ISA: Soldier Spies of the Intelligence Support Activity On October 23, 1983, a truck bomb slammed into the US Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Americans, and injuring scores more. The most elite special operations forces in the US America's Most Elite Special Forces - msn.com They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. And with that our boss, the Cantor, doled out a mission for a two-man team of mandarins. 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'). ISA was asked to form an Algerian-based plan and a Beirut-based one for rescue. Operatives tradecraft for avoiding detection is impeccable. Originally the unit was known as the Field Operations Group or FOG and was designed to fill the Armys need for clandestine intelligence collection. geo sends. Intelligence Support Activity - Person of Interest Wiki When Escobar surrendered in 1991, Centra Spike was pulled out, only to return a year later, when Escobar escaped from his comfortable prison. Under the guiding hand of JSOC, the ISA operated alongside other JSOC and CIA elements, under the codename Gray Fox. 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. 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. The separation did not fit real world requirements which was finally recognized in the aftermath of the failed Iran rescue. Meyer was determined that no future SOF OP with Army forces would be conducted absent credible quality CIA/DOD/NSA and Army intelligence. But what if I dont need signal intercept and intelligence gathering support for my mission?, Look, Geo theyre here, theyre queer, and theyd like so say hello just deal with it because theyre not going away. Plus, they wouldnt have to load the car back up again the next day what a grand and magnanimous plan that proved to be. Units in Sarajevo tracked Karadzic electronically, while other agents were on the ground in Pale, Karadzic's home. 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. The Cantor said nothing. 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. US Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), also known as ISA, The Activity, GREY FOX and, in recent times, the Mission Support Activity (MSA), is a top secret Army intelligence unit. While driving through northern Lebanon, Cowan and his mates suffered several close calls with Syrian roadblocks and patrols. Support Veteran Journalism . 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. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, otherwise known as Force Recon, are a company-sized (about 200) recon and direct-action element that falls directly under the Marine Expeditionary Force. 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. The other half flew to Cyprus to join the rest of the rescue force. 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. "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? This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. Grey Dynamics is a Private Intelligence firm based out of London with analysts, researchers, and investigators worldwide. "Today, the ISA operates under the code name Gray Fox. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations. . Task Force Mandarin [better known as Task Force Orange or the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA)] was a support organization formed to provide signal intercept and intelligence gathering capabilities to Tier One organizations. Both were doing the same thing in Colombia, except Centra Spike was doing a better job, at a much lower cost. It was the type of mission ISA was designed for, but no agents were sent in. 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. The ISA initially had only support activity and HUMINT gathering functions. 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 CIA proved unable to provide the critical intelligence Delta Force needed, such as the number of guards, the type of weapons they were using and what kinds of locks were on the doors. 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. They set up protection for the president and installed a security system. Exactly who would execute the direct-action operations, would be determined after the intelligence determine the situational necessities. The most important thing to know is that intelligence drives "direct action" operations. Additionally, ISA recruits from other branches of the US military and potentially elsewhere in the intelligence community. The third known squadron is the Mission Support Squadron. Well, say that was certainly good news. ISA intelligence specialists, K9 units, security experts and demolition experts were sent to the country undercover as military advisers. Dozier was taken hostage and mistreated, with the Red Brigades viewing him as an ideological foe that needed to be made an example of. (Source). 2e Rgiment tranger de Parachutistes | The Cantor sent me out as usual to throw the lock, wait for our operational vehicle to pass, then shut it again. "The government realized the importance of the FOG. The manhunt was over. Known as the Confederate Air Force, a joke refencing their title, the Army of Northern Virginia. Unfortunately, the hostages were dispersed throughout the country, and the chance never came for a second attempt, but the seeds were planted for the Intelligence Support Activity. Delta's deployment was stalled by bureaucratic dealings, so ISA mobilized its most compartmentalized unit, the direct action element, the shooters. The Pentagon's Spies: Military Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Activities Operators from the unit entered Nicaragua using false passports, and proceeded to photograph the embassy from every angle, record the types of locks on all doors, inside and outside, record the number of exits and windows, and finally drew up the internal layout of the building. US Army Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) | Specwar.info ISA would operate under a host of cover names to confuse anyone without the need to know. People know ISA mostly for its involvement in Operation Anaconda. The unit is organized into several elements. 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. "Currently, ISA is believed to be under control of JSOC, and published accounts have it organized into administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT and direct action elements. 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. It was a body of men and women first sent to Japan to study Ninjitzu, then on to Chinas Shao Lin Temple to study Kung Fu, then finally to Iran to study the ways of the Immortals under the former King of the Persian Empire, Xerxes the Great. It was so simple that we didnt even need to create a nursery rhyme to recite to help us remember all the steps. As with both the establishment of JSOC, TF160/SOAR and Ranger SOF, the task was not easy. "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. ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? His areas of focus are extremism in the Western world, military privatization and the impact of climate change on global security. Featured Book: (amazon.com), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit 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. These are primarily preparation intelligence and tactical/ strategic intelligence for active operations. Such as procuring equipment, getting funding for operations/training, and human resources functions. The US military and many of its allies consider DA one of the basic special operations missions. US Air Force Pararescue | Special Operations Forces are the elite commandos of the U.S. military. 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. The CIA would talk directly to the warlords while the ISA provided SIGINT support and ground security for them. 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; Here, Ive got it, offered the mandarin with hand extended to my lock pick set. So there they were sitting in our Tactical Operations Center in Bosnia waiting to be integrated into our PIFWC hunting operations. 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 (Source), Additionally, the ISA has acted as a pseudo-security element for the CIA. US Navy SEALs | Failed Clandestine operations, usually result in some form of USG explanation. "These commands and white Special Forces like the Green Berets, as well as Air Force combat controllers and commandos of eight different nations report to a mind-boggling array of new command cells and coordination units set up after Sept. Dream of Becoming a Navy Seal or Part of Delta Force? Here is the 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. 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). What is the difference between the Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization programs recently developed vs. previous years? Most officials disliked the unit's head, Jerry King, and thus, JSOC did not send the unit in. The FOG was re-named the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), and given an initial budget of $7 million. The exact makeup of ISAs force structure is hard to determine. How to join the intelligence support activity - Quora

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