Electronic specialists and SIGINT operators comprised part of the force. "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 was developed because of a perceived need for greater intelligence-gathering capabilities for the U.S. military. Italian forces conducted the raid itself; rescuing Dozier and returning him to the US without a single casualty. Intelligence Support Activity | Military Wiki | Fandom "The government realized the importance of the FOG. The aim of the operation was to monitor cross-border raids and movements of Sandinista forces and rebels in El Salvador. (Source), The failure of Operation Eagle Claw was a turning point for US special operations. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. The capture was to happen as he would be heading south to the city of Vlasenica. 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? 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. Smith's book lifts the lid of secrecy on the Activity, one of America's least well known Special Ops units. 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. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. Intelligence Support Activity | The Activity | Gray Fox 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. A vehicle on time and on target rolled through the barricade. 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. 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. Are you one of them? This was never forthcoming despite the greatest pressure upon the Agency. A critical component of clandestine activity is the ability to infiltrate enemy territory ahead of more formal military action. ISA operatives often work in disguise and undercover. Kay-Kay and I sat at a table jamming some 12 magazines and chatting over our actions at our blocking position. Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. In effect, the ISAs exploitation of signal intelligence saved the lives of 100s of US soldiers from the 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne divisions. 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. ISA operatives are masters of tradecraft. His elements were being heavily tasked, and a directed intelligence pipeline was established to FOG. (Source). Russia and Ukraine battle daily in the sky. The unit selects operatives for deployments based on their language proficiency and their ability to blend in with the locals. The unit was raised in 1979 as the Foreign Operating Group (FOG), who was created to overthrow the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden Talk about close target recce. Thats pretty frickin ballsy. Two people with a lockpick kit and a camera. })(); Intelligence Support Activity provides US special forces with intelligence gatherers, man hunters, assassins and deep penetration agents. The ISA comprises 5 primary elements: administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT and direct action. G-2 - U.S. Army Training Doctrine and Command Key to the concept was that there would be a single in-house element (FOG) that either side could use e.g. Additionally, these operative can remotely turn on a cellphone thats been turned off, which allows them to hear everything going on near it. The most important thing to know is that intelligence drives "direct action" operations. 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 All Rights Reserved. Gaining entry into the ISA is not easy; candidates already must be part of a special operations forces group. (function() {
Cowan traveled the Lebanese countryside pinpointing the locations of Syrian anti-aircraft emplacements. Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of the Intelligence Community 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. LTG Odom acquiesced but took every opportunity to oppose actions engaging his traditional intelligence elements. The US wanted a team to covertly survey the situation on the ground and provide officials with a survey of the US embassy. The unit was raised in 1979 as the Foreign Operating Group (FOG), who was created to overthrow the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. The CIA was leading extraordinary rendition operations in Somalia in conjunction with the ISA and the help of local warlords. Marpat Camo Test |. action is "necessary to support identifiable foreign policy objectives of the United States, and is At the point of execution, the road became bureaucratically bumpy. ISA. 11.". (Source). THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ . All the tools you need to an in-depth Intelligence Support Activity Self-Assessment. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: HUMINT (HUMan INTellgence) Every component of the US military was involved in the Invasion of Afghanistan, including the ISA. The Intelligence Support Activity conducts its operations during and in advance of US military operations. As an ancillary, but crucial action during this period, LTC Bruce Mauldin and I, with the CSAs concurrence and support, visited the Hill and had several closed-door sessions with appropriate committee Chairs and Ranking Members regarding the unit's establishment, roles and missions, and funding lines. The negotiations were going so well that Iraq decided to throw in a Mil Mi-24 Hind D helicopter and a MiG-25 fighter-interceptor. " 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. Along with Queens Hunter, ISA was involved in many operations across Central America, in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. 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. Special Air Service (SAS) |
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Check, chief! and she yanked the gat our of my hand. The southern blocking force team of mystified mandarins meandered in where we were stacking mags and: What are you guys doing with all the hardware?, Mission prep for the Klandanj takedown., Well were a blocking force; were supposed to block cars keep them from getting around us to the ambush site. The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. HUMINT collection cant be done without boots on the ground, so members of the main battalions are likely conducting field operations. 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. In all cases, the Congressional members voiced support. 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. 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. Originally the unit was known as the Field Operations Group or FOG and was designed to fill the Armys need for clandestine intelligence collection. During these operations, the ISA operated alongside other combat groups, providing them with signals intelligence support and field intelligence, including HUMINT. Since 2003, t. The Invasion of Iraq was an extremely complex time for the US military with units scattered across the country conducting a wide variety of missions. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. The most elite special operations forces in the US The ISA also has likely integrated other new intelligence fields into its scope. 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. Nonetheless, it is known that these operators have shown their indispensable worth to both the intelligence and SOF communities in matters of national security, supporting Delta and SEAL Team Six operations by hitting the ground first to prep the environment: gathering actionable intelligence, pathfinding, and performing a broad range of operational support. Since incorporating under JSOC in 2003, Gray Fox has expanded into direct action and hostage rescue, showing that they may be the most diversely equipped, trained and adaptable Special Missions Unit in the SOF community. If an operative is in a country with an official cover, possessing a firearm can mean being sent to prison or death. . Some units specialize in it, such as the Navy SEALs and 75th Ranger Regiment, and other units, such as US Army Special Forces, have DA capabilities but focus more on other operations. US Navy SEALs |
Under the umbrella group of Joint Special Operations Task Force 20, the Intelligence Support Activity helped track down and locate Saddam Hussein. We had a key to that lock that the MUPs did not know about; that is, I could pick the lock with consistency. ISA was asked to form an Algerian-based plan and a Beirut-based one for rescue. It is not certain that ISA operators were on the scene at the moment of his capture, but the operational intelligence provided was critical to the success of the operation. Special Operations (SO) encompass the use of small units in direct or indirect military actions focused on strategic or operational objectives. a Title 10 operation or a Title 50 operation. Candidates pulled from computer records, or by word of mouth were required to pass a tough selection course, physical and psychological tests. ", Sources: 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.
Tracking dummy targets over Medellin, Centra Spike managed to pinpoint their locations within 200 meters, while Majestic Eagle came no closer than four miles. (Source). At last, he came back, and, handing me the tools lamented: I couldnt get that fucker!. 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. (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. US ARMY INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY - YouTube A Civilian's Guide to U.S. Special Forces | The National Interest This is especially useful in countries where men and women socializing is frowned upon outside of the family. Years before its actual formation, the need for the ISA, or an operational entity like it, was already being examined. The support provided can come in a range of different forms. This time around, travel through the city was a very dangerous endeavour, with roadblocks everywhere. Originally the ISA operated as a tactical arm of the National Security Agency. On October 23, 1983, a truck bomb slammed into the US Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Americans, and injuring scores more. Samuel is a King's College graduate with an MA in War Studies. During Anaconda, ISA intelligence helped save both the 10th Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division at Takur Ghar. > Role: HUMINT (human intelligence), SIGINT (signals intelligence), direct action. and direct action combat. Escobar was shot as he was trying to escape from the roof of his house. Candidates then are put through a battery of assessment and selection courses as well as background checks and psychological testing. The decision was made to deploy another ISA unit. America's Most Elite Special Forces - msn.com Highly recommended. Subsequent, Task Force 121, a collection of special mission units and conventional forces organized a raid on a small farming compound in rural Iraq. (Source), Outlined as the primary purpose of the ISA since its inception, intelligence gathering is one of its most essential tasks. Spec Ops Profile: Intelligence Support Activity, Paris Davis, Black Green Beret in Vietnam, Finally Awarded Medal of Honor at White House, Navy SEAL Dies in Parachute Mishap, 4th Training Death in 14 Months, Special Operations Commander Fired After Being Arrested for Alleged Drunk Driving, Hit and Run, 8 Fun Facts About the USO to Celebrate Its Birthday. The unit is organized into several elements. I pulled out a pick and tension bar and handed them to him. Rather than disbanding the unit, it was expanded. When Escobar surrendered in 1991, Centra Spike was pulled out, only to return a year later, when Escobar escaped from his comfortable prison. 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. "Apparently, ISA's direct action element was also put on alert during the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. The exact makeup of ISAs force structure is hard to determine. It's a Special Mission Unit and conducts highly classified operations. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. 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. (Source), Additionally, the ISA has acted as a pseudo-security element for the CIA. While Delta and DEVGRU focus on direct engagement and specialized combat tactics, the ISA conducts intelligence and espionage operations at a tactical level. find out more But if the copyright owners want to get in touch to have them immediately removed from this site then please contact our webmaster. (Source). Unfortunately, the police were either heavily corrupted or unwilling to arrest Escobar, and the intelligence went to waste. An ISA agent was secretly infiltrated into Beirut where he provided real-time intelligence on the location of the hostages. 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. 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. Eventually, agents had pinpointed the locations of a number of cartel hideouts and high-value targets, including Pablo. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. One selection exercise involved dropping a candidate off in the desert without food, water or means of communication. These operatives have a cover in the commercial sector, typically as an international businessperson. Small Wars Journal is published by Small Wars Foundation - a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. 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. Parsing one from the other can be quite difficult and largely determined by the location and nature of the target. 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. The ISA agent was ordered to stop the recording, an order to which he complied. (Source). As previously mentioned, its members cross train with the CIA, Americas most comprehensive civilian intelligence agency. ISA members conducted extensive interviews with Special Forces members in the country, Lebanese Army and CIA and embassy officials. During the 1990's the unit was known as Capacity Gear. But, ISA also sponsored a private rescue mission by Vietnam War veteran Bo Gritz, providing him with thousands of dollars worth of communications equipment, cameras, along with plane tickets and intelligence photos. 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Case officers also target and recruit potential assets. This intelligence then triangulated the possible location of Dozier. 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 In 2003 four troops: A,B,C, and D made up the squadron. These are primarily preparation intelligence and tactical/ strategic intelligence for active operations. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. Working alongside SEASPRAY, a specialized aviation unit that would later form a part of Delta Force, the ISA would conduct aerial SIGINT operations to assist the Salvadoran Army against guerrillas. Killer Elite Well, say that was certainly good news. This extends beyond knowledge of things like general location, language and culture. Afghanistan: The Fox and The Anaconda. It is known that the unit has changed its codename over the years. "Today, the ISA operates under the code name Gray Fox. But, it was also clear that some form of operational melding was essential to effectively address operational requirements. The Department of Defense in 1965 outlined its need to be more involved with collecting intelligence, supported by Robert McNamara. They must maintain a demeanour of trustworthiness and calmness, so any approached HUMINT sources feel safe and trusted. So there they were sitting in our Tactical Operations Center in Bosnia waiting to be integrated into our PIFWC hunting operations. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Some of ISA's most recent deployments was in 1993 in Somalia. Direct action (military) - Wikipedia ISA operatives are highly skilled in the various arts of HUMINT gathering including: (Source). This has been more visible in their operations in Afghanistan, Operation Winter Harvest and Operation Queens Hunter. Once admitted, candidates must pass the operations training course, which teaches infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, offensive and off-road driving, personal defensive measures and communications. . Operatives infiltrated internet cafes in Baghdad and conducted flyover operations in aircraft filled with signal interception gear. By continuing to use this site you consent to our use of cookies. 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. The ISA is perhaps the most major outlier doctrinally from its other, better known, counterparts within JSOC and SOCOM as a whole. 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