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Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. Officials developed a contingency plan for the new situation: ISA operators were to infiltrate the city and confirm the locations of the hostages, as well as make contact with the Lebanese Christian militia. Its skills 'perfected during missions over El Salvador,' Centra Spike honed in on Escobar's cellular phone calls and relayed the information back to Colombian police forces. In line with their proficiency in infiltration, they had an array of passports, credit cards and falsified documents to allow easy movement between territories. 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. However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. "ISA was also rumoured to be operating in Bosnia in the last few years under the code-name Torn Victor. LTG Odom acquiesced but took every opportunity to oppose actions engaging his traditional intelligence elements. In one particular situation, Delta and Torn Victor agents supposedly donned French uniforms (Pale is in the French sector of the UN zone) and traveled to Pale hoping to conduct closer surveillance of his whereabouts. The most elite special operations forces in the US The Cantor said nothing. ISA recommended covert deployment of its operatives to both airports to secure landing zones and infiltration routes. FOG became permanent and renamed ISA on March 3, 1981. 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 is a potentially significant compromise. the Cantor lamented in earnest. This was never forthcoming despite the greatest pressure upon the Agency. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. However, due to the nature of ISAs mission, its operators are rarely likely to carry weapons into the field. 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An operation was planned for their rescue, with Seaspray, Delta Force and the ISA all playing a role. It was Delta Forces first mission and a horrific failure. 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. Intelligence Support Activity - Person of Interest Wiki Primarily acting as enablers for JSOC special mission units. (Source), Under the operational codename Centra Spike, the Intelligence Support Activity operated alongside CIA and local police elements to track down Escobar. (function() { The whole force drove north as planned, putting Kay and me upfront to clear ahead and report back to the assault force. Or these operatives can clone a cellphone, allowing them to send and receive communications to and from the phone from a remote locations. Once inside, Centra Spike agents would plug in laptops into the airplane's power and could simultaneously track four frequencies. A vehicle on time and on target rolled through the barricade. (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. The Department of Defense in 1965 outlined its need to be more involved with collecting intelligence, supported by Robert McNamara. Zones are prepared, field intelligence is gathered, and targets are laid out for other forces. Intelligence Support Activity - SourceWatch Intelligence picked up reports that the two, along with other Sudanese officials were the targets of Libyan-sponsored terrorist assassinations. Special Recon, Direct Action. To lawyers, this is a distinction with a difference. "Apparently, ISA's direct action element was also put on alert during the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. (Source). In addition to covert operations, it provides the war on terrorism with the kind of so-called 'close-in' signals monitoring -- including the interception of cell phone conversations -- that helped bring down Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. 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. Tools like radios, computers and lockpicks are much more crucial to the success of its missions. My team, me and happy-trigger-fingered Kay-Kay, were to position north of the ambush site, report the approach of the Generals car, then pull our car out onto the highway to block traffic for the hot minute it took the assault force to stop Klandanjs car and scoop him up. Shadow Warriors: The Ultra-Secret, Special Reconnaissance Regiment 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). 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. So there they were sitting in our Tactical Operations Center in Bosnia waiting to be integrated into our PIFWC hunting operations. INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL OPERATIONS - Federation of American Scientists Unit Profile. (Dominique Sumner and Peter Tomich). The unit is organized into several elements. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. Infiltration relies much less on stealthy engagement, and much more on subtlety and effective tradecraft. Years before its actual formation, the need for the ISA, or an operational entity like it, was already being examined. Does the army's intelligence support activity also do direct action? The ISA comprises 5 primary elements: administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT and direct action. Grey Dynamics is a Private Intelligence firm based out of London with analysts, researchers, and investigators worldwide. 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. This is how we block. Subsequently, theyre protected by diplomatic immunity if theyre compromised during an espionage operation. Political bickering stalled the deployment of the agents, and finally, the operation was approved. A goodly amount of minutes went by. They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. It's a Special Mission Unit and conducts highly classified 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. US Army Rangers | Originally referred to as Task Force Orange, other names have included Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox. US Air Force Pararescue | "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. They require units with combinations of trained specialized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed the routine capabilities of conventional military forces. They also provided protection for numerous Arabian princes, and established good contacts while down there. At the point of execution, the road became bureaucratically bumpy. In all cases, the Congressional members voiced support. "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. 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. 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. Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Operations Response Team (SORT), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit 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. Nowadays the ISA focuses on the preparation of the battlespace for military operations across the globe. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Both Army and the Agency recognized the changed nature of the world and the requirements of the emerging terrorist/hostage issues. 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. The SEALs, SAS, and SBS added additional capabilities over time, responding to the needs of modern conflict. 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. Jose Solano - Intelligence Analyst - CACI International Inc | LinkedIn The TRADOC DCS, G-2 develops, describes, and delivers the OE in order to support the Army's preparations to fight and win the nation's wars. A case officer is someone who handles a foreign asset by giving them collection requirements and ensuring their safety. Featured Book: (Source), The ISAs selection and training is geared towards intelligence specialisation despite conducting occasional direct engagement. It is unclear how often the ISA interrogates subjects, though given their covert operations they likely at least interrogate high-value targets. The exact makeup of ISAs force structure is hard to determine. Upon return to the Pentagon, he re-assigned the ACSI POC out of FOG-related issues. It is common for the appearance and demeanour of an agent to be the key to their success as an infiltrator. Since 2003, t. The Pentagon frequently disavows knowledge regarding their activities or even their existence, and they've been given different names multiple times to misdirect any probes into their identity or activities. US intelligence gathering methods centre around the US intelligence process, composed of the phases Plan, Prepare, Collect, Process, and Produce. 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. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. A Congressional hearing was held, and the media revealed the existence of a 'classified military intelligence unit'. "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. Had the force been aware of the actual hostage location and situation, the force could have continued past Desert One and probably succeeded. The training processes of other military groups however grant general insight into the selection and training of the ISA. The ISAs execution of SIGINT monitoring was so successful that the month-long operation was extended to three years. Featuring 931 new and updated case-based questions, organized into seven core areas of process design, this Self-Assessment will help you identify areas in which . 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. Some of ISA's most recent deployments was in 1993 in Somalia. An ISA agent was secretly infiltrated into Beirut where he provided real-time intelligence on the location of the hostages. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. . 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. This time, the manhunt for Escobar was being led by Col. Hugo Martinez, who did not intend to let Escobar get away, and who operated with ruthless efficiency, aided by Centra Spike's intelligence. It was completely hidden from view, covering its existence with a series of regularly changing code names like Centra Spike, Royal Cape, and Grey Fox. In the 1980s, extremist parties on both sides of the political spectrum plagued Italy. 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?. The US Department of Defense has defined direct action as "Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy, capture, exploit, recover, or damage designated targets. 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 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. by Michael Smith The intelligence gathering part was named "Buckeye" and consisted of CIA, NSA and Torn Victor operatives. However, Operation Anaconda is one of few of the ISAs Afghanistan operations known to the public. These operatives mirror the function of CIA case officers and even go through CIA training at the Farm in Virginia. It built a reputation for daring, flexibility and a degree of lawlessness. 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'). 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. Colonel Jerry King retained his position as the head of the group, now 100-strong and headquartered in a nondescript building in Arlington, Virginia. The debris revealed a spider hole and as an operator prepared a grenade, Saddam poked his head out of the hole. The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . 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. 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. 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. Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 operators on the loose? Gen Meyer demurred on the request, citing the several parts of the world where Army FOG personnel were actively supporting SOF elements, the Agency, and CINC.