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One problem that plagued the first attempt was the lack of valuable intelligence. (Source) These collectively will compose some of the roles within a primary battalion of the ISA. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Retired Army Col. Paris Davis stood in the White House as President Biden draped the Medal of Honor around his neck, nearly Chief Special Warfare Operator Michael T. Ernst died following a "military freefall training accident" on Feb. 19 in Marana Lt. Col. Collin Charlie Christopherson, the commander of the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, was arrested How much do you know about the morale machine that's been deploying with U.S. troops since WWII? Title 10 is the broad statute regarding what DOD is authorized to do. 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. var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; US intelligence gathering methods centre around the US intelligence process, composed of the phases Plan, Prepare, Collect, Process, and Produce. He later commanded both the 1/75th Rangers and the 1st Ranger Training Brigade. (function() { Eliciting information from select sources, The exploitation of documents, media and materials. The ISA technicians were instrumental in the tracking and capture of a number of Red Brigades terrorists, and most probably the location of the kidnapped Dozier himself. 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. Some of ISA's most recent deployments was in 1993 in Somalia. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. As such discussing their capabilities is frowned upon. The Cantor finally said something, and he said it very very loudly when the mandarins lost control of some weapons and encrypted radios. Access to that road saved a considerable amount of travel time for support for an ongoing mission. As with any clandestine unit, only so much can be known about any of the JSOC special mission units. They are called upon to perform the toughest duties in the armed forces, and their actions directly affect the protection of America's freedom. 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 The unit is organized into several elements. and other specialized capabilities to support Army, joint, unified action partners, and the U.S. intelligence commu-nity. (Source), Active operational support is also a crucial role of the ISA. Every modern military relies on intelligence, and the US military is a voracious consumer of intelligence, from both an analytical and functional standpoint. _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-21361708-1']); As the name implies, SIGINT Squadron is responsible for ISAs signals intelligence mission. (Source), Additionally, the ISA has acted as a pseudo-security element for the CIA. Operationally, the ISA is a dedicated intelligence group, doing the intelligence leg work for special operations groups. The Beechcrafts were made to appear normal from the outside, save for a wingspan six inches longer. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. The decision was made to deploy another ISA unit. The CIA would talk directly to the warlords while the ISA provided SIGINT support and ground security for them. This Intelligence Support Activity All-Inclusive Self-Assessment enables You to be that person. But the poor Cantor had to suffer through the mandarin menace sure enough. The Cantor, busy writing, asked me how it went. A much more classified component was a solely-US effort codenamed Green Light, focusing specifically on former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. 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. Additionally, these operative can remotely turn on a cellphone thats been turned off, which allows them to hear everything going on near it. He would be given instructions and equipment along the way, and was required to perform certain assignments, for example, setting up a SATCOM system. 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. 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. 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. There was a task I did for the Cantor routinely and at a moments notice. The moronic mandarins merely blinked and nothing more. _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', '.specwar.info']); Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Operations Response Team (SORT), " Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit Join our mailing list to stay in the loop for free! 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. Geo, take a mandarin with you, the Cantor directed without looking at me. "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. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. As such, the activities and specifics of Gray Fox are not widely made available. They discovered there was no co-ordination between them, and vital information regarding terrorist attacks was not being shared. "Also in 1989, ISA was rumoured to have taken part in the hunt for the richest drug trafficker in the world, Pablo Escobar, operating under the code-name Centra Spike. The simple plan called for pipe-hitters to deploy from the states and set up an ambush at a blind S-curve along the generals route. A top-secret 'Army electronic surveillance team', was sent to aid the Colombians in August of 1989, as a part of Operation Heavy Shadow. Special Operations Forces: Small Wars Journal is published by Small Wars Foundation - a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. This Army Special Operations unit, goes by many names, which is indicative of the various activities, functions and environments performed by these operators. The US recognized the usefulness of this unit and began surveying embassies across the world. 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. To operatorsnot so much. The unit is organized into several elements. Along with Queens Hunter, ISA was involved in many operations across Central America, in Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. A case officer is someone who handles a foreign asset by giving them collection requirements and ensuring their safety. Good enough, I thought. Lets just settle on Gray Fox for now, as these operators fill in the gray area between Title 50 intelligence gathering and Title 10 unconventional warfare operations. Grey Dynamics is a Private Intelligence firm based out of London with analysts, researchers, and investigators worldwide. The ISA has gone by many name: Intelligence Support Activity or Mission Support Activity, and nicknamed The Activity, Task Force Orange . The separation did not fit real world requirements which was finally recognized in the aftermath of the failed Iran rescue. 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. The Intelligence Support Activity conducts its operations during and in advance of US military operations. Special Recon, Direct Action. I grabbed assault rifles and ammo can from our stash in the attic of the safe house and reluctantly handed one to Kay-Kay: You keep this damned thing on safe at all times! Talk about close target recce. Thats pretty frickin ballsy. Two people with a lockpick kit and a camera. The aim of the operation was to monitor cross-border raids and movements of Sandinista forces and rebels in El Salvador. (Source). . 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. When operatives are in less restrictive environments they can often be seen carrying weapons used by locals, most often in the form of AKs. Due to their specialization in intelligence, they can operate as vanguard teams to support another units operations. "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. (Source). Almost simultaneously, another truck bomb exploded in the French barracks, killing 56. As they soundly slept in the reverie of their grand plan, the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy happened by and found the car unlocked. Landing zones were established, Lebanese militias contacted for help, and plans formulated for a commando force. 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), Mission Support Activity (MSA), Office of Military Support (OMS), Field Operations Group (FOG), Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA), Tactical (Source). The operation, code-named Great Falcon, made a deal with the Iraqi government for a T-72, in exchange for 175mm cannons. "In 1982, ISA SIGINT specialists took part in Operation Queens Hunter, a Seaspray operation in the skies above El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. The third known squadron is the Mission Support Squadron. Intelligence Support Activity-Bragg developed an online tool, the pilot for which was planned to commence on June 1, 2019, to standardize the System Authorization Access Request, Acceptable Use Policy and Privileged Access Agreement for the command. The cyber operations team extends into other offsets of intelligence gathering, including OSINT, cyber threat intelligence and cyber warfare. I could tell by her skunk-eye that she had a dagger in the pipe ready to launch, so I lightened up. geo sends. Stew Smith and Jeff Nichols discuss the new testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E) used at BUDS to deter use Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. However, the ISA intercepted Iraqi communications that corroborated intelligence collected from his family members. (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 negotiations were going so well that Iraq decided to throw in a Mil Mi-24 Hind D helicopter and a MiG-25 fighter-interceptor. 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. By November 1993, the noose was tightening around Escobar, and Centra Spike managed to track him down to a suburb of Medellin called Los Olivos. 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. Originally the unit was known as the Field Operations Group or FOG and was designed to fill the Armys need for clandestine intelligence collection. 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. . Its scope is quite large, and it often works in support of JSOC, SOCOM and even other intelligence agencies. Given the nature of their operations and the close work and training they receive alongside other US special operations forces, much of their equipment is likely to mimic that of the special mission units they support and work alongside. (Source). (Source). The unit conducts close survelliance with cameras, even going as far as covertly entering terrorists safe houses and planting hidden cameras. In 1979 the need for a dedicated special operations intelligence unit was solidified following the overthrowing of Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. Then, Delta and SEAL Team 6 operators would make their way into the city in small groups and wait at safe-houses until the time was right. 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. These operatives have a cover in the commercial sector, typically as an international businessperson. Primarily acting as enablers for JSOC special mission units. a Title 10 operation or a Title 50 operation. Key was the requirement to develop a competent counter resolution force. Russia's Spetsnaz combines DA and SR units. Gray Fox was formed in 1980 in response to the infamous failed rescue attempt of American hostages under Operation Eagle Claw in the Tehran embassy. US Army Special Forces | 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). The exact breakdown of this squadron isnt known, however it is a reasonable assumption that its divided into troops based on the specific mission, such as airborne SIGINT or ground SIGINT. Additionally, ISA recruits from other branches of the US military and potentially elsewhere in the intelligence community. There are four primary battalions with various responsibilities being spread across them. Known as the Confederate Air Force, a joke refencing their title, the Army of Northern Virginia.