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ISA operators were said to be so skilled that they could tell whether a tank needed a tune-up from background noise of transmissions. 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). October 16, 2020 They are known by many names: Task Force Orange; the Intelligence Support Activity; The Activity; the Army of Northern Virginia; the Field Operations Group (FOG); the United States Army Intelligence Support Activity, or just shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (USISA). 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. The ISA agent was ordered to stop the recording, an order to which he complied. Intelligence Support Activity provides US special forces with intelligence gatherers, man hunters, assassins and deep penetration agents. This time around, travel through the city was a very dangerous endeavour, with roadblocks everywhere. When government officials found out, they were horrified, they seemed to have a rogue agency within its ranks. There are also teams within the ISA who can conduct direct action missions should the need arise. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The FOG was able to clandestinely enter Tehran and gather the required intelligence. Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Once inside, Centra Spike agents would plug in laptops into the airplane's power and could simultaneously track four frequencies. Parsing one from the other can be quite difficult and largely determined by the location and nature of the target. When operatives are in less restrictive environments they can often be seen carrying weapons used by locals, most often in the form of AKs. US intelligence gathering methods centre around the US intelligence process, composed of the phases Plan, Prepare, Collect, Process, and Produce. However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. It's a Special Mission Unit and conducts highly classified operations. (Source) Once the safe house was located, using a mixture of SIGINT, GEOINT and HUMINT, a raid was initiated. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. Featured Book: The following article on the Intelligence Support Activity was copied from Specwarnet.net online. Intelligence picked up reports that the two, along with other Sudanese officials were the targets of Libyan-sponsored terrorist assassinations. A critical component of clandestine activity is the ability to infiltrate enemy territory ahead of more formal military action. The moronic mandarins merely blinked and nothing more. By continuing to use this site you consent to our use of cookies. Known as the Confederate Air Force, a joke refencing their title, the Army of Northern Virginia. But, it was also clear that some form of operational melding was essential to effectively address operational requirements. 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'). Lawyers for both Titles within the respective DOD and CIA bureaucracies, fought to preserve their interpretations of applications, to prevent one department from intruding into the territory of the other. ". While Delta and DEVGRU focus on direct engagement and specialized combat tactics, the ISA conducts intelligence and espionage operations at a tactical level. Most officials disliked the unit's head, Jerry King, and thus, JSOC did not send the unit in. Task Force Mandarin [better known as Task Force Orange or the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA)] was a support organization formed to provide signal intercept and intelligence gathering capabilities to Tier One organizations. Meyer was determined that no future SOF OP with Army forces would be conducted absent credible quality CIA/DOD/NSA and Army intelligence. Royal Cape, Granite Rock and Powder Keg were some, Centra Spike and Torn Victor being other possible cover names. Understanding all the following is necessary for successful infiltration: (Source). The whole force drove north as planned, putting Kay and me upfront to clear ahead and report back to the assault force. "Cowan put together another five-man team, but their deployment was stalled for three weeks. LTG Odom acquiesced but took every opportunity to oppose actions engaging his traditional intelligence elements. 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). During the 1990's the unit was known as Capacity Gear. Infiltration relies much less on stealthy engagement, and much more on subtlety and effective tradecraft. "Known as the Intelligence Support Activity, or ISA, when it was established in . 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. Special Operations (SO) encompass the use of small units in direct or indirect military actions focused on strategic or operational objectives. It later took on other roles like SIGINT as battlefield requirements changed over time. Nonetheless, it is known that these operators have shown their indispensable worth to both the intelligence and SOF communities in matters of national security, supporting Delta and SEAL Team Six operations by hitting the ground first to prep the environment: gathering actionable intelligence, pathfinding, and performing a broad range of operational support. Since incorporating under JSOC in 2003, Gray Fox has expanded into direct action and hostage rescue, showing that they may be the most diversely equipped, trained and adaptable Special Missions Unit in the SOF community. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. The Beechcrafts were made to appear normal from the outside, save for a wingspan six inches longer. (Source), The ISAs selection and training is geared towards intelligence specialisation despite conducting occasional direct engagement. The breakdown of this squadron isnt known either but it likely contains logistical support for the two operational squadrons. Operatives infiltrated internet cafes in Baghdad and conducted flyover operations in aircraft filled with signal interception gear. Its worth noting that Bravo troop was never compromised while conducting espionage against the Assad regime in Syria. He scurried off to the barricade. 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. During these operations, the ISA operated alongside other combat groups, providing them with signals intelligence support and field intelligence, including HUMINT. (Source) These collectively will compose some of the roles within a primary battalion of the ISA. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. To this point, the CIA and the DOD followed separate independent paths as defined by statutes contained in Title 10 (DOD authorities) and Title 50 (Intelligence agency authorities). It is unclear how often the ISA interrogates subjects, though given their covert operations they likely at least interrogate high-value targets. Under the guiding hand of JSOC, the ISA operated alongside other JSOC and CIA elements, under the codename Gray Fox. 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. 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. Upon return to the Pentagon, he re-assigned the ACSI POC out of FOG-related issues. Such as procuring equipment, getting funding for operations/training, and human resources functions. 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. Tracking dummy targets over Medellin, Centra Spike managed to pinpoint their locations within 200 meters, while Majestic Eagle came no closer than four miles. [2] Unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance and direct action roles have merged throughout the decades and are typically performed primarily by the same units. Russia's Spetsnaz combines DA and SR units. (function() { It was the type of mission ISA was designed for, but no agents were sent in. Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. 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! 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. 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. " The unit's history, the politics that have shaped it and the operations it has carried out are recounted in great and fascinating detail. When hostages were taken in the Tehran embassy in 1980, it became clear that FOG needed to become a larger group with more resources. These operatives have a cover in the commercial sector, typically as an international businessperson. Little is known about the organization or its activities, but it is clear that they serve as a. One of their major tasks was to create 'pathfinders'. We provided documents for viewing from both the Agency and DOD lawyers supporting the organization and outlining the rationale. Highly recommended. 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 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. 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. The web portal tool will maintain a repository of all INSCOM and non -INSCOM ISA has been known to utlizes signal skimmers to pick up enemy radio transmissions and zero in on their location. Intelligence Support Activity - Person of Interest Wiki In Evaluating Immunities before a Special Tribunal for Aggression Against Ukraine, the Type of Tribunal Matters, Chinas Ferry Tale Taiwan Invasion Plan Is A Legal Nightmare, China Maritime Report No. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. action is "necessary to support identifiable foreign policy objectives of the United States, and is Special Boat Service (SBS) |, Camouflage patterns: Gaining entry into the ISA is not easy; candidates already must be part of a special operations forces group. (. The support provided can come in a range of different forms. 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. 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. 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. The US wanted a team to covertly survey the situation on the ground and provide officials with a survey of the US embassy. 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. Special Recon, Direct Action. 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. During the operations training course, candidates are taught infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, offensive and off-road driving, personal defensive measures and communications. Grey Dynamics is a Private Intelligence firm based out of London with analysts, researchers, and investigators worldwide. While driving through northern Lebanon, Cowan and his mates suffered several close calls with Syrian roadblocks and patrols. The Pentagon's Spies: Military Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Activities ISA members are often multilingual. Every modern military relies on intelligence, and the US military is a voracious consumer of intelligence, from both an analytical and functional standpoint. My team, me and happy-trigger-fingered Kay-Kay, were to position north of the ambush site, report the approach of the Generals car, then pull our car out onto the highway to block traffic for the hot minute it took the assault force to stop Klandanjs car and scoop him up. A case officer is someone who handles a foreign asset by giving them collection requirements and ensuring their safety. 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. 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. "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. "Apparently, ISA's direct action element was also put on alert during the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. This extends beyond knowledge of things like general location, language and culture. (Source), Outlined as the primary purpose of the ISA since its inception, intelligence gathering is one of its most essential tasks. As with any clandestine unit, only so much can be known about any of the JSOC special mission units. 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. They began forming their own plan for storming the airplane and liberating the hostages. They are known by many names: Task Force Orange; the Intelligence Support Activity; The Activity; the Army of Northern Virginia; the Field Operations Group (FOG); the United States Army Intelligence Support Activity, or just shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (USISA). They marked secret infiltration routes and bases American forces could use if they were ever sent into the country. find out more Its scope is quite large, and it often works in support of JSOC, SOCOM and even other intelligence agencies. Intelligence Support Activity-Bragg developed an online tool, the pilot for which was planned to commence on June 1, 2019, to standardize the System Authorization Access Request, Acceptable Use Policy and Privileged Access Agreement for the command. There are four primary battalions with various responsibilities being spread across them. Delta Force | PDF National and Joint Intelligence Support - United States Army They discovered there was no co-ordination between them, and vital information regarding terrorist attacks was not being shared. Unit Profile. In 1989, during Operation Just Cause, the American invasion of Panama, ISA proposed to deploy a team of its intelligence agents to track Manuel Noriega, but the offer was declined. Centra Spike agents operated all around Colombia, as well as neighbouring countries where the cartels influence extended. 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. _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', '.specwar.info']); When the CIA took credit for Centra Spike's work, the Army became furious and a competition was arranged between the two units. Unless you plan to body-check those cars I would junk up.. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! They also noted the specific funding line and agreed to manage it as a priority classified line absent committee discussion. Meyer was incensed at the lack of CIA interest/dedication/support to the rescue task and believed that was a major factor in the failure. "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. Establishing cover as husband and wife to live in and conduct intelligence collection missions within a target country. Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. For the four main battalions, numbering in total over 300 operators, there are different roles members could fall into. It was settled, and Majestic Eagle withdrew from the operation. During Anaconda, ISA intelligence helped save both the 10th Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division at Takur Ghar. 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. 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. 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. Reconnaissance overflights revealed a possible location where POWs, still believed to be held by the Vietnamese early in the year. ISA operatives are highly skilled in the various arts of HUMINT gathering including: (Source). People know ISA mostly for its involvement in Operation Anaconda. Electronic specialists and SIGINT operators comprised part of the force. All information and multimedia on Specwar.info comes from a wide number of sources. 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 discovered that he was tape-recording the operation, prompting fears that ISA head Jerry King might use the tape as leverage in case the op went bad. Each of these groups achieves different specialised tasks for their assigned mission. Shadow Warriors: The Ultra-Secret, Special Reconnaissance Regiment 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 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.. Part of a Delta-DEVGRU task force, ISA provided intelligence on the whereabouts of Bosnian Serb war crimes suspects. 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. 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. With it, they had a unit of military spies able to covertly infiltrate a country and provide hands-on, critical intelligence, as well as to raise logistical support for counter-terrorist commandos in case of a crisis. A team of mandarins was tasked with blocking traffic in the same fashion on the south side of the ambush site, then with following the assault force north to provide rearguard to the convoy.