The raid was cancelled over fears that the French and Italians tipped Karadzic off. "Known as the Intelligence Support Activity, or ISA, when it was established in . The CIA was leading extraordinary rendition operations in Somalia in conjunction with the ISA and the help of local warlords. 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. Escobar was shot as he was trying to escape from the roof of his house. Nowadays the ISA focuses on the preparation of the battlespace for military operations across the globe. (Source) Training involves different espionage and intelligence methods that allow ISA members to carry out their essential HUMINT operations. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. Lawyers for both Titles within the respective DOD and CIA bureaucracies, fought to preserve their interpretations of applications, to prevent one department from intruding into the territory of the other. Part of a Delta-DEVGRU task force, ISA provided intelligence on the whereabouts of Bosnian Serb war crimes suspects. The intelligence gathering part was named "Buckeye" and consisted of CIA, NSA and Torn Victor operatives. On October 23, 1983, a truck bomb slammed into the US Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Americans, and injuring scores more. During these operations, the ISA operated alongside other combat groups, providing them with signals intelligence support and field intelligence, including HUMINT. PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? USSOCOM receives, reviews, coordinates and prioritizes all Defense Department plans that support the global campaign against terrorism. (Source). The unit is organized into several elements. Alpha and Charlie troops utilize official cover to collect human intelligence. Candidates pulled from computer records, or by word of mouth were required to pass a tough selection course, physical and psychological tests. 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 ISA's HUMINT collectors gather information from human sources via coercion and interrogation depending on the asset. The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . He had literally tried to muscle open the lock with tools designed for a sincerely delicate operation. Colonel Jerry King retained his position as the head of the group, now 100-strong and headquartered in a nondescript building in Arlington, Virginia. 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. To lawyers, this is a distinction with a difference. Small Wars Journal is published by Small Wars Foundation - a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. 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. They began forming their own plan for storming the airplane and liberating the hostages. They are known by many names: Task Force Orange; the Intelligence Support Activity; The Activity; the Army of Northern Virginia; the Field Operations Group (FOG); the United States Army Intelligence Support Activity, or just shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (USISA). If some elements (especially photos) were originally yours please consider Specwar.info to host for free. By the time though, the situation had begun to subside. The unit selects operatives for deployments based on their language proficiency and their ability to blend in with the locals. All Rights Reserved. (Dominique Sumner and Peter Tomich). ISA has been known to utlizes signal skimmers to pick up enemy radio transmissions and zero in on their location. But it had no effect on me or what I was doing not for now at least. The operation, code-named Great Falcon, made a deal with the Iraqi government for a T-72, in exchange for 175mm cannons. The Cantor finally said something, and he said it very very loudly when the mandarins lost control of some weapons and encrypted radios. 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. 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It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces . 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. This is a potentially significant compromise. the Cantor lamented in earnest. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. Its budget would be carefully concealed so that it never made a paper trail, and only a dozen officials would know the names and locations of all of ISA's agents and safehouses. When operatives are in less restrictive environments they can often be seen carrying weapons used by locals, most often in the form of AKs. 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. ". 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. 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. ISA. It was settled, and Majestic Eagle withdrew from the operation. 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. This intelligence then triangulated the possible location of Dozier. However, the CIA couldnt provide these answers so Delta turned to the FOG. (Source), Additionally, the ISA has acted as a pseudo-security element for the CIA. "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. ISA was allegedly co-operating with Task Force Ranger, and was responsible for tracking down Somali warlord Mohammed Farah Adid, through electronic surveillance and Somalian informants. 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. FOG became permanent and renamed ISA on March 3, 1981. 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. "Apparently, ISA's direct action element was also put on alert during the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. In line with their proficiency in infiltration, they had an array of passports, credit cards and falsified documents to allow easy movement between territories. Highly recommended. Intelligence Support Activity The Army's most obscure special-ops unit is the roughly 300-strong Intelligence Support Activity, formed in 1981, which has gone by various codenames over the years. The other half flew to Cyprus to join the rest of the rescue force. Direct action differs from conventional offensive actions in the level of physical and political risk, operational techniques, and the degree of discriminate and precise use of force to achieve specific objectives."[1]. Its members often use disguises to avoid detection and if they are compromised they can quickly disappear from sight and completely change their appearance. Highly recommended. The Department of Defense in 1965 outlined its need to be more involved with collecting intelligence, supported by Robert McNamara. While the nerdiest Green Berets and special operators comprise the bulk of ISA, there are also non-traditional operatives who have not passed the selection course. Italian forces conducted the raid itself; rescuing Dozier and returning him to the US without a single casualty. Ultimately, Operation Credible Sport was cancelled but the FOG had proven its usefulness. 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Dozier was taken hostage and mistreated, with the Red Brigades viewing him as an ideological foe that needed to be made an example of. 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. This extra length concealed the main eavesdropping antennas, while others could be lowered from the belly while in flight. Since 2003, t. These operatives were responsible for helping take down insurgent networks in Iraq. Featured Book: Typically the ISA pulls from the Green Berets due to their prior special operations experience, language skills, and autonomy. The support provided can come in a range of different forms. ISA was asked to develop a plan of action. It is common for the appearance and demeanour of an agent to be the key to their success as an infiltrator. Cowan and another ISA agent managed to drive through every sector of Beirut, even the Shiite suburb, a dangerous practice at the time. 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), He would be given instructions and equipment along the way, and was required to perform certain assignments, for example, setting up a SATCOM system. Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. 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. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: HUMINT (HUMan INTellgence) Key was the requirement to develop a competent counter resolution force. Boss Cantor seemed satisfied with how the mandarins gathered the necessary hardware for the mission and then marched smartly out the door. Authors cartoon depicting the mandarins installing the soon-to-be compromised surveillance camera. (Source), The tactics and techniques of the ISA are some of the most unique among all the JSOC special operations groups. Law and the killing of a Russian propagandist: Some Q & A BY CHARLIE DUNLAP, J.D. And now somebody SOMEBODY knows that somebody is recording all the cars turning down that specific road. He tasked them to install a clandestine video camera (clandcam) framed such that it would record all the license plates of all vehicles turning down a specifically designated road. This page was last edited on 1 April 2008, at 06:57. 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US Army intelligence defines HUMINT as including: The sources of this information can come from enemy combatants, including regular armed forces, and civilian sources. non-covert action intelligence activityoften a collection programto be of such sensitivity that 1 Oral notifications shall be followed by a written notification. 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. Initially, the raid appeared to be a bust until a Delta operator kicked some debris on exfil. More technical training on SIGINT, such as transmission and signals interpretation is also a component of the training. Centra Spike was known to operate under several cover names, including Torn Victor, Cemetery Wind, Capacity Gear and Robin Court, and closely matched ISA's description. Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. Along with Queens Hunter, ISA was involved in many operations across Central America, in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. 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! _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', '.specwar.info']); Meyer was determined that no future SOF OP with Army forces would be conducted absent credible quality CIA/DOD/NSA and Army intelligence. A goodly amount of minutes went by. In short order, Langley provided people, training, and a conduit to its various intelligence and planning aspects. COL Nightingale is a retired Army Colonel who served two tours in Vietnam with Airborne and Ranger (American and Vietnamese) units. As such, the activities and specifics of Gray Fox are not widely made available. The third known squadron is the Mission Support Squadron. Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. Operation Anaconda highlights how vital of a role the ISA plays in the battlespace. A key driver for the meeting was the recognition that quality operational intelligence was virtually non-existent. All information and multimedia on Specwar.info comes from a wide number of sources. Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis. Every component of the US military was involved in the Invasion of Afghanistan, including the ISA. 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 unit's history, the politics that have shaped it and the operations it has carried out are recounted in great and fascinating detail. US intelligence gathering methods centre around the US intelligence process, composed of the phases Plan, Prepare, Collect, Process, and Produce. (Source). Sound Like You? So where are the pilots? Operatives can covertly enter enemy buildings to plant cameras. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. (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. It was late in the evening after a long day and long drive for the mandarins, who finally stopped to stay the night in one of the many safe houses we had scattered throughout the country. What was needed was a SOF unit devoted to intelligence gathering and preparing the battlespace for other SOF operators. Additionally, ISA operates a number of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and these pilots fit somewhere into the puzzle that is ISA. Wickham did transfer authority to the ACSI with predictable and less than beneficial results. ISA members conducted extensive interviews with Special Forces members in the country, Lebanese Army and CIA and embassy officials. "Perhaps the least known, and most classified unit within the realm of US special operations is the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), a small, highly trained and capable intelligence unit. These deployments include Operation Winter Harvest, Operation Queens Hunter and their role in Operation Anaconda. Few special operations forces are clad in as much secrecy as the Intelligence Support Activity. If successful, the candidate would then continue training within ISA in such skills as parachuting, survival, weapons and intelligence gathering. Check, chief! and she yanked the gat our of my hand. "Known as the Intelligence Support Activity, or ISA, when it was established in 1981, this unit fought in drug wars and counter-terror operations from the Middle East to South America. The Intelligence Support Activity, commonly called "The Activity" . The exact makeup of ISAs force structure is hard to determine. Units in Sarajevo tracked Karadzic electronically, while other agents were on the ground in Pale, Karadzic's home. The Cantor said nothing. These missions include finding Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, locating Army Gen. James Dozier when he was kidnapped by the Red Brigade in 1981 and taking out observation points in Afghanistan to protect friendly forces in the area. Operatives must also go unnoticed, being able to blend into crowds and not draw attention. There was a task I did for the Cantor routinely and at a moments notice. During the period leading up to the engagement, as well as potentially during the infamous Battle of Takur Ghar (aka the Battle of Roberts Ridge), ISA operators conducted aggressive SIGINT operations, intercepting enemy communications and feeding them to allied forces. 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. (Source). (Source). FOG was developed because of a perceived need for greater intelligence-gathering capabilities for the U.S. military. 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. Operationally, the ISA is a dedicated intelligence group, doing the intelligence leg work for special operations groups. 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. Get the weekly email from Grey Dynamics that makes reading intel articles and reports actually enjoyable. The planners in DAMO-ODSO were acutely aware of the different legal authorities contained in Title 10 and Title 50 statutes. A team of mandarins was tasked with blocking traffic in the same fashion on the south side of the ambush site, then with following the assault force north to provide rearguard to the convoy. Rather than disbanding the unit, it was expanded. Most ISA trainees are from Army Special Forces, meaning many have skills in CQC, sniping, counter-sniping and general tactical engagements. This is especially useful in countries where men and women socializing is frowned upon outside of the family. It was so simple that we didnt even need to create a nursery rhyme to recite to help us remember all the steps. 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. During the 1990's the unit was known as Capacity Gear. All rights reserved. The CIA would talk directly to the warlords while the ISA provided SIGINT support and ground security for them. and other specialized capabilities to support Army, joint, unified action partners, and the U.S. intelligence commu-nity. Featured Book: The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. Additionally, ISA gathers SIGINT primarily by intercepting enemy communications or sending an agent to physically bug a target. The ISA consistently attaches itself to other units, either as a temporary or more permanent component. "Cowan put together another five-man team, but their deployment was stalled for three weeks. Each of these groups achieves different specialised tasks for their assigned mission. 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. The OSS was a direct action "group" that was directly involved in sabotage, infiltration, combat and even assassination. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. (Source). The Untold Story of Women in Special Operations, We Are Abandoning the Women of the Special Forces, SOAA Calls for Support of our Afghan Allies in The Hill, SOAA Supports Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret. An ISA agent was secretly infiltrated into Beirut where he provided real-time intelligence on the location of the hostages. If an operative is in a country with an official cover, possessing a firearm can mean being sent to prison or death. Both sides would work together on developing the intel, and then a decision would be made regarding a specific operational tasking to avoid statutory conflict. In sum, Uniforms do Clandestine, Civvies do Covert. ODSO/FOG overcame much of this through replication of capability generously funded and supported by CIA. "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. Grey Dynamics is a Private Intelligence firm based out of London with analysts, researchers, and investigators worldwide. Army did likewise through DAMO-ODSO. Working closely with Special Forces and the CIA, Gray Fox also places operatives inside hostile territory. 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. Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Approval was given for ISA's deployment, and operators flew to Frankfurt, where some stayed in case the airliner, now back in Beirut, flew back to Algiers. >Develops and . " "ISA was also rumoured to be operating in Bosnia in the last few years under the code-name Torn Victor. (Source) These collectively will compose some of the roles within a primary battalion of the ISA. The ISA also has a direct action arm comprised of men and women recruited from the US Army Delta . Some of the more well-documented operations of the ISA shed light on the general nature of the ISAs overall operations. The selection process and training for special operations groups are secret. Special Operations Forces: 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. Does the army's intelligence support activity also do direct action? THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ US Army Special Forces | The ISA wasn't popular within JSOC. I didnt think a thing of it, as it had taken me a while to throw that lock open on my first few tries. Delta's deployment was stalled by bureaucratic dealings, so ISA mobilized its most compartmentalized unit, the direct action element, the shooters. It was the type of mission ISA was designed for, but no agents were sent in. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; Good enough, I thought. We provided documents for viewing from both the Agency and DOD lawyers supporting the organization and outlining the rationale. (Source) Sending agents that not only act, but look like the people of the country they seek to infiltrate makes for an even more effective cover. 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.. 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. US News & World Report 7/6/98 - "Hunting war criminals: The first account of secret U.S. missions in Bosnia" by Richard J. Newman, https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Intelligence_Support_Activity&oldid=305336, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. 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 the summer of 1980, FOG agents were infiltrated into Teheran to report back on the hostages' whereabouts, movements of the Iranians, as well as to recruit local agents.