(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. However, the CIA couldnt provide these answers so Delta turned to the FOG. Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. They require units with combinations of trained specialized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed the routine capabilities of conventional military forces. " 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 force is supposedly around 250-275 operators. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. geo sends. "On December 17, 1981, Colonel James Dozier, the highest ranking American army officer in the NATO southern European Command was kidnapped by members of the Red Brigade terrorist faction. 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. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. 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. These operatives were responsible for helping take down insurgent networks in Iraq. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. All rights reserved. Most officials disliked the unit's head, Jerry King, and thus, JSOC did not send the unit in. But the poor Cantor had to suffer through the mandarin menace sure enough. During these operations, the ISA operated alongside other combat groups, providing them with signals intelligence support and field intelligence, including HUMINT. The mandarins had inexplicably turned and ran south back to our home base leaving no rear guard for the main body. by Michael Smith Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. An ISA technician with a SATCOM was provided for the operation to aid in the tracking. The unit was raised in 1979 as the Foreign Operating Group (FOG), who was created to overthrow the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. Before it operated under the name ISA, the group was referred to as the Field Operations Group (FOG). The whole force drove north as planned, putting Kay and me upfront to clear ahead and report back to the assault force. . 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). Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman. "Known as the Intelligence Support Activity, or ISA, when it was established in 1981, this unit fought in drug wars and counter-terror operations from the Middle East to South America. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: HUMINT (HUMan INTellgence) Delta Force and SEAL Team Six were scrambled in preparation to liberate the hostages if needed, as the airplane hopped back and forth from Beirut to Algiers. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); 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'). All Rights Reserved. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. "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. From 5 miles away and 4,575m above the ground, operatives could target insurgents communications via cellphone. 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. Gen Meyer, Gen Vaught (DAMO-OD), and LTC Jim Longhofer (DAMO-ODSO), traveled to Langley and met with the new Director and his operational elements director. This is directed from , waaay above my pay grade yeah, I get it.. var _gaq = _gaq || []; The exact makeup of ISAs force structure is hard to determine. Authors cartoon depicting the mandarins installing the soon-to-be compromised surveillance camera. 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. But it had no effect on me or what I was doing not for now at least. Special Boat Service (SBS) |, Camouflage patterns: (Source), The tactics and techniques of the ISA are some of the most unique among all the JSOC special operations groups. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? And with that our boss, the Cantor, doled out a mission for a two-man team of mandarins. The SEALs, SAS, and SBS added additional capabilities over time, responding to the needs of modern conflict. Failed Clandestine operations, usually result in some form of USG explanation. 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 The support provided can come in a range of different forms. A Congressional hearing was held, and the media revealed the existence of a 'classified military intelligence unit'. The vast majority of their operations are clouded not just in shadow, but in complete darkness. The Cantor, busy writing, asked me how it went. 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 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. All the tools you need to an in-depth Intelligence Support Activity Self-Assessment. Due to their specialization in intelligence, they can operate as vanguard teams to support another units operations. ISA operatives often work in disguise and undercover. Intelligence Support Activity - Role 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'). Support Veteran Journalism . Highly recommended. Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 operators on the loose? 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. "In and around Afghanistan, Gray Fox was part of a secret sphere that included the CIA's paramilitary Special Activities Division and the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command. Both sides would work together on developing the intel, and then a decision would be made regarding a specific operational tasking to avoid statutory conflict. (function() { The team put together a detailed critique and proposed changes to the organization of the forces, but the document was ignored by the higher officials insisting that security was adequate. He would be given instructions and equipment along the way, and was required to perform certain assignments, for example, setting up a SATCOM system. 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. (Source) The US military sought to carry out intelligence operations without the direct need of US intelligence agencies. These members function as case officers. One such organization, the Red Brigades, composed of far-left communist-leaning extremists, kidnapped U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier. The monitoring of guerilla factions allowed the Salvadoran Army to successfully defend against their attacks. Smith's book lifts the lid of secrecy on the Activity, one of America's least well known Special Ops units. 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. Fort Belvoir, North Virginia, United States. The terrain was extremely rugged, the enemy was far more entrenched than anticipated, and Murphys Law was in full effect. Hostages were dispersed around Beirut and those with Jewish sounding names were being isolated. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. 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. Prior to Saddams capture, over 40 members of his family were captured and interrogated to determine his whereabouts with little success. 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. The OSS was a direct action "group" that was directly involved in sabotage, infiltration, combat and even assassination. The U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) is a special operations unit that collects "actionable" intelligence in preparation for activities by other special operations units, particularly those related to counter-terrorism missions. SIGINT operations extended to areas with overlapping guerrilla operations, such as Nicaragua, which was facing the increased foe of the Contras. Working closely with Special Forces and the CIA, Gray Fox also places operatives inside hostile territory. As the name implies, SIGINT Squadron is responsible for ISAs signals intelligence mission. The breakdown of this squadron isnt known either but it likely contains logistical support for the two operational squadrons. However, due to the nature of ISAs mission, its operators are rarely likely to carry weapons into the field. (Dominique Sumner and Peter Tomich). Traditions (religious, political, societal). ISA was asked to develop a plan of action. Along with Queens Hunter, ISA was involved in many operations across Central America, in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. In sum, Uniforms do Clandestine, Civvies do Covert. At the point of execution, the road became bureaucratically bumpy. 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. Later that same year, Delta Force and ISA operators were sent to Saudi Arabia to help organize and train a Special Purpose Detachment of the Saudi National Guard. I could tell by her skunk-eye that she had a dagger in the pipe ready to launch, so I lightened up. Its budget would be carefully concealed so that it never made a paper trail, and only a dozen officials would know the names and locations of all of ISA's agents and safehouses. They were so adept that observers commented they could literally pluck information from the air, speaking not only to the revolutionary use of SIGINT but also the skill of the ISA. During the operation, a rivalry developed between Centra Spike, and a CIA intelligence unit named Majestic Eagle. Unit Profile. The other half flew to Cyprus to join the rest of the rescue force. Escobar was shot as he was trying to escape from the roof of his house. Direct action differs from conventional offensive actions in the level of physical and political risk, operational techniques, and the degree of discriminate and precise use of force to achieve specific objectives."[1]. Little is known about the organization or its activities, but it is clear that they serve as a. non-covert action intelligence activityoften a collection programto be of such sensitivity that 1 Oral notifications shall be followed by a written notification. The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. The CIA would talk directly to the warlords while the ISA provided SIGINT support and ground security for them. 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. Every modern military relies on intelligence, and the US military is a voracious consumer of intelligence, from both an analytical and functional standpoint. Intelligence Support Activity - Role 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'). 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. 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. 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. In line with their proficiency in infiltration, they had an array of passports, credit cards and falsified documents to allow easy movement between territories. The manhunt was over. 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 capture was to happen as he would be heading south to the city of Vlasenica. He commanded airborne battalions in both the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. When conducting more integrated operations with other parts of the military, the skill of intelligence support comes into play. 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. The trials of the ISA in Queens Hunter were not the only time the team was tested in South America. 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. })(); Intelligence Support Activity provides US special forces with intelligence gatherers, man hunters, assassins and deep penetration agents. Officially formed in 1980 as FOG then transitioning to the USAISA from 1981 to 1989, this unit now operates under changing names like Capacity Gear or Quiet Enable. "Gray Fox's low-profile eavesdropping planes also fly without military markings. The Pentagon frequently disavows knowledge regarding their activities or even their existence, and they've been given different names multiple times to misdirect any probes into their identity or activities. The ISA initially had only support activity and HUMINT gathering functions. The mission support teams help actualize the other major goal of supporting other forces in a battlespace. "ISA's existence became public in 1982 as a result of a scandal involving US POWs in Vietnam. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! Key to the concept was that there would be a single in-house element (FOG) that either side could use e.g. Lgion trangre (French Foreign Legion) | (amazon.com), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit The moronic mandarins merely blinked and nothing more. 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The selection process for the ISA prioritizes both a physical skill for field operations and a skill for intelligence operations. While driving through northern Lebanon, Cowan and his mates suffered several close calls with Syrian roadblocks and patrols. US Navy SEALs | The planners in DAMO-ODSO were acutely aware of the different legal authorities contained in Title 10 and Title 50 statutes. In effect, the ISAs exploitation of signal intelligence saved the lives of 100s of US soldiers from the 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne divisions. 2e Rgiment tranger de Parachutistes | Geo, take a mandarin with you, the Cantor directed without looking at me. 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. [2] Unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance and direct action roles have merged throughout the decades and are typically performed primarily by the same units. "Known as the Intelligence Support Activity, or ISA, when it was established in . "ISA was also rumoured to be operating in Bosnia in the last few years under the code-name Torn Victor. Some forces were focused on eliminating Iraqi forces and others focused on deposing the ruling Hussein family. ". 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. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ . The third known squadron is the Mission Support Squadron. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. "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. LTG Odom acquiesced but took every opportunity to oppose actions engaging his traditional intelligence elements. (Source), The failure of Operation Eagle Claw was a turning point for US special operations. Sound Like You? If some elements (especially photos) were originally yours please consider Specwar.info to host for free. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; 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. ISA was close to making the exchange, but the deal fell through at the last minute. Stew Smith and Jeff Nichols discuss the new testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E) used at BUDS to deter use Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. 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. The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . (Source). "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. FOG became permanent and renamed ISA on March 3, 1981. 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When Escobar surrendered in 1991, Centra Spike was pulled out, only to return a year later, when Escobar escaped from his comfortable prison. 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?. 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. The unit's history, the politics that have shaped it and the operations it has carried out are recounted in great and fascinating detail. US Army Rangers | During the war on terror it was responsible for hunting hunting high value persons. 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. They marked secret infiltration routes and bases American forces could use if they were ever sent into the country. At one point during the Global War on Terror, ISA along with a component from the Airforce and Delta began to build a fleet of ISR aircraft. It is unclear how often the ISA interrogates subjects, though given their covert operations they likely at least interrogate high-value targets. 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). 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. 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. Title 10 is the broad statute regarding what DOD is authorized to do. ISA intelligence specialists, K9 units, security experts and demolition experts were sent to the country undercover as military advisers. Being highly proficient in the collection of HUMINT and SIGINT has made them a very effective, yet specifically dedicated, intelligence task force. The ISA specializes in gathering human intelligence, signals intelligence and combat. As with both the establishment of JSOC, TF160/SOAR and Ranger SOF, the task was not easy.