intelligence support activity direct actionintelligence support activity direct action

US Navy SEALs | On Gen Meyer's departure, his successor, John Wickham, attempted to disband the unit, but Jack Marsh, in his role as ASD SO/LIC prevented it, and required it be retained, and resourced. The third known squadron is the Mission Support Squadron. Sadly, the team's evaluation did not serve to upgrade American security standards, and a truck bomb exploded from within 40 feet of the embassy entrance later that year. Are you one of them? 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. Cowan and another ISA agent managed to drive through every sector of Beirut, even the Shiite suburb, a dangerous practice at the time. The Cantor sent me out as usual to throw the lock, wait for our operational vehicle to pass, then shut it again. The most important thing to know is that intelligence drives "direct action" operations. 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. To operatorsnot so much. SIGINT operations extended to areas with overlapping guerrilla operations, such as Nicaragua, which was facing the increased foe of the Contras. They also noted the specific funding line and agreed to manage it as a priority classified line absent committee discussion. 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. 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. 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. ISA operatives often work in disguise and undercover. 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. A key driver for the meeting was the recognition that quality operational intelligence was virtually non-existent. 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 . They began forming their own plan for storming the airplane and liberating the hostages. 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. (amazon.com). non-covert action intelligence activityoften a collection programto be of such sensitivity that 1 Oral notifications shall be followed by a written notification. 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. find out more A case officer is someone who handles a foreign asset by giving them collection requirements and ensuring their safety. " 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). Delta's deployment was stalled by bureaucratic dealings, so ISA mobilized its most compartmentalized unit, the direct action element, the shooters. "When the first rescue attempt of the hostages in Iran failed, a second attempt, code-named Honey Badger, immediately started. Like many special operations groups, their active arsenal is not likely a small rigid loadout, it is a range of various weapons that are available to suit the units needs. Additionally, conceal meant can be a factor in weapon selection too. In sum, Uniforms do Clandestine, Civvies do Covert. Law and the killing of a Russian propagandist: Some Q & A BY CHARLIE DUNLAP, J.D. ISA was close to making the exchange, but the deal fell through at the last minute. Tracking dummy targets over Medellin, Centra Spike managed to pinpoint their locations within 200 meters, while Majestic Eagle came no closer than four miles. One of their major tasks was to create 'pathfinders'. This page was last edited on 1 April 2008, at 06:57. The Beechcrafts were made to appear normal from the outside, save for a wingspan six inches longer. This Intelligence Support Activity All-Inclusive Self-Assessment enables You to be that person. The intelligence gathering part was named "Buckeye" and consisted of CIA, NSA and Torn Victor operatives. 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. The ISA also has a direct action arm comprised of men and women recruited from the US Army Delta . We provided documents for viewing from both the Agency and DOD lawyers supporting the organization and outlining the rationale. As with any clandestine unit, only so much can be known about any of the JSOC special mission units. 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. Its scope is quite large, and it often works in support of JSOC, SOCOM and even other intelligence agencies. The unit's history, the politics that have shaped it and the operations it has carried out are recounted in great and fascinating detail. 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. Then, Delta and SEAL Team 6 operators would make their way into the city in small groups and wait at safe-houses until the time was right. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. He later commanded both the 1/75th Rangers and the 1st Ranger Training Brigade. 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Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. The fleet was comprised of 15 different types of aircraft for a combined total of 40 aircraft, all decked out with SIGINT interception technology. Most ISA trainees are from Army Special Forces, meaning many have skills in CQC, sniping, counter-sniping and general tactical engagements. It is known that the unit has changed its codename over the years. 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.. The rapidly deteriorating situation in the country prompted the United States to create a small Special Forces unit with the purpose of surveying the US embassy. ISA members conducted extensive interviews with Special Forces members in the country, Lebanese Army and CIA and embassy officials. The unit conducts close survelliance with cameras, even going as far as covertly entering terrorists safe houses and planting hidden cameras. (Source) This indicates that members of the primary four battalions who are combat specialists will have a wide range of skills, and therefore a high range of weapons they utilize. 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). 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. "ISA was also rumoured to be operating in Bosnia in the last few years under the code-name Torn Victor. "These commands and white Special Forces like the Green Berets, as well as Air Force combat controllers and commandos of eight different nations report to a mind-boggling array of new command cells and coordination units set up after Sept. The vast majority of the ISAs operations in Afghanistan are still classified. Key to the concept was that there would be a single in-house element (FOG) that either side could use e.g. Unfortunately, the police were either heavily corrupted or unwilling to arrest Escobar, and the intelligence went to waste. Case officers also target and recruit potential assets. The Department of Defense in 1965 outlined its need to be more involved with collecting intelligence, supported by Robert McNamara. "Also in 1982, an ISA team was sent to Sudan to provide protection to Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry and his vice president. These deployments include Operation Winter Harvest, Operation Queens Hunter and their role in Operation Anaconda. Through their mastery of SIGINT, the ISA quickly got on the task of intercepting radio and telephone transmissions. 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. Under the guiding hand of JSOC, the ISA operated alongside other JSOC and CIA elements, under the codename Gray Fox. 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. They require units with combinations of trained specialized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed the routine capabilities of conventional military forces. This is directed from , waaay above my pay grade yeah, I get it.. US Army intelligence defines HUMINT as including: The sources of this information can come from enemy combatants, including regular armed forces, and civilian sources. 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. An operation was planned for their rescue, with Seaspray, Delta Force and the ISA all playing a role. 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. The ISA initially had only support activity and HUMINT gathering functions. ISA focuses on gathering human intelligence based on contact with field agents, and signals intelligence (intercepted communications) to support Delta Force and DEVGRU operations. (Source). . Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Operations Response Team (SORT), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit Original content is published under aCreative Commons Licenseper ourTerms of Use. The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. But, it was also clear that some form of operational melding was essential to effectively address operational requirements. When government officials found out, they were horrified, they seemed to have a rogue agency within its ranks. A goodly amount of minutes went by. This includes Clandestine operations, but not those which are Covert. There's a lot of fascinating special operation history in the Netflix thriller "Lou," but going into details would reveal Jason McCarthy of goruck.com and Stew Smith discuss his journey to, through, and after Army Special Forces and being Copyright 2023 Military.com. Special Operations Forces are the elite commandos of the U.S. military. This is a potentially significant compromise. the Cantor lamented in earnest. 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. As they soundly slept in the reverie of their grand plan, the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy happened by and found the car unlocked. (Source), Additionally, the ISA has acted as a pseudo-security element for the CIA. Most officials disliked the unit's head, Jerry King, and thus, JSOC did not send the unit in. 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 FOG was able to clandestinely enter Tehran and gather the required intelligence. The plan involved flying feet above the turbulent Mediterranean Sea, at night, through hostile airspace. (Source). (Source). Unit Profile. Once a member of the ISA passes the initial selection, it trains alongside different intelligence specialists, including members of the CIA. Talk about close target recce. Thats pretty frickin ballsy. Two people with a lockpick kit and a camera. These techniques include intelligence gathering, infiltration and intelligence support. The Cantor said nothing. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. 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). Originally the unit was known as the Field Operations Group or FOG and was designed to fill the Armys need for clandestine intelligence collection. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. World conditions in the early 1980s suggested that some capability was required to address the ambiguous conflicts of each Title authority into some form of credible operational capability. Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. Working closely with Special Forces and the CIA, Gray Fox also places operatives inside hostile territory. The Intelligence Support Activity conducts its operations during and in advance of US military operations. Hostages were dispersed around Beirut and those with Jewish sounding names were being isolated. Intelligence picked up reports that the two, along with other Sudanese officials were the targets of Libyan-sponsored terrorist assassinations. People know ISA mostly for its involvement in Operation Anaconda. 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 unit is organized into several elements. No unit is quite as secretive as the Intelligence Support Activity. The mission support teams help actualize the other major goal of supporting other forces in a battlespace. Covert operations are shrouded in plausible deniability. As such discussing their capabilities is frowned upon. 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. 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?. This intelligence then triangulated the possible location of Dozier. 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. Delta troop is tasked with countries that are a softer target for infiltration such as the Philippines or Morocco. Some forces were focused on eliminating Iraqi forces and others focused on deposing the ruling Hussein family. Units in Sarajevo tracked Karadzic electronically, while other agents were on the ground in Pale, Karadzic's home. a Title 10 operation or a Title 50 operation. Before it operated under the name ISA, the group was referred to as the Field Operations Group (FOG). Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis. 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. Ultimately, Operation Credible Sport was cancelled but the FOG had proven its usefulness. The ISA agent was ordered to stop the recording, an order to which he complied. Marpat Camo Test |. In effect, the ISAs exploitation of signal intelligence saved the lives of 100s of US soldiers from the 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne divisions. 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). The separation did not fit real world requirements which was finally recognized in the aftermath of the failed Iran rescue. 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. The breakdown of this squadron isnt known either but it likely contains logistical support for the two operational squadrons. "Known as the Intelligence Support Activity, or ISA, when it was established in . (Source) Operatives must not look out of placeor easily recognizable. "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. Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. The examples and perspective in this article, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Joint Publication 1-02 Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms", United States Army Special Operations Command, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Direct_action_(military)&oldid=1081847487, This page was last edited on 10 April 2022, at 01:40. 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. The authors note that "All information used in this article has been obtained from publicly available, open source documents." During the 1990's the unit was known as Capacity Gear. Cake duty! "In late 1981, ISA agents were involved in the attempt to acquire a Soviet T-72 tank, which had obsessed intelligence analysts. An ISA technician with a SATCOM was provided for the operation to aid in the tracking. 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. Primarily acting as enablers for JSOC special mission units. Originally the ISA operated as a tactical arm of the National Security Agency. Operationally, the ISA is a dedicated intelligence group, doing the intelligence leg work for special operations groups. His elements were being heavily tasked, and a directed intelligence pipeline was established to FOG. "In 1984, political instability swept through the Seychelles, a group of islands off the coast of Africa. While driving through northern Lebanon, Cowan and his mates suffered several close calls with Syrian roadblocks and patrols. (Source). The ISA technicians were instrumental in the tracking and capture of a number of Red Brigades terrorists, and most probably the location of the kidnapped Dozier himself. This is how we block. The trials of the ISA in Queens Hunter were not the only time the team was tested in South America. 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 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. He scurried off to the barricade. _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', '.specwar.info']); Does the army's intelligence support activity also do direct action? Gaining entry into the ISA is not easy; candidates already must be part of a special operations forces group. The CIA was leading extraordinary rendition operations in Somalia in conjunction with the ISA and the help of local warlords. Zones are prepared, field intelligence is gathered, and targets are laid out for other forces. by Michael Smith 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 government realized the importance of the FOG. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! It was the type of mission ISA was designed for, but no agents were sent in. I didnt think a thing of it, as it had taken me a while to throw that lock open on my first few tries. (Source), Under the operational codename Centra Spike, the Intelligence Support Activity operated alongside CIA and local police elements to track down Escobar. Its worth noting that Bravo troop was never compromised while conducting espionage against the Assad regime in Syria. Afghanistan: The Fox and The Anaconda. 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. Since 2003, t. 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. 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. "ISA was divided into branches of signals intelligence (SIGINT) specialists, human intelligence (HUMINT) specialists, and a highly compartmentalized direct action element, the 'shooters'. The direct action element reportedly trains with Delta Force and DEVGRU to maintain their skills. Operatives must also go unnoticed, being able to blend into crowds and not draw attention. The FOG was re-named the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), and given an initial budget of $7 million. Initially, Delta Force turned to the CIA for information regarding the number of guards, how they were armed and what security measures they had in place. (Source), The ISAs selection and training is geared towards intelligence specialisation despite conducting occasional direct engagement. "ISA's existence became public in 1982 as a result of a scandal involving US POWs in Vietnam. 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. ISA was asked to develop a plan of action. In 2003 four troops: A,B,C, and D made up the squadron. A simultaneous raid on the targets was to be made. 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. These operatives were responsible for helping take down insurgent networks in Iraq. Royal Cape, Granite Rock and Powder Keg were some, Centra Spike and Torn Victor being other possible cover names. Subsequent, Task Force 121, a collection of special mission units and conventional forces organized a raid on a small farming compound in rural Iraq. When the CIA took credit for Centra Spike's work, the Army became furious and a competition was arranged between the two units. 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 They were never used. In short order, Langley provided people, training, and a conduit to its various intelligence and planning aspects. One such organization, the Red Brigades, composed of far-left communist-leaning extremists, kidnapped U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier. By November 1993, the noose was tightening around Escobar, and Centra Spike managed to track him down to a suburb of Medellin called Los Olivos. He looked up at me momentarily though he did not repeat himself. 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'). This was the birth of the Field Operations Group (FOG)-later ISA/Secret Army of Northern Virginia. More technical training on SIGINT, such as transmission and signals interpretation is also a component of the training. (Source) Once the safe house was located, using a mixture of SIGINT, GEOINT and HUMINT, a raid was initiated. However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. During the war on terror it was responsible for hunting hunting high value persons. (Source). Upon return to the Pentagon, he re-assigned the ACSI POC out of FOG-related issues. 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. A vehicle on time and on target rolled through the barricade. Lgion trangre (French Foreign Legion) | The ISA also has likely integrated other new intelligence fields into its scope. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. Little is known about the organization or its activities, but it is clear that they serve as a. The ISA specializes in gathering human intelligence, signals intelligence and combat. 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. 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. The mandarins had inexplicably turned and ran south back to our home base leaving no rear guard for the main body. The following article on the Intelligence Support Activity was copied from Specwarnet.net online. 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!. What was needed was a SOF unit devoted to intelligence gathering and preparing the battlespace for other SOF operators. Smith's book lifts the lid of secrecy on the Activity, one of America's least well known Special Ops units. It is known that the unit has changed its codename over . They set up protection for the president and installed a security system. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group.
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