would junk up.. FOG was developed because of a perceived need for greater intelligence-gathering capabilities for the U.S. military. Grey Dynamics is a Private Intelligence firm based out of London with analysts, researchers, and investigators worldwide. The Cantor sent me out as usual to throw the lock, wait for our operational vehicle to pass, then shut it again. 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. Feeling the working end of my pick with my fingers I could tell that it was destroyed; the neck had a corkscrew twist in it and it was staved to shit. (Source). They were never used. The mission support teams help actualize the other major goal of supporting other forces in a battlespace. As with any clandestine unit, only so much can be known about any of the JSOC special mission units. 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. 2e Rgiment tranger de Parachutistes | 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. An ISA technician with a SATCOM was provided for the operation to aid in the tracking. 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. It was Delta Forces first mission and a horrific failure. The CIA would talk directly to the warlords while the ISA provided SIGINT support and ground security for them. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. to FOG, SOG, SAD, SMU, ISA, and, FID, the focus of which is the ISA through 2015. (Source). var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); 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. Delta's deployment was stalled by bureaucratic dealings, so ISA mobilized its most compartmentalized unit, the direct action element, the shooters. 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. a Title 10 operation or a Title 50 operation. The fleet was comprised of 15 different types of aircraft for a combined total of 40 aircraft, all decked out with SIGINT interception technology. These operatives have a cover in the commercial sector, typically as an international businessperson. 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. Most officials disliked the unit's head, Jerry King, and thus, JSOC did not send the unit in. 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. Check, chief! and she yanked the gat our of my hand. In the 1980s, extremist parties on both sides of the political spectrum plagued Italy. HUMINT collection cant be done without boots on the ground, so members of the main battalions are likely conducting field operations. 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"Apparently, ISA's direct action element was also put on alert during the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. 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. 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. "In 1983, a five-man ISA unit led by Lt. Col. William Cowan was dispatched to Beirut, Lebanon to deal with the increasing threat to American interests in the area. 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). It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. The DCS, G-2 is the Director of the Operational Environment Enterprise (OEE) and author of the Army's approved current Operational Environment (OE). The Birth of the Field Operations Group (Later Intelligence Support Activity / Secret Army of Northern Virginia), Part 1 of 3 - Rangers and TF160/SOAR to Follow. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. He would be given instructions and equipment along the way, and was required to perform certain assignments, for example, setting up a SATCOM system. Some solid intelligence gleaning prompted the community into action to capture PIFWC Serbian General S. Kladanj on his scheduled move out of Serbia proper into the Republic of Serbia. "The ISA's origins are in the Foreign Operating Group (FOG), whose origin in turn is in the 1979 overthrow of Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. . Smith's book lifts the lid of secrecy on the Activity, one of America's least well known Special Ops units. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! However, Operation Anaconda is one of few of the ISAs Afghanistan operations known to the public. 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 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 plan involved flying feet above the turbulent Mediterranean Sea, at night, through hostile airspace. However, due to the nature of ISAs mission, its operators are rarely likely to carry weapons into the field. Some of the more well-documented operations of the ISA shed light on the general nature of the ISAs overall operations. Primarily acting as enablers for JSOC special mission units. Once a member of the ISA passes the initial selection, it trains alongside different intelligence specialists, including members of the CIA. Traditions (religious, political, societal). 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. In all cases, the Congressional members voiced support. Nowadays the ISA focuses on the preparation of the battlespace for military operations across the globe. The US wanted a team to covertly survey the situation on the ground and provide officials with a survey of the US embassy. As such discussing their capabilities is frowned upon. The Joint Special Operations Command and the frequently-renamed Intelligence Support Activity are similar units. 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. (Source), The ISAs selection and training is geared towards intelligence specialisation despite conducting occasional direct engagement. Failed Clandestine operations, usually result in some form of USG explanation. The Cantor said nothing. find out more I grabbed assault rifles and ammo can from our stash in the attic of the safe house and reluctantly handed one to Kay-Kay: You keep this damned thing on safe at all times! Parsing one from the other can be quite difficult and largely determined by the location and nature of the target. 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. Every modern military relies on intelligence, and the US military is a voracious consumer of intelligence, from both an analytical and functional standpoint. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman. These intelligence gathering methods outline how intelligence is gathered and what is done with it afterwards. Had the force been aware of the actual hostage location and situation, the force could have continued past Desert One and probably succeeded. Some units specialize in it, such as the Navy SEALs and 75th Ranger Regiment, and other units, such as US Army Special Forces, have DA capabilities but focus more on other operations. 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. The ISA's HUMINT collectors gather information from human sources via coercion and interrogation depending on the asset. Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Operations Response Team (SORT), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit The trials of the ISA in Queens Hunter were not the only time the team was tested in South America. The direct action element reportedly trains with Delta Force and DEVGRU to maintain their skills. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. However, through OSINT collection we know that there are three primary squadrons: Sometimes referred to as HUMINT or Ground squadron, Operations Squadron functions as ISAs HUMINT collection squadron. It's a Special Mission Unit and conducts highly classified operations. WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! the Cantor interrupted, youre telling me you put in the camera in daylight hours, and now everyone is supposed to be surprised and sympathetic that its gone?. Royal Cape, Granite Rock and Powder Keg were some, Centra Spike and Torn Victor being other possible cover names. ISA focuses on gathering human intelligence based on contact with field agents, and signals intelligence (intercepted communications) to support Delta Force and DEVGRU operations. Featuring 931 new and updated case-based questions, organized into seven core areas of process design, this Self-Assessment will help you identify areas in which . Direct action (DA) is a term used in the context of military special operations for small-scale raids, ambushes, sabotage or similar actions. US Air Force Pararescue | Well, say that was certainly good news. All the tools you need to an in-depth Intelligence Support Activity Self-Assessment. ". "During the 1983 American invasion of Grenada, special forces units were plagued by lack of useful and up-to-date intelligence. 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 The intelligence gathering part was named "Buckeye" and consisted of CIA, NSA and Torn Victor operatives. The United States Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), frequently shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), also known at various times as Joint Reconnaissance Evaluation Group (JREG), Mission Support Activity (MSA), Office of Military Support (OMS), Field Operations Group (FOG), Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA), Tactical This page was last edited on 1 April 2008, at 06:57. Russia and Ukraine battle daily in the sky. (Source). It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. The unit is organized into several elements. Tools like radios, computers and lockpicks are much more crucial to the success of its missions. Hostages were dispersed around Beirut and those with Jewish sounding names were being isolated. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. 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. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. All rights reserved. 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. Operatives infiltrated internet cafes in Baghdad and conducted flyover operations in aircraft filled with signal interception gear. ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? A goodly amount of minutes went by. 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. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. US Army intelligence defines HUMINT as including: The sources of this information can come from enemy combatants, including regular armed forces, and civilian sources. He later commanded both the 1/75th Rangers and the 1st Ranger Training Brigade. 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. (function() { The debris revealed a spider hole and as an operator prepared a grenade, Saddam poked his head out of the hole. There are also teams within the ISA who can conduct direct action missions should the need arise. "Today, the ISA operates under the code name Gray Fox. The unit conducts close survelliance with cameras, even going as far as covertly entering terrorists safe houses and planting hidden cameras. For the four main battalions, numbering in total over 300 operators, there are different roles members could fall into. 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. If some elements (especially photos) were originally yours please consider Specwar.info to host for free. (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. Some forces were focused on eliminating Iraqi forces and others focused on deposing the ruling Hussein family. Well, ok we arrived at just around 1630hrs and the mandarin began. These techniques include intelligence gathering, infiltration and intelligence support. But it had no effect on me or what I was doing not for now at least. 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. 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. They require units with combinations of trained specialized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed the routine capabilities of conventional military forces. However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. Infiltration relies much less on stealthy engagement, and much more on subtlety and effective tradecraft. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. The ISA specializes in gathering human intelligence, signals intelligence and combat. Talk about close target recce. Thats pretty frickin ballsy. Two people with a lockpick kit and a camera. The force is supposedly around 250-275 operators, who excel in intelligence gathering, languages and electronic surveillance. They must maintain a demeanour of trustworthiness and calmness, so any approached HUMINT sources feel safe and trusted. 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. Unit Profile. The unit is organized into several elements. US News & World Report 7/6/98 - "Hunting war criminals: The first account of secret U.S. missions in Bosnia" by Richard J. Newman, https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Intelligence_Support_Activity&oldid=305336, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. 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LTG Odom acquiesced but took every opportunity to oppose actions engaging his traditional intelligence elements. Operation Anaconda highlights how vital of a role the ISA plays in the battlespace. A key driver for the meeting was the recognition that quality operational intelligence was virtually non-existent. 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. It was provided with a cover name, Tactical Concept Activity, and would never be acknowledged by the Pentagon. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Smith's book lifts the lid of secrecy on the Activity, one of America's least well known Special Ops units. 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. 160th SOAR | It is known that the unit has changed its codename over the years. "ISA was divided into branches of signals intelligence (SIGINT) specialists, human intelligence (HUMINT) specialists, and a highly compartmentalized direct action element, the 'shooters'. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! The breakdown of this squadron isnt known either but it likely contains logistical support for the two operational squadrons. (Source). This is how we block. 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. 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. 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. To lawyers, this is a distinction with a difference. "Currently, ISA is believed to be under control of JSOC, and published accounts have it organized into administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT and direct action elements. Special Operations (SO) encompass the use of small units in direct or indirect military actions focused on strategic or operational objectives. We locked the chain back up behind it and returned to base. Funding was to be a joint undertaking. They set up protection for the president and installed a security system. Almost simultaneously, another truck bomb exploded in the French barracks, killing 56. var _gaq = _gaq || []; There was a task I did for the Cantor routinely and at a moments notice. During the operations training course, candidates are taught infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, offensive and off-road driving, personal defensive measures and communications. Their unique abilities are called upon when other special operations forces have not been able to complete their mission due to a gap in intelligence. If an operative is in a country with an official cover, possessing a firearm can mean being sent to prison or death. 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). _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-21361708-1']); Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. 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. Additionally, ISA operates a number of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and these pilots fit somewhere into the puzzle that is ISA. But if the copyright owners want to get in touch to have them immediately removed from this site then please contact our webmaster. _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); 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. People know ISA mostly for its involvement in Operation Anaconda. 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. The raid was cancelled over fears that the French and Italians tipped Karadzic off. Both Army and the Agency recognized the changed nature of the world and the requirements of the emerging terrorist/hostage issues. It is after all, not a strictly combat-oriented role like its other Tier 1 operators. The ISA consistently attaches itself to other units, either as a temporary or more permanent component. The OSS was a direct action "group" that was directly involved in sabotage, infiltration, combat and even assassination. Years before its actual formation, the need for the ISA, or an operational entity like it, was already being examined.
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