Intelligence Support Activity
Encyclopedia
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). It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces, especially Delta Force
and DEVGRU
in counter-terrorist operations.
USAISA was the official name of the unit from 1981 to 1989; previously it was known as the Field Operations Group (FOG), created in September 1980. In 1989, the then USAISA commander sent a telex "terminating" the USAISA term and his Special Access Program GRANTOR SHADOW, but the unit continued under a series of different codenames which are changed every two years; known codenames include CENTRA SPIKE, TORN VICTOR, CEMETERY WIND and GRAY FOX.
The Field Operations Group (FOG) was created in summer 1980 in order to take part in a second attempt to rescue the U.S. hostages held in the Tehran embassy
after the failure of the Operation Eagle Claw
. That operation had highlighted the U.S. shortfall in intelligence gathering, in spite of the attempts by Major Richard J. Meadows
, who operated undercover in Tehran during the operation.
The Field Operations Group was under command of Colonel Jerry King, and operated in Iran
, accomplishing various covert intelligence-gathering missions. The work accomplished by the FOG was successful, however the second attempt (called Operation Credible Sport
), never took place because the air assets needed were not available.
After the cancellation of Operation Credible Sport, the FOG was not disbanded, but enlarged. The administration saw that ground intelligence contingencies needed to be improved upon if future special operations were to be successful. So, on 3 March 1981, the FOG was established as a permanent unit and renamed US Army Intelligence Support Activity. This activity should not be confused with a later activity known as the Ground Intelligence Support Activity (GISA), as subordinated to the Army G2.
, surrounded by a kilt belt, inscribed with Latin translation of 'Truth Overcomes All Bonds'. In the original crest, the claymore was wrapped in a chain with one of the links broken as a reminder of those killed during the failed DESERT CLAW mission. This symbol of failure was later deemed no longer appropriate.
The badge was deliberately designed by Jerry King and other founding members of the unit because of their shared Scottish heritage.
The claymore is a greatsword originating from the Scottish Highlands, and the belt surrounding the badge is in the same style as many Scottish clan's
badges.
ISA mission was to support top-tier Special Operations Forces
(primarily Delta Force
and SEAL Team Six
) in counter-terrorist operations and other special missions. The ISA would provide actionable intelligence collection, pathfinding, and operational support. The ISA performed several operations mainly in Latin America and Middle East, but also in East Africa, South-East Asia, and Europe.
and attempting to buy a Soviet T-72
tank from Iraq (a deal that was finally stopped by the Iraqis).
On 17 December 1981, the senior U.S. Army officer in NATO southern European Command, Brigadier General
James L. Dozier
, was kidnapped by Italian Red Brigades
terrorists. The search for the place where General Dozier was held saw the deployment of a massive effort by Italian and U.S. forces, including "remote viewers" which were part of Stargate Project
. An ISA SIGINT
team was sent to Italy, and used electronic detection devices from special helicopters and on the ground to monitor radio communications. ISA provided useful intelligence, enabling Italian police to arrest several Red Brigades terrorists in mid-January 1982. Although the way the Italian police were able to locate General Dozier
in late January was never disclosed, it is suspected that it is the result of ISA's SIGINT specialists. General Dozier was freed by NOCS
operators 28 January 1982
In early-1982, the ISA was needed to support a SIGINT mission in El Salvador
, a mission that the CIA
, the NSA
and INSCOM
were not able to accomplish. The task was submitted to the U.S. Army
Special Operations Division (SOD), which started Operation Queens Hunter. Operating from a Beechcraft model 100 King Air
flown by SEASPRAY
(a clandestine military aviation unit) based in Honduras
, ISA SIGINT specialists monitored communications from Salvadoran leftist guerrillas and fascist death squads, providing intelligence which helped the Salvadoran Army defend against guerrilla attacks. The success was such that the operation, planned to last a month, ran for more than three years. More aircraft were deployed, and eventually included eavesdropping on Honduran guerrillas too, as well as Nicaraguan Army units fighting against the Contras
.
The ISA has also conducted an operation to search for U.S. MIAs
(soldiers reported as Missing In Action) allegedly held in South-East Asia in secret POWs
camps in the 1980s. In 1979, U.S. intelligence thought it had located a POW camp in Laos
using aerial and satellite photographs. A ground reconnaissance was needed to determine if people seen on photographs were really American POWs. At the same time, former Special Forces
Major James G. “Bo” Gritz
planned a private rescue mission with other S.F. veterans. Having informed U.S. government officials about the mission, Bo Gritz was first told to abort his "mission", but was eventually approached by the ISA. Nonetheless, Gritz was not believed to be doing serious work, and Pentagon officials ordered the ISA to terminate their relationship with him when they discovered that ISA had provided him with money and equipment.
in Not A Good Day to Die, most (but certainly not all) Activity operatives come from United States Army Special Forces, due to their self-reliance and specialized skill-set. Candidates go through a rigorous selection process, then once admitted, receive further training in deep reconnaissance, signals intelligence, etc. Like all units, this Special Missions Unit contains operational detachments as well as support detachments.
Candidates must have a high rating in a language, scoring a 2/2 or higher on the DLPT (Defense Language Proficiency Test). Like all SOF (Special Operation Forces) assignments, candidates must pass a rigorous assessment and selection course, as well as a lengthy background investigation and psychological testing. After passing assessment and selection, candidates attend and pass Operations Training Course (OTC).
Some of the disciplines focused on in the training course are: infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, professional driving (military/civilian), personal defensive measures, advanced medical, and state-of-the-art computers, communications and digital / video photography.
MOS' (Military Occupational Specialty) that are typically recruited for these assignments are Signal Intelligence specialists, however other MOS' are drawn upon from time to time, such as HUMINT, CI and All Source Analysts.
As part of the training, recruits will also attend civilian aircraft schools to get FAA certified on fixed wing aircraft. These are not Army or DOD schools. Candidates earn their Airframe and Power Plant (A&P) license if they do not already possess it. The purpose of getting you FAA certified is so they will be able to work on any system that the aircraft may have (airframe, powerplant, avionics, hydraulics etc.) Candidates can also expect to attend Airborne School (mandatory) and Military Free Fall (if interested).
In 1993, its members intercepted a phone conversation that enabled them to track down the Colombia
n drug lord
Pablo Escobar
.
In 2002, Gray Fox fought alongside Delta Force
and DEVGRU in the mountains of Afghanistan
. Gray Fox operatives intercepted enemy communications and trekked to observation post
s with special operations units. Their efforts may have saved more than a hundred 10th Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division
soldiers fighting near Takur Ghar
in Afghanistan's Shahikot Valley during Operation Anaconda
.
The unit helped spearhead the search for Saddam Hussein
and his family after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq
in 2003. Gray Fox operatives sometimes work under the broader umbrella of "Joint Special Operations Task Force 20
," which also includes DEVGRU, the Army's Delta Force, and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured during Operation Red Dawn
. Task Force 20 has changed its name several times (known or suspected names include Task Force 11
, Task Force 20
, Task Force 121
, Task Force 6-26
Task Force 145, Task Force 77, and Task Force 88
).
Before the standard naming convention of task forces using numbers, Task Force 20 was, and is sometimes still identified, as their original task force name: Task Force Orange.
Elements of the former ISA assisted in intelligence collection and analysis operations prior to and during the 2 May 2011 U.S. Special Operations Forces mission which resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden
. Elements of DEVGRU, along with the ISA, members of the 160th SOAR, the CIA Special Activities Division
, DIA
and the NSA combined to execute a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, which ultimately killed bin Laden and resulted in the deaths of several family members and associates.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Special Operations unit
United States Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces under United States Special Operations Command are active and reserve component forces of U.S. Military...
originally subordinated to the US Army Intelligence and Security Command
United States Army Intelligence and Security Command
The United States Army Intelligence and Security Command is a direct reporting unit that conducts intelligence, security, and information operations for U.S. Army commanders and national decision makers. INSCOM is both an organization within the United States Army and the National Security Agency,...
(INSCOM). It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces, especially Delta Force
Delta Force
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
and DEVGRU
United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group
The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group , commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six , is one of the United States' four secretive counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units .The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and...
in counter-terrorist operations.
USAISA was the official name of the unit from 1981 to 1989; previously it was known as the Field Operations Group (FOG), created in September 1980. In 1989, the then USAISA commander sent a telex "terminating" the USAISA term and his Special Access Program GRANTOR SHADOW, but the unit continued under a series of different codenames which are changed every two years; known codenames include CENTRA SPIKE, TORN VICTOR, CEMETERY WIND and GRAY FOX.
The Field Operations Group
Iran hostage crisis
The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian...
after the failure of the Operation Eagle Claw
Operation Eagle Claw
Operation Eagle Claw was an American military operation ordered by President Jimmy Carter to attempt to put an end to the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 Americans held captive at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran on 24 April 1980...
. That operation had highlighted the U.S. shortfall in intelligence gathering, in spite of the attempts by Major Richard J. Meadows
Richard J. Meadows
Major Richard J. Meadows was a U.S. Army Special Forces officer who saw combat in U.S. wars from Korea to the Iran Hostage Rescue mission in 1980. He was a pivotal player in the creation of the modern U.S. Army Special Forces....
, who operated undercover in Tehran during the operation.
The Field Operations Group was under command of Colonel Jerry King, and operated in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, accomplishing various covert intelligence-gathering missions. The work accomplished by the FOG was successful, however the second attempt (called Operation Credible Sport
Operation Credible Sport
Operation Credible Sport was a joint project of the United States military in the second half of 1980 to prepare for a second rescue attempt of the hostages held in Iran using a Lockheed C-130 Hercules airlifter modified with rocket engines...
), never took place because the air assets needed were not available.
After the cancellation of Operation Credible Sport, the FOG was not disbanded, but enlarged. The administration saw that ground intelligence contingencies needed to be improved upon if future special operations were to be successful. So, on 3 March 1981, the FOG was established as a permanent unit and renamed US Army Intelligence Support Activity. This activity should not be confused with a later activity known as the Ground Intelligence Support Activity (GISA), as subordinated to the Army G2.
Badge/Insignia
The current badge depicts an American Bald Eagle grasping a claymoreClaymore
The term claymore refers to the Scottish variant of the late medieval longsword, two-handed swords with a cross hilt, of which the guards were in use during the 15th and 16th centuries.-Terminology:...
, surrounded by a kilt belt, inscribed with Latin translation of 'Truth Overcomes All Bonds'. In the original crest, the claymore was wrapped in a chain with one of the links broken as a reminder of those killed during the failed DESERT CLAW mission. This symbol of failure was later deemed no longer appropriate.
The badge was deliberately designed by Jerry King and other founding members of the unit because of their shared Scottish heritage.
The claymore is a greatsword originating from the Scottish Highlands, and the belt surrounding the badge is in the same style as many Scottish clan's
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
badges.
Build-up
In 1981 the Intelligence Support Activity began to immediately select new operators, growing from FOG's 50 people to about 100. The ISA remained extremely secret; all of its records were classified under a Special Access Program (at first named OPTIMIZE TALENT). The ISA was given its classified budget of $7 million, a secret headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and cover name, the Tactical Concept Activity. ISA included three main operations branches (Command, SIGINT and Operations), and an analysis branch, whose name changed over the years (i.e. Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Intelligence and Security). Colonel Jerry King became ISA's first commander.ISA mission was to support top-tier Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces under United States Special Operations Command are active and reserve component forces of U.S. Military...
(primarily Delta Force
Delta Force
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
and SEAL Team Six
United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group
The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group , commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six , is one of the United States' four secretive counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units .The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and...
) in counter-terrorist operations and other special missions. The ISA would provide actionable intelligence collection, pathfinding, and operational support. The ISA performed several operations mainly in Latin America and Middle East, but also in East Africa, South-East Asia, and Europe.
First missions
The ISA conducted various missions, including giving protection to the Lebanese leader Bachir GemayelBachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel was a Lebanese politician, militia commander, and president-elect...
and attempting to buy a Soviet T-72
T-72
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
tank from Iraq (a deal that was finally stopped by the Iraqis).
The Dozier kidnapping
On 17 December 1981, the senior U.S. Army officer in NATO southern European Command, Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
James L. Dozier
James L. Dozier
James Lee Dozier is a retired US Army general officer. In December 1981, he was kidnapped by the leftist Italian Red Brigades Marxist terrorist group. He was rescued by Italian anti-terrorist forces after 42 days of captivity. General Dozier was the deputy Chief of Staff at NATO's Southern...
, was kidnapped by Italian Red Brigades
Red Brigades
The Red Brigades was a Marxist-Leninist terrorist organisation, based in Italy, which was responsible for numerous violent incidents, assassinations, and robberies during the so-called "Years of Lead"...
terrorists. The search for the place where General Dozier was held saw the deployment of a massive effort by Italian and U.S. forces, including "remote viewers" which were part of Stargate Project
Stargate Project
The Stargate Project was the umbrella code name of one of several sub-projects established by the U.S. Federal Government to investigate claims of psychic phenomena with potential military and domestic applications, particularly "remote viewing": the purported ability to psychically "see" events,...
. An ISA SIGINT
SIGINT
Signals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people , whether involving electronic signals not directly used in communication , or combinations of the two...
team was sent to Italy, and used electronic detection devices from special helicopters and on the ground to monitor radio communications. ISA provided useful intelligence, enabling Italian police to arrest several Red Brigades terrorists in mid-January 1982. Although the way the Italian police were able to locate General Dozier
James L. Dozier
James Lee Dozier is a retired US Army general officer. In December 1981, he was kidnapped by the leftist Italian Red Brigades Marxist terrorist group. He was rescued by Italian anti-terrorist forces after 42 days of captivity. General Dozier was the deputy Chief of Staff at NATO's Southern...
in late January was never disclosed, it is suspected that it is the result of ISA's SIGINT specialists. General Dozier was freed by NOCS
Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza
The Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza is a special operations division of the Italian state police.-History:In 1974 the Chief of the Polizia di Stato Anti-Terrorism Bureau, Emilio Santillo, announced the necessity to establish a tactical unit with the capability to arrest known terrorists and...
operators 28 January 1982
Operation Queens Hunter
In early-1982, the ISA was needed to support a SIGINT mission in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, a mission that the CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
, the NSA
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
and INSCOM
United States Army Intelligence and Security Command
The United States Army Intelligence and Security Command is a direct reporting unit that conducts intelligence, security, and information operations for U.S. Army commanders and national decision makers. INSCOM is both an organization within the United States Army and the National Security Agency,...
were not able to accomplish. The task was submitted to the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Special Operations Division (SOD), which started Operation Queens Hunter. Operating from a Beechcraft model 100 King Air
Beechcraft King Air
The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
flown by SEASPRAY
SEASPRAY
SEASPRAY was a clandestine U.S. Army special operations unit. Its existence within the U.S. Department of Defense was held secret insofar as it testifies to the close links between the United States Army and the Central Intelligence Agency....
(a clandestine military aviation unit) based in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, ISA SIGINT specialists monitored communications from Salvadoran leftist guerrillas and fascist death squads, providing intelligence which helped the Salvadoran Army defend against guerrilla attacks. The success was such that the operation, planned to last a month, ran for more than three years. More aircraft were deployed, and eventually included eavesdropping on Honduran guerrillas too, as well as Nicaraguan Army units fighting against the Contras
Contras
The contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua's FSLN Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle's dictatorship...
.
The POW/MIA affair
The ISA has also conducted an operation to search for U.S. MIAs
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
(soldiers reported as Missing In Action) allegedly held in South-East Asia in secret POWs
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camps in the 1980s. In 1979, U.S. intelligence thought it had located a POW camp in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
using aerial and satellite photographs. A ground reconnaissance was needed to determine if people seen on photographs were really American POWs. At the same time, former Special Forces
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
Major James G. “Bo” Gritz
Bo Gritz
James Gordon "Bo" Gritz is a former United States Army Special Forces officer who served in the Vietnam War. His post-war activities notably attempted POW rescues in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue have proven controversial. Gritz lives near Sandy Valley, Nevada with his wife...
planned a private rescue mission with other S.F. veterans. Having informed U.S. government officials about the mission, Bo Gritz was first told to abort his "mission", but was eventually approached by the ISA. Nonetheless, Gritz was not believed to be doing serious work, and Pentagon officials ordered the ISA to terminate their relationship with him when they discovered that ISA had provided him with money and equipment.
Recruitment & training
According to Sean NaylorSean Naylor
Sean Naylor is a senior writer for Army Times, which is owned by Gannett Company. Born in Calgary, Canada to British parents, Naylor earned a master's degree in international relations in 1990 from Boston University. He then joined Army Times....
in Not A Good Day to Die, most (but certainly not all) Activity operatives come from United States Army Special Forces, due to their self-reliance and specialized skill-set. Candidates go through a rigorous selection process, then once admitted, receive further training in deep reconnaissance, signals intelligence, etc. Like all units, this Special Missions Unit contains operational detachments as well as support detachments.
HUMINT & SIGINT
Candidates must have a high rating in a language, scoring a 2/2 or higher on the DLPT (Defense Language Proficiency Test). Like all SOF (Special Operation Forces) assignments, candidates must pass a rigorous assessment and selection course, as well as a lengthy background investigation and psychological testing. After passing assessment and selection, candidates attend and pass Operations Training Course (OTC).
Some of the disciplines focused on in the training course are: infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, professional driving (military/civilian), personal defensive measures, advanced medical, and state-of-the-art computers, communications and digital / video photography.
MOS' (Military Occupational Specialty) that are typically recruited for these assignments are Signal Intelligence specialists, however other MOS' are drawn upon from time to time, such as HUMINT, CI and All Source Analysts.
Mechanical
As part of the training, recruits will also attend civilian aircraft schools to get FAA certified on fixed wing aircraft. These are not Army or DOD schools. Candidates earn their Airframe and Power Plant (A&P) license if they do not already possess it. The purpose of getting you FAA certified is so they will be able to work on any system that the aircraft may have (airframe, powerplant, avionics, hydraulics etc.) Candidates can also expect to attend Airborne School (mandatory) and Military Free Fall (if interested).
Gray Fox
Gray Fox is the last known name of the former ISA. Its members often work closely with Tier 1 Special Operation Forces.In 1993, its members intercepted a phone conversation that enabled them to track down the Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n drug lord
Drug lord
A drug lord, drug baron or kingpin is the term used to describe a person who controls a sizable network of persons involved in the illegal drugs trade. Such figures are often difficult to bring to justice, as they might never be directly in possession of something illegal, but are insulated from...
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord. He was an elusive cocaine trafficker and rich and successful criminal. He owned numerous luxury residences, automobiles, and even airplanes...
.
In 2002, Gray Fox fought alongside Delta Force
Delta Force
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
and DEVGRU in the mountains of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Gray Fox operatives intercepted enemy communications and trekked to observation post
Observation post
An observation post, temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers , or to direct artillery fire...
s with special operations units. Their efforts may have saved more than a hundred 10th Mountain Division and 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
soldiers fighting near Takur Ghar
Battle of Takur Ghar
The Battle of Takur Ghar was a short but intense military engagement between United States special operations forces and Taliban insurgents fought in March 2002, atop Takur Ghar mountain, Afghanistan. For the U.S...
in Afghanistan's Shahikot Valley during Operation Anaconda
Operation Anaconda
Operation Anaconda took place in early March 2002 in which the United States military and CIA Paramilitary Officers, working with allied Afghan military forces, and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization and non NATO forces attempted to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in the Shahi-Kot...
.
The unit helped spearhead the search for Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
and his family after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 2003. Gray Fox operatives sometimes work under the broader umbrella of "Joint Special Operations Task Force 20
Task Force 20
Task Force 20 is a designation that has been used by at least two United States Department of Defense units.-United States Navy:Task Force 20 is one of the task force designators assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command in the Atlantic, and was previously one of the task force designators...
," which also includes DEVGRU, the Army's Delta Force, and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured during Operation Red Dawn
Operation Red Dawn
Operation Red Dawn was the U.S. military operation conducted on 13 December 2003 in the town of ad-Dawr, Iraq, near Tikrit, that captured Iraq President Saddam Hussein, ending rumours of his death. The operation was named after the 1984 film Red Dawn. The mission was assigned to the 1st Brigade...
. Task Force 20 has changed its name several times (known or suspected names include Task Force 11
Task Force 11
-World War II:During World War II, Task Force 11 was a United States Navy aircraft carrier task force in the Pacific theater.TF 11 was originally formed around , then her sister ship until she was disabled by a Japanese torpedo in January 1942, then Lexington again for the Battle of the Coral...
, Task Force 20
Task Force 20
Task Force 20 is a designation that has been used by at least two United States Department of Defense units.-United States Navy:Task Force 20 is one of the task force designators assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command in the Atlantic, and was previously one of the task force designators...
, Task Force 121
Task Force 121
Task Force 121 is an example of the United States' 'Joint Task Force' concept of conducting special operations. TF121 is a multi-service force commanded by U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Gregory L. Trebon. The spearhead of the force is a forty-man team made up of operators from the U.S. Army's...
, Task Force 6-26
Task Force 6-26
Task Force 6–26 is a United States Joint military/Government Agency unit; originally set-up to find "High Value Targets" in Iraq in the aftermath of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This Special Operation unit is very similar to Task Force 121 which was created to capture Saddam Hussein and high rank...
Task Force 145, Task Force 77, and Task Force 88
Task Force 88 (anti-terror unit)
Task Force 88 is an American special operations unit formed since 11 September 2001, of which little is publicly known. Described as a "hunter-killer team" with its core made up of Delta Force, 75th Ranger Regiment Rangers and DEVGRU operators, Task Force 88 reportedly conducts covert operations...
).
Before the standard naming convention of task forces using numbers, Task Force 20 was, and is sometimes still identified, as their original task force name: Task Force Orange.
Current Operations
After the ISA became widely known in the SOF community as Task Force - Orange, The Activity has once again changed its name. Since 2005 onward, the ISA is not currently operating under a two-worded Special Access Program (SAP) name anymore (Grey Fox, Centra Spike, etc.). The organization is currently the identified by the three letter acronym "OMS" (the meaning of the acronym is unknown to the author). A recent cover name used is the U.S Army Security Coordination Detachment.Elements of the former ISA assisted in intelligence collection and analysis operations prior to and during the 2 May 2011 U.S. Special Operations Forces mission which resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden
Death of Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden, then head of the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, shortly after 1 a.m. local time by a United States special forces military unit....
. Elements of DEVGRU, along with the ISA, members of the 160th SOAR, the CIA Special Activities Division
Special Activities Division
The Special Activities Division is a division in the United States Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service responsible for covert operations known as "special activities"...
, DIA
Defense Intelligence Agency
The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
and the NSA combined to execute a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, which ultimately killed bin Laden and resulted in the deaths of several family members and associates.
Popular culture
ISA remained a very poorly known force to the public. Some rare mentions of the ISA exist, including :- the Robert LittellRobert Littell (author)Robert Littell is an American novelist and journalist residing part of the time in France. He specializes in spy novels that often concern the CIA and the Soviet Union....
's novel An Agent in Place. - The Presidential Agent Series, especially its first book By Order of the President, features Gray Fox in a large role. In the book, however; they are portrayed as a top secret unit within Delta ForceDelta Force1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
.
See also
- A National Security Archive's report about DoD-made HUMINT, including ISA.
- Joint Special Operations CommandUnited States Joint Special Operations CommandThe Joint Special Operations Command is a component command of the United States Special Operations Command and is charged to study special operations requirements and techniques to ensure interoperability and equipment standardization, plan and conduct special operations exercises and training,...
.- Delta ForceDelta Force1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
, United States Naval Special Warfare Development GroupUnited States Naval Special Warfare Development GroupThe United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group , commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six , is one of the United States' four secretive counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units .The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and...
(DEVGRU), SEASPRAYSEASPRAYSEASPRAY was a clandestine U.S. Army special operations unit. Its existence within the U.S. Department of Defense was held secret insofar as it testifies to the close links between the United States Army and the Central Intelligence Agency....
.
- Delta Force
- 14 Intelligence Company14 Intelligence Company14 Field Security and Intelligence Company is alleged to have been an element of the British Army Intelligence Corps which operated in Northern Ireland from the 1970s onwards. The unit conducted undercover surveillance operations against suspected members of Irish republican and loyalist...
a similar unit in the United Kingdom Special ForcesUnited Kingdom Special ForcesThe United Kingdom Special Forces is a UK Ministry of Defence Directorate which also has the capability to provide a Joint Special Operations Task Force Headquarters...
. - Special Reconnaissance RegimentSpecial Reconnaissance RegimentThe Special Reconnaissance Regiment or SRR is a Special Forces regiment of the British Armed Forces. It was established on 6 April 2005 and is part of the United Kingdom Special Forces under command Director Special Forces, alongside the Special Air Service , Special Boat Service and the Special...
a similar unit in the United Kingdom Special ForcesUnited Kingdom Special ForcesThe United Kingdom Special Forces is a UK Ministry of Defence Directorate which also has the capability to provide a Joint Special Operations Task Force Headquarters...
.
External links
- StateCraft.org
- SpecWarNet.net : this site obviously confused the Field Operations Group with a covert Special Forces Unit called the Foreign Operating Group, which operated in Nicaragua in 1979.
- SourceWatch's article about the ISA.