The plan involved flying feet above the turbulent Mediterranean Sea, at night, through hostile airspace. At the point of execution, the road became bureaucratically bumpy. It's a Special Mission Unit and conducts highly classified operations. Intelligence Support Activity The Army's most obscure special-ops unit is the roughly 300-strong Intelligence Support Activity, formed in 1981, which has gone by various codenames over.
It was so simple that we didnt even need to create a nursery rhyme to recite to help us remember all the steps. These operatives have a cover in the commercial sector, typically as an international businessperson. and other specialized capabilities to support Army, joint, unified action partners, and the U.S. intelligence commu-nity. This time around, travel through the city was a very dangerous endeavour, with roadblocks everywhere. Nowadays the ISA focuses on the preparation of the battlespace for military operations across the globe. 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. and other specialized capabilities to support Army, joint, unified action partners, and the U.S. intelligence commu-nity. SIGINT operations extended to areas with overlapping guerrilla operations, such as Nicaragua, which was facing the increased foe of the Contras. An Examination of the Importance of Mosques, El Salvador Deploys Security Forces to Contain Criminal Groups, Honduras declares war against gangs and for control of popular narrative, Complexities and conveniences in the international drug trade: the involvement of Mexican criminal actors in the EU drug market, Mexico: Declassification of the Three Armed Conflicts Involving Drug Cartels on RULAC - The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Technology, Data, & The Future of Warfare: A Review Essay by James Torrence, Rinaldo Nazzaro, Leader of the Neo-Nazi Terrorist GroupThe Base: Probable Linkages to the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM), A Social Network Analysis of Mexicos Dark Network Alliance Structure, Disentangling The Digital Battlefield: How the Internet Has Changed War, "Hybrid Warriors" GROUND TRUTH ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF WAR IN UKRAINE, DEFENSE SUPPORT TO STABILIZATION (DSS) A GUIDE FOR STABILIZATION PRACTITIONERS, Byte, With, and Through: How Special Operations and Cyber Command Can Support Each Other, Ukraines drone raid on Russian naval base was tactically innovative but not revolutionary, Improvised Anti-Vehicle Land Mines (IAVMs) in Mexico: Cartel Emergent Weaponry Use, Countering Chinese Overseas Police Influence Operations, Israel Rolls Out Legion-X Drone Swarm For The Urban Battlefield, The Great Equalizer: Irregular Warfare in the City. 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. 11.". Wickham did transfer authority to the ACSI with predictable and less than beneficial results. Its members often use disguises to avoid detection and if they are compromised they can quickly disappear from sight and completely change their appearance. After a massive effort, including remote viewers from the United States, turned up nothing, a team of ISA signals intelligence specialists was also sent over to Italy to provide any assistance they could, along with sophisticated equipment and specially outfitted helicopters. One of their major tasks was to create 'pathfinders'. The ISAs execution of SIGINT monitoring was so successful that the month-long operation was extended to three years. Key to the concept was that there would be a single in-house element (FOG) that either side could use e.g. 25: More Chinese Ferry Tales: China's Use of Civilian Shipping in Military Activities, 2021-2022, Hospital Ships: A Vital Asset for SOUTHCOM and South American Navies, The Goshen Massacre and the Specter of Cartel Spillover Into the US, Dangerous Alliances: Russias Strategic Inroads in Latin America, Year Ahead Emerging Technologies and the Collection of Battlefield Evidence, How Does Matter Matter In International Conflict and Security? USSOCOM receives, reviews, coordinates and prioritizes all Defense Department plans that support the global campaign against terrorism. 160th SOAR |
ISA recommended covert deployment of its operatives to both airports to secure landing zones and infiltration routes. The ISA differs from its brother and sister task forces in that it is not primarily a combat-oriented team, excelling in HUMINT and SIGINT operations that allow it to provide extremely valuable intelligence to other military elements. Operation Anaconda highlights how vital of a role the ISA plays in the battlespace. 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. Afghanistan: The Fox and The Anaconda. Centra Spike agents operated all around Colombia, as well as neighbouring countries where the cartels influence extended. Little is known about the organization or its activities, but it is clear that they serve as a. Intelligence Support Activity The Army's most obscure special-ops unit is the roughly 300-strong Intelligence Support Activity, formed in 1981, which has gone by various codenames over. It is known that the unit has changed its codename over the years. The other half flew to Cyprus to join the rest of the rescue force. ISA. Plus, they wouldnt have to load the car back up again the next day what a grand and magnanimous plan that proved to be. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
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. The ISA specializes in gathering human intelligence, signals intelligence and combat. And now somebody SOMEBODY knows that somebody is recording all the cars turning down that specific road. (Source). > Role: HUMINT (human intelligence), SIGINT (signals intelligence), direct action. Prior to Saddams capture, over 40 members of his family were captured and interrogated to determine his whereabouts with little success. Special Boat Service (SBS) |, Camouflage patterns:
The "Pakistani cook" piece, delivered as Delta boarded the aircraft, was viewed as an implausible source though subsequent inquiry revealed that the crucial info was available much earlier, but intentionally not shared for several reasons.
The Cantor sent me out as usual to throw the lock, wait for our operational vehicle to pass, then shut it again. "In 1982, ISA SIGINT specialists took part in Operation Queens Hunter, a Seaspray operation in the skies above El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. " It is after all, not a strictly combat-oriented role like its other Tier 1 operators. (Source). 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. . Establishing cover as husband and wife to live in and conduct intelligence collection missions within a target country. Due to their specialization in intelligence, they can operate as vanguard teams to support another units operations. The ISA comprises 5 primary elements: administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT and direct action. By the time though, the situation had begun to subside. 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 deployments include Operation Winter Harvest, Operation Queens Hunter and their role in Operation Anaconda. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: The Activity is thought to made up of around 300 operators and is under the command of JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command). It 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. 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. 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 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. The authors note that "All information used in this article has been obtained from publicly available, open source documents." Royal Cape, Granite Rock and Powder Keg were some, Centra Spike and Torn Victor being other possible cover names. Additionally, ISA gathers SIGINT primarily by intercepting enemy communications or sending an agent to physically bug a target. The Intelligence Support Activity, commonly called "The Activity" . (Source) At the time, the Salvadoran Army was facing attacks from leftist groups and more lethal right-wing death squads. The mandarins decided they were much too tired and sleepy to unload their car to safekeep all of their sensitive items in the house with them. 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. During Anaconda, ISA intelligence helped save both the 10th Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division at Takur Ghar. Delta troop is tasked with countries that are a softer target for infiltration such as the Philippines or Morocco. ISA was asked to develop a plan of action. 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Not wishing to be a dire critic, I found it rather novice of him, but drew another pick from my kit and threw open the lock. Most ISA trainees are from Army Special Forces, meaning many have skills in CQC, sniping, counter-sniping and general tactical engagements. He would be given instructions and equipment along the way, and was required to perform certain assignments, for example, setting up a SATCOM system. 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 selection process for the ISA prioritizes both a physical skill for field operations and a skill for intelligence operations. ". See Intelligence Collection Directive (ICD) 112, . By continuing to use this site you consent to our use of cookies. More technical training on SIGINT, such as transmission and signals interpretation is also a component of the training. The web portal tool will maintain a repository of all INSCOM and non -INSCOM Special Air Service (SAS) |
Deployed together with a small Delta Force contingent, Centra Spike flew over Colombia in their airplanes and continued to track Escobar. (Source). 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 order never came; a secret arms-for-hostages deal was cut by the American government. What was needed was a SOF unit devoted to intelligence gathering and preparing the battlespace for other SOF operators. a Title 10 operation or a Title 50 operation. PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. The unit's history, the politics that have shaped it and the operations it has carried out are recounted in great and fascinating detail. Operatives must also go unnoticed, being able to blend into crowds and not draw attention. The U.S. Army's Intelligence Support Activity is arguably the most secretive unit out of the five tier one units in the United States Military. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. Covert operations are shrouded in plausible deniability. ODSO/FOG overcame much of this through replication of capability generously funded and supported by CIA. They also noted the specific funding line and agreed to manage it as a priority classified line absent committee discussion. These are primarily preparation intelligence and tactical/ strategic intelligence for active operations. 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 ISA is perhaps the most major outlier doctrinally from its other, better known, counterparts within JSOC and SOCOM as a whole. 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 emerging problems our Nation faced in the early 1980s with terrorism, airplane hijacking, and hostage taking, created considerable challenges for the government (USG) to resolve. 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. (function() {
As the name implies, SIGINT Squadron is responsible for ISAs signals intelligence mission. Title 10 is the broad statute regarding what DOD is authorized to do. A vehicle on time and on target rolled through the barricade. 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). and direct action combat. When operatives are in less restrictive environments they can often be seen carrying weapons used by locals, most often in the form of AKs. . He looked up at me momentarily though he did not repeat himself.
Each of these groups achieves different specialised tasks for their assigned mission. Cake duty! 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. The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . 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. Check, chief! and she yanked the gat our of my hand. 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'). One problem that plagued the first attempt was the lack of valuable intelligence. It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces . Special Operations (SO) encompass the use of small units in direct or indirect military actions focused on strategic or operational objectives. 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. The US military and many of its allies consider DA one of the basic special operations missions. var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
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Years before its actual formation, the need for the ISA, or an operational entity like it, was already being examined. The SIGINT group of the ISA gathered signal intelligence via aircraft, that was then passed on to NSA analysts. Within these battalions, there is a cyber ops teams, technology ops teams and mission support teams. This Intelligence Support Activity All-Inclusive Self-Assessment enables You to be that person. "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. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. If an operative is in a country with an official cover, possessing a firearm can mean being sent to prison or death. Direct action (DA) is a term used in the context of military special operations for small-scale raids, ambushes, sabotage or similar actions. A simultaneous raid on the targets was to be made. Along with Queens Hunter, ISA was involved in many operations across Central America, in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. 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. Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. . Immediately after, he would be dropped off in a city, and asked to perform clandestine activities. But it had no effect on me or what I was doing not for now at least. The ISA also has a direct action arm comprised of men and women recruited from the US Army Delta . Its purpose is unlike many other special operations forces of the US military, not dedicated to direct combat, and more towards secretive and clandestine actions necessary to support other military operations. 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. However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. ISA intelligence specialists, K9 units, security experts and demolition experts were sent to the country undercover as military advisers. The Cantor, busy writing, asked me how it went. 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. The manhunt was over. Gaining entry into the ISA is not easy; candidates already must be part of a special operations forces group. The terrain was extremely rugged, the enemy was far more entrenched than anticipated, and Murphys Law was in full effect. 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. 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. An ISA agent was secretly infiltrated into Beirut where he provided real-time intelligence on the location of the hostages. As they soundly slept in the reverie of their grand plan, the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy happened by and found the car unlocked. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: HUMINT (HUMan INTellgence) 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 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. Bravo and Delta troops utilize commercial or non-official cover. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. The direct action element reportedly trains with Delta Force and DEVGRU to maintain their skills. 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. A goodly amount of minutes went by. It is unclear how often the ISA interrogates subjects, though given their covert operations they likely at least interrogate high-value targets. They were never used. var _gaq = _gaq || [];
It was provided with a cover name, Tactical Concept Activity, and would never be acknowledged by the Pentagon. They also provided protection for numerous Arabian princes, and established good contacts while down there. FOG was developed because of a perceived need for greater intelligence-gathering capabilities for the U.S. military. Operatives tradecraft for avoiding detection is impeccable. Candidates pulled from computer records, or by word of mouth were required to pass a tough selection course, physical and psychological tests. This is a potentially significant compromise. the Cantor lamented in earnest. The unit is organized into several elements. Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. A top-secret 'Army electronic surveillance team', was sent to aid the Colombians in August of 1989, as a part of Operation Heavy Shadow. Subsequently, theyre protected by diplomatic immunity if theyre compromised during an espionage operation. This extends beyond knowledge of things like general location, language and culture. The ISA's HUMINT collectors gather information from human sources via coercion and interrogation depending on the asset. Featured Book: Highly detailed knowledge of an infiltration location is also key. Once a member of the ISA passes the initial selection, it trains alongside different intelligence specialists, including members of the CIA. A case officer is someone who handles a foreign asset by giving them collection requirements and ensuring their safety.
What does one actually do with such persons? If some elements (especially photos) were originally yours please consider Specwar.info to host for free. Russia and Ukraine battle daily in the sky. They require units with combinations of trained specialized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed the routine capabilities of conventional military forces. Boss Cantor seemed satisfied with how the mandarins gathered the necessary hardware for the mission and then marched smartly out the door. US intelligence gathering methods centre around the US intelligence process, composed of the phases Plan, Prepare, Collect, Process, and Produce.
Delta was finally given the go-ahead and flew to Sicily and Cyprus along with Task Force 160 and Seaspray helicopters, thus ending the need for ISA's help. So where are the pilots? Highly recommended. 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. The Department of Defense in 1965 outlined its need to be more involved with collecting intelligence, supported by Robert McNamara. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. The ISA initially had only support activity and HUMINT gathering functions. Law and the killing of a Russian propagandist: Some Q & A BY CHARLIE DUNLAP, J.D. The planners in DAMO-ODSO were acutely aware of the different legal authorities contained in Title 10 and Title 50 statutes. Italian forces conducted the raid itself; rescuing Dozier and returning him to the US without a single casualty. 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. Lets just settle on Gray Fox for now, as these operators fill in the gray area between Title 50 intelligence gathering and Title 10 unconventional warfare operations. 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. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. Fort Belvoir, North Virginia, United States. Case officers also target and recruit potential assets. The monitoring of guerilla factions allowed the Salvadoran Army to successfully defend against their attacks. 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. Through their mastery of SIGINT, the ISA quickly got on the task of intercepting radio and telephone transmissions. HUMINT-related activities at the Department of Defense and Defense Intelligence Agency level, subsequent to the disestablishment of the DHS, included continued issuance of DoD directives or instructions governing elements of HUMINT operations - including those concerning human source validation ( Document 44 ), creation of the since The situation looked dire. 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. The planners in DAMO-ODSO were acutely aware of the different legal authorities contained in Title 10 and Title 50 statutes. (Source) This allowed the forces involved in the surrounding Shahikot Valley to be more informed of enemy movements and positions. They began forming their own plan for storming the airplane and liberating the hostages. ". Typically the ISA pulls from the Green Berets due to their prior special operations experience, language skills, and autonomy. An operation was planned for their rescue, with Seaspray, Delta Force and the ISA all playing a role. (Source), Active operational support is also a crucial role of the ISA. There was a task I did for the Cantor routinely and at a moments notice. 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. The CIA was leading extraordinary rendition operations in Somalia in conjunction with the ISA and the help of local warlords.
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