The unit exists in an altered form today, but it is an example as to how the USG can effectively mix Title 10 and 50 rules to achieve a common end and how conventional bureaucracies can stifle needed imaginative resolutions. by Michael Smith Understanding all the following is necessary for successful infiltration: (Source). (Source), Under the operational codename Centra Spike, the Intelligence Support Activity operated alongside CIA and local police elements to track down Escobar. Intelligence Support Activity - Person of Interest Wiki ISA has been known to utlizes signal skimmers to pick up enemy radio transmissions and zero in on their location. The exact makeup of ISAs force structure is hard to determine. The Beechcrafts were made to appear normal from the outside, save for a wingspan six inches longer. (Source) The US military sought to carry out intelligence operations without the direct need of US intelligence agencies. G-2 - U.S. Army Training Doctrine and Command Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of the Intelligence Community PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. Under the umbrella group of Joint Special Operations Task Force 20, the Intelligence Support Activity helped track down and locate Saddam Hussein. ISA: Soldier Spies of the Intelligence Support Activity That close-holding of his cards was typical of him. It is unclear how often the ISA interrogates subjects, though given their covert operations they likely at least interrogate high-value targets. One such organization, the Red Brigades, composed of far-left communist-leaning extremists, kidnapped U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier. "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. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. 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. Had the force been aware of the actual hostage location and situation, the force could have continued past Desert One and probably succeeded. 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. >Develops and . Task Force Orange: Supporting Delta Force | SOFREP 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 This includes Clandestine operations, but not those which are Covert. Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. 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. Delta troop is tasked with countries that are a softer target for infiltration such as the Philippines or Morocco. (Source). An ISA agent was secretly infiltrated into Beirut where he provided real-time intelligence on the location of the hostages. 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. Operatives can covertly enter enemy buildings to plant cameras. Once a member of the ISA passes the initial selection, it trains alongside different intelligence specialists, including members of the CIA. The Intelligence Support Activity conducts its operations during and in advance of US military operations. The Cantor sent me out as usual to throw the lock, wait for our operational vehicle to pass, then shut it again. US ARMY INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY - YouTube Eliciting information from select sources, The exploitation of documents, media and materials. His areas of focus are extremism in the Western world, military privatization and the impact of climate change on global security. But the poor Cantor had to suffer through the mandarin menace sure enough. The selection process for the ISA prioritizes both a physical skill for field operations and a skill for intelligence operations. 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. Their role is to bridge the gaps when it is simply too dangerous for other agencies to put boots on the ground, and as these gaps change in every operational environment, so too do their responsibilities and activities. The cyber operations team extends into other offsets of intelligence gathering, including OSINT, cyber threat intelligence and cyber warfare. 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. 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. by Michael Smith A critical component of clandestine activity is the ability to infiltrate enemy territory ahead of more formal military action. (Source) Training involves different espionage and intelligence methods that allow ISA members to carry out their essential HUMINT operations. 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. 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. 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. The U.S. Army's Special Operations Forces Explained 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. US Army Rangers | Almost simultaneously, another truck bomb exploded in the French barracks, killing 56. Operatives tradecraft for avoiding detection is impeccable. Operatives infiltrated internet cafes in Baghdad and conducted flyover operations in aircraft filled with signal interception gear. It is common for the appearance and demeanour of an agent to be the key to their success as an infiltrator. A key driver for the meeting was the recognition that quality operational intelligence was virtually non-existent. Title 10 is the broad statute regarding what DOD is authorized to do. The Joint Special Operations Command and the frequently-renamed Intelligence Support Activity are similar units. The Cantor said nothing. (Source). (function() { These operatives mirror the function of CIA case officers and even go through CIA training at the Farm in Virginia. (Source). 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 We had a key to that lock that the MUPs did not know about; that is, I could pick the lock with consistency. These intelligence gathering methods outline how intelligence is gathered and what is done with it afterwards. These deployments include Operation Winter Harvest, Operation Queens Hunter and their role in Operation Anaconda. > Role: HUMINT (human intelligence), SIGINT (signals intelligence), direct action. Centra Spike was withdrawn in 1993 for a temporary assignment in Somalia to aid US special forces there, but resumed the hunt later in the year. 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. Retired Army Col. Paris Davis stood in the White House as President Biden draped the Medal of Honor around his neck, nearly Chief Special Warfare Operator Michael T. Ernst died following a "military freefall training accident" on Feb. 19 in Marana Lt. Col. Collin Charlie Christopherson, the commander of the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, was arrested How much do you know about the morale machine that's been deploying with U.S. troops since WWII? Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. During the war on terror it was responsible for hunting hunting high value persons. Unfortunately, the hostages were dispersed throughout the country, and the chance never came for a second attempt, but the seeds were planted for the Intelligence Support Activity. Operationally, the ISA is a dedicated intelligence group, doing the intelligence leg work for special operations groups. ISA operators would infiltrate either Beirut or Algiers on commercial flights to avoid tipping off the terrorists or the authorities. Once inside, Centra Spike agents would plug in laptops into the airplane's power and could simultaneously track four frequencies. It was so simple that we didnt even need to create a nursery rhyme to recite to help us remember all the steps. Kay-Kay and I sat at a table jamming some 12 magazines and chatting over our actions at our blocking position. Original content is published under aCreative Commons Licenseper ourTerms of Use. US News & World Report describes Torn Victor as 'trained as high-risk intelligence gatherers,' a title fitting the ISA. Candidates then are put through a battery of assessment and selection courses as well as background checks and psychological testing. This was never forthcoming despite the greatest pressure upon the Agency. 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. 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. Before it operated under the name ISA, the group was referred to as the Field Operations Group (FOG). "Today, the ISA operates under the code name Gray Fox. Traditions (religious, political, societal). The FOG was able to clandestinely enter Tehran and gather the required intelligence. Some of ISA's most recent deployments was in 1993 in Somalia. They also have direct action elements within their battalions, alongside specialists in HUMINT and SIGINT. 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. (Source) This allowed the forces involved in the surrounding Shahikot Valley to be more informed of enemy movements and positions. (Source). Being highly proficient in the collection of HUMINT and SIGINT has made them a very effective, yet specifically dedicated, intelligence task force. This intelligence then triangulated the possible location of Dozier. Both Army and the Agency recognized the changed nature of the world and the requirements of the emerging terrorist/hostage issues. Or these operatives can clone a cellphone, allowing them to send and receive communications to and from the phone from a remote locations. I delivered the unemotional skinny to the Cantor who neither commented nor looked up from his work. The separation did not fit real world requirements which was finally recognized in the aftermath of the failed Iran rescue. The authors note that "All information used in this article has been obtained from publicly available, open source documents." They set up protection for the president and installed a security system. The JTF was largely dependent upon the CIA to provide the vital confirming HUMINT as to the hostage location. They began forming their own plan for storming the airplane and liberating the hostages. During Anaconda, ISA intelligence helped save both the 10th Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division at Takur Ghar. US intelligence gathering methods centre around the US intelligence process, composed of the phases Plan, Prepare, Collect, Process, and Produce. 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. Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. It is known that the unit has changed its codename over the years. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. Reconnaissance overflights revealed a possible location where POWs, still believed to be held by the Vietnamese early in the year. Since 2003, t. Its members often use disguises to avoid detection and if they are compromised they can quickly disappear from sight and completely change their appearance. The Intelligence Support Activitys operations in El Salvador, under Operation Queens Hunter, demonstrated the effectiveness of the newly founded squadrons mastery of SIGINT and cross-departmental cooperation. US Air Force Pararescue | The United States realized that insufficient intelligence gathering was the critical point of failure in our attempt to rescue the American hostages and that there was a gap between the Intelligence and Special Operations communities. Cowan traveled the Lebanese countryside pinpointing the locations of Syrian anti-aircraft emplacements. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ . He commanded airborne battalions in both the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. "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. It was a body of men and women first sent to Japan to study Ninjitzu, then on to Chinas Shao Lin Temple to study Kung Fu, then finally to Iran to study the ways of the Immortals under the former King of the Persian Empire, Xerxes the Great. Colonel Jerry King retained his position as the head of the group, now 100-strong and headquartered in a nondescript building in Arlington, Virginia. This extra length concealed the main eavesdropping antennas, while others could be lowered from the belly while in flight. They marked secret infiltration routes and bases American forces could use if they were ever sent into the country. Electronic specialists and SIGINT operators comprised part of the force. The strategists decided the best option would be to send an ISA team in to provide accurate intelligence on the situation, and to prepare to secure landing zones for a Delta rescue force. 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). It has since changed names several times to avoid media publicity, having been alternately known as the Tactical Concept Activity, the Tactical Coordination Detachment, the Tactical Support Team, and the Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA), among other designations. With dramatis personae that include the CIA, Delta Force, DEVGRU, the Intelligence Support Activity, Pakistani Commandos, the Taliban, and spies from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI), this story has the makings of a future Brad Thor bestseller. (Source). When hostages were taken in the Tehran embassy in 1980, it became clear that FOG needed to become a larger group with more resources. (Source). The second rescue force was not going to be affected by the same problem, and the FOG was established in July of 1980, under the control of Colonel Jerry King. Some forces were focused on eliminating Iraqi forces and others focused on deposing the ruling Hussein family. 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"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. There are also teams within the ISA who can conduct direct action missions should the need arise. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. A declassified document provides background information about the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA ), a little known intelligence gathering unit that collects tactical intel for Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and other Special Operations units. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! 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. 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! Unless you plan to body-check those cars I would junk up.. In the 1980s, extremist parties on both sides of the political spectrum plagued Italy. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! (Source), The tactics and techniques of the ISA are some of the most unique among all the JSOC special operations groups. Green Berets are considered unique from other special operators for various reasons, most . He seemed equally satisfied when they reported the next morning that the clandcam was up and recording and that they would have the product with them when they returned the next morning. 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!. A much more classified component was a solely-US effort codenamed Green Light, focusing specifically on former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. Rather than disbanding the unit, it was expanded. 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'). Samuel is a King's College graduate with an MA in War Studies. He scurried off to the barricade. A simultaneous raid on the targets was to be made. 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. However, Operation Anaconda is one of few of the ISAs Afghanistan operations known to the public. Intelligence Support Activity | The Activity | Gray Fox The raid was cancelled over fears that the French and Italians tipped Karadzic off. The ISA team left Beirut in January 1984. Alpha and Charlie troops utilize official cover to collect human intelligence. However, due to the nature of ISAs mission, its operators are rarely likely to carry weapons into the field. Why America's Special Forces Are so Unique and Deadly ISA recommended covert deployment of its operatives to both airports to secure landing zones and infiltration routes. On December 2, 1993, with help from Centra Spike and a mobile Colombian surveillance team, Escobar's hideout was pinpointed, and Colombian police moved in.