More technical training on SIGINT, such as transmission and signals interpretation is also a component of the training. Additionally, ISA gathers SIGINT primarily by intercepting enemy communications or sending an agent to physically bug a target. The breakdown of this squadron isnt known either but it likely contains logistical support for the two operational squadrons. 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. ISA agents even managed to obtain Lebanese license plates, which would allow Delta to be parachuted in with their own cars, then 'legitimized' with the plates. geo sends. "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. They discovered there was no co-ordination between them, and vital information regarding terrorist attacks was not being shared. They also provided protection for numerous Arabian princes, and established good contacts while down there. Years before its actual formation, the need for the ISA, or an operational entity like it, was already being examined. Intelligence Support Activity A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition International Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Interview with Dr. Niamh Gaynor, Transnistria and Russian Tensions: Moldova 12-month Forecast, Terrorist Threat in Senegal: A 12-month Forecast, Terrorist Threat in Guinea: A 12-Month Forecast, 7.3. G-2 - U.S. Army Training Doctrine and Command The exact makeup of ISAs force structure is hard to determine. (Source). At the point of execution, the road became bureaucratically bumpy. By the time though, the situation had begun to subside. Unless you plan to body-check those cars I would junk up.. These are primarily preparation intelligence and tactical/ strategic intelligence for active operations. Delta Force and SEAL Team Six were scrambled in preparation to liberate the hostages if needed, as the airplane hopped back and forth from Beirut to Algiers. 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. On the ground, these operatives can use a directional antenna programmed to pick up a specific cellphones signal, even if it was turned off, providing Delta Force with a target building to raid. A vehicle on time and on target rolled through the barricade. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. Dozier was taken hostage and mistreated, with the Red Brigades viewing him as an ideological foe that needed to be made an example of. "In May 1982, Deputy Secretary of Defense Frank Charles Carlucci III called the ISA 'uncoordinated and uncontrolled.' ISA. Not only did this demonstrate that the ISA was functionally effective, it showed that it could operate alongside not only various elements of the US military, but foreign military elements as well. ISA was highly classified. The OSS was a direct action "group" that was directly involved in sabotage, infiltration, combat and even assassination. (Source). Intelligence Support Activity - SourceWatch (Source) These collectively will compose some of the roles within a primary battalion of the ISA. 160th SOAR | US intelligence gathering methods centre around the US intelligence process, composed of the phases Plan, Prepare, Collect, Process, and Produce. ISA operatives are highly skilled in the various arts of HUMINT gathering including: (Source). Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era by Steven Emerson They acquainted themselves with the layout and landmarks of the city for future reference. "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. Sound Like You? (Source) This allowed the forces involved in the surrounding Shahikot Valley to be more informed of enemy movements and positions. Electronic specialists and SIGINT operators comprised part of the force. The US military and many of its allies consider DA one of the basic special operations missions. The Beechcrafts were made to appear normal from the outside, save for a wingspan six inches longer. Law and the killing of a Russian propagandist: Some Q & A BY CHARLIE DUNLAP, J.D. In effect, the ISAs exploitation of signal intelligence saved the lives of 100s of US soldiers from the 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne divisions. It is common for the appearance and demeanour of an agent to be the key to their success as an infiltrator. "On December 17, 1981, Colonel James Dozier, the highest ranking American army officer in the NATO southern European Command was kidnapped by members of the Red Brigade terrorist faction. 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. The monitoring of guerilla factions allowed the Salvadoran Army to successfully defend against their attacks. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. An investigation by journalist Mark Bowden (author of Blackhawk Down) revealed that in 1989, the Colombian government asked for US help in tracking down Escobar. ISA recommended covert deployment of its operatives to both airports to secure landing zones and infiltration routes. The ISA comprises 5 primary elements: administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT and direct action. During the 1990's the unit was known as Capacity Gear. 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 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. 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. Under Operation Winter Harvest, a small team of Delta Force technicians was dispatched to Italy to provide assistance with the search for Dozier. In 1989, during Operation Just Cause, the American invasion of Panama, ISA proposed to deploy a team of its intelligence agents to track Manuel Noriega, but the offer was declined. ISA was close to making the exchange, but the deal fell through at the last minute. Unfortunately, the police were either heavily corrupted or unwilling to arrest Escobar, and the intelligence went to waste. Since 2003, t. Gen Meyer, Gen Vaught (DAMO-OD), and LTC Jim Longhofer (DAMO-ODSO), traveled to Langley and met with the new Director and his operational elements director. 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. If they would have been caught, they were done. SMU operator (on ISA breaking into an Al-Qaeda safehouse), Additionally, HUMINT operatives working deep undercover will sometimes work in male-female teams. (Source). The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . US Army Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) | Specwar.info Members of FOG infiltrated Nicaragua using false passports. 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. Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Operations Response Team (SORT), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit He scurried off to the barricade. FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- Leaders from the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) G-6/Ground Intelligence Support Activity (GISA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACoE) Honolulu . Delta troop is tasked with countries that are a softer target for infiltration such as the Philippines or Morocco. But, it was also clear that some form of operational melding was essential to effectively address operational requirements. 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. They also have direct action elements within their battalions, alongside specialists in HUMINT and SIGINT. 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. 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. 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. ". "During the 1983 American invasion of Grenada, special forces units were plagued by lack of useful and up-to-date intelligence. Original content is published under aCreative Commons Licenseper ourTerms of Use. If an operative is in a country with an official cover, possessing a firearm can mean being sent to prison or death. The aim of the operation was to monitor cross-border raids and movements of Sandinista forces and rebels in El Salvador. Little is known about the organization or its activities, but it is clear that they serve as a. One such organization, the Red Brigades, composed of far-left communist-leaning extremists, kidnapped U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier. During the operation, a rivalry developed between Centra Spike, and a CIA intelligence unit named Majestic Eagle. 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'). Tracking dummy targets over Medellin, Centra Spike managed to pinpoint their locations within 200 meters, while Majestic Eagle came no closer than four miles. They must maintain a demeanour of trustworthiness and calmness, so any approached HUMINT sources feel safe and trusted. It was the type of mission ISA was designed for, but no agents were sent in. If some elements (especially photos) were originally yours please consider Specwar.info to host for free. 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. It was Delta Forces first mission and a horrific failure. "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. Meyer was determined that no future SOF OP with Army forces would be conducted absent credible quality CIA/DOD/NSA and Army intelligence. This intelligence then triangulated the possible location of Dozier. The Secret Army of Northern Virginia - SOAA His areas of focus are extremism in the Western world, military privatization and the impact of climate change on global security. When government officials found out, they were horrified, they seemed to have a rogue agency within its ranks. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. Special Operations Forces are the elite commandos of the U.S. military. (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. 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. We had a key to that lock that the MUPs did not know about; that is, I could pick the lock with consistency. 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. (Source), The tactics and techniques of the ISA are some of the most unique among all the JSOC special operations groups. Why America's Special Forces Are so Unique and Deadly and other specialized capabilities to support Army, joint, unified action partners, and the U.S. intelligence commu-nity. (Source). One of their major tasks was to create 'pathfinders'. The raid was cancelled over fears that the French and Italians tipped Karadzic off. An operation was planned for their rescue, with Seaspray, Delta Force and the ISA all playing a role. US Air Force Pararescue | What is the difference between the Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization programs recently developed vs. previous years? Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. It is unclear how often the ISA interrogates subjects, though given their covert operations they likely at least interrogate high-value targets. PDF National and Joint Intelligence Support - United States Army The Forgotten Histories of the Codification of International Humanitarian Law in Nineteenth-Century Latin America, Crafting Strategy for Irregular Warfare: A Framework for Analysis and Action (2nd Edition), South Africas organised crime climbs to Italys levels, racing past Mexico, Somalia and Libya, Opinion | The Foreign Policies of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG Part V: Europes Supercoke & on- the-Horizon Issues and the Middle East, Opinion | The Foreign Policies of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG Part IV: Europes Cocaine & Meth Markets, Airstrikes, Civilian Casualties, and the Role of JAGs in the Targeting Process, Opinion | The Foreign Policies of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG Part III: Africa, The cartels flexed their power in Tijuana and now the battle for influence is on, Organized Crime in Mexico and the Evolving Government Response, Armies are re-learning how to fight in cities, Law and the Ayman al-Zawahiri airstrike: a dozen Qs & As, Informe alerta sobre contrabando de cigarrillo, narcotrfico y Hezbol, Iran Seeks to Increase Its Influence in Latin America, Experts Warn, International Humanitarian Law in Urban Warfare, ATP 3-06/MCTP 12-10B, Urban Operations (JUL 22), Latest Atrocities Highlight the Importance of Early Warning. 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. "Apparently, ISA's direct action element was also put on alert during the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. However, the CIA couldnt provide these answers so Delta turned to the FOG. I could tell by her skunk-eye that she had a dagger in the pipe ready to launch, so I lightened up. The intelligence gathering part was named "Buckeye" and consisted of CIA, NSA and Torn Victor operatives. 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. Intelligence Support Activity | The Activity | Gray Fox Candidates then are put through a battery of assessment and selection courses as well as background checks and psychological testing. 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?. non-covert action intelligence activityoften a collection programto be of such sensitivity that 1 Oral notifications shall be followed by a written notification. Both were doing the same thing in Colombia, except Centra Spike was doing a better job, at a much lower cost. Under the umbrella group of Joint Special Operations Task Force 20, the Intelligence Support Activity helped track down and locate Saddam Hussein. Royal Cape, Granite Rock and Powder Keg were some, Centra Spike and Torn Victor being other possible cover names. 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. 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. However, due to the nature of ISAs mission, its operators are rarely likely to carry weapons into the field. by Michael Smith The unit's missions range from Latin America, fighting communist guerrillas and drugs barons, to Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, tracking down terrorists. (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. This extra length concealed the main eavesdropping antennas, while others could be lowered from the belly while in flight. Well, say that was certainly good news. The trials of the ISA in Queens Hunter were not the only time the team was tested in South America. 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). As the name implies, SIGINT Squadron is responsible for ISAs signals intelligence mission. Stationed in the fifth floor of the American embassy, and operating from specially outfitted Beechcraft 300 and 350 aircraft, Centra Spike tracked Escobar around the country. 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. 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. Operatives infiltrated internet cafes in Baghdad and conducted flyover operations in aircraft filled with signal interception gear. Every component of the US military was involved in the Invasion of Afghanistan, including the ISA. Bravo and Delta troops utilize commercial or non-official cover. (amazon.com), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit (Source) Operatives must not look out of placeor easily recognizable. ISA would operate under a host of cover names to confuse anyone without the need to know. During the war on terror it was responsible for hunting hunting high value persons. October 16, 2020 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).
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