Intelligence Support Activity: Difference between revisions

Intelligence Support Activity
Intelligence Support Activity
	ISA Emblem
Active	1981–present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	Special operations force; Special mission unit
Role	Human intelligence; Signals intelligence; Special reconnaissance;
Size	Classified
Part of	United States Special Operations Command; Joint Special Operations Command; United States Army Special Operations Command
Headquarters	Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Nickname(s)	"The Activity", "The Army of Northern Virginia"
Motto(s)	"Send Me" or Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit ("Truth Overcomes All Bonds")
Engagements	Operation Winter Harvest; Operation Desert Storm; Operation Gothic Serpent ; Operation Joint Endeavor ; Operation Enduring Freedom; Operation Iraqi Freedom; Operation Prime Chance; Operation Inherent Resolve;
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation; Joint Meritorious Unit Award;
Commanders
Current; commander	Classified
Notable; commanders	Jerry King; Michael K. Nagata; Richard E. Angle

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The United States Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), frequently shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), also known at various times as Mission Support Activity (MSA), Office of Military Support (OMS), Field Operations Group (FOG), Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA), Tactical Concept Activity, Tactical Support Team, and Tactical Coordination Detachment,^[1] and also nicknamed "The Activity" and the Army of Northern Virginia,^[2] is a United States Army Special Operations unit which serves as the intelligence gathering component of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).^[3]^[4]^[5] Within JSOC, the unit is often referred to as Task Force Orange.^[6]^[7]^[8] Originally subordinated to the US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), it is one of the least known intelligence components of the United States military,^[6] tasked with clandestine HUMINT operations and collecting actionable intelligence during or prior to JSOC missions.^[9]

The Activity and its counterparts 1st SFOD-D, DEVGRU, and the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, are the U.S. military's premier Tier 1 Special Mission Units, performing the most complex, classified, and dangerous missions as directed by the National Command Authority.^[6]

The unit is known by many names. USAISA was the official name of the unit from 1981 to 1989. It has also gone by a number of two-word Special Access Program names, including OPTIMIZE TALENT, ROYAL CAPE, CENTRA SPIKE, CAPACITY GEAR, GRANTOR SHADOW, TORN VICTOR, QUIET ENABLE, OPAQUE LEAF, CEMETERY WIND, GRAY FOX, TITRANT RANGER, and INTREPID SPEAR.^[1]^[2]^[10]^[11]

History

Field Operations Group

The Field Operations Group (FOG) was created in the summer of 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.^[12]^[13]

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.^[11]^[14]

After the cancellation of Operation Credible Sport, the FOG was not disbanded but enlarged. The administration saw ground intelligence contingencies as needing improvement if future special operations were to be successful, as the CIA did not always provide all the information needed. So, on 3 March 1981, the FOG was established as a permanent unit and renamed US Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA).^[11] This ISA should not be confused with a later unit known as the Ground Intelligence Support Activity (GISA), which was subordinated to the Army G2.

Badge and insignia

The current badge depicts an American bald eagle grasping a claymore, surrounded by a kilt belt, inscribed with the Latin phrase "Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit" ("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 Operation Eagle Claw. 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 seen on Scottish clan badges (the belt signifies that the wearer is a member rather than the chief of the clan - the chief wears the badge without a belt surround).

U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity

Build-up

In 1981 the Intelligence Support Activity began to immediately select new operators, growing from the FOG's original 50 members to about 100. The ISA remained extremely secret; all of its records were classified under a Special Access Program initially 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.^[11] ISA included three main operations branches (Command, SIGINT and Operations) and an analysis branch, whose name changed over the years (e.g. Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Intelligence and Security).^[15]^[16] Colonel Jerry King became the ISA's first commander.^[11]^[17]^[18]

The ISA's mission was to support Special Operations Forces (primarily 1st SFOD-D and DEVGRU) in counter-terrorist operations and other special operations units. The ISA would provide actionable intelligence collection, pathfinding, and operational support. The ISA performed several operations mainly in Latin America and the Middle East during the 1980s, but also in East Africa, South-East Asia, and Europe.^[11] The current organization of ISA is classified but does contain at least three squadrons (Operations, SIGINT and Mission Support/Communications).^[15]

First missions

The ISA conducted various missions, including giving protection to the Lebanese leader Bachir Gemayel and attempting to buy a Soviet T-72 tank from Iraq (a deal that was finally stopped by the Iraqis).^[11]^[19]

Dozier kidnapping, Operation Winter Harvest

On 17 December 1981, the senior U.S. Army officer in NATO Land Forces Southern European Command, Brigadier General James L. Dozier, was kidnapped from his apartment in Verona, Italy, by Italian Red Brigades terrorists. The search for General Dozier saw a massive deployment of Italian and U.S. forces, including thousands of Italian national police, the Carabinieri. The search also featured some unconventional participants, including "remote viewers" from Project Stargate and an international cast of psychics, largely orchestrated by General Albert Stubblebine, then-Commander of U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command INSCOM, and a great believer in the use of unconventional intelligence-gathering methods. An ISA SIGINT team was sent to Italy as part of Operation Winter Harvest and in conjunction with other Army SIGINT and counter-intelligence units, employed aerial and ground-based SIGINT systems to monitor and geo-locate terrorist communications. ISA and the other Army elements provided useful intelligence, helping Italian police to arrest several Red Brigades terrorists in mid-January 1982. The Italian police and intelligence agencies have never officially disclosed how they located General Dozier in late January 1982. However, U.S. Army participants in the operation have hinted that the mid-January arrests, the interrogation of those arrested, and follow-on investigations led to the eventual location of the Red Brigades hideout where Dozier was being held, in an apartment over a store in Padova. There is little doubt that the successful outcome resulted in part from the contributions of ISA's SIGINT specialists and the other supporting Army intelligence elements. General Dozier was freed unharmed by NOCS operators, also known as "The Leatherheads" for their unique headgear, on 28 January 1982.^[11]

Operation Queens Hunter

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.^[11]

The POW/MIA affair

The ISA has also conducted an operation to search for US 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 the U.S. government officials about the mission, 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.^[11]

In 1989, the then USAISA commander John G. Lackey sent a telex "terminating" the USAISA term and his special access program GRANTOR SHADOW. Colonel John Lackey served as unit commander from 1986 to 1989.^[20] However, the unit continued under a series of different Top Secret codenames which are changed every two years. Known codenames included CAPACITY GEAR, CENTRA SPIKE, TORN VICTOR, QUIET ENABLE, CEMETERY WIND, and GRAY FOX.^[2]

Gray Fox

Gray Fox was the codename used by the ISA at the beginning of the War in Afghanistan. Its members often worked closely with Joint Special Operations Command and the Central Intelligence Agency.^[21]

In 2002, Gray Fox operators served alongside Delta Force and DEVGRU in the mountains of Afghanistan.^[22] Gray Fox intercepted enemy communications and trekked to observation posts 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.^{[citation needed]}

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 included DEVGRU, the Army's Delta Force, and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured during Operation Red Dawn.^[21] Under the command of Colonel Michael K. Nagata from 2005 to 2008, Gray Fox continued to operate in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside US Special Operations Forces.

Under Joint Special Operations Command

In 2003, the Intelligence Support Activity was transferred from the Army INSCOM to Joint Special Operations Command, where it was renamed the Mission Support Activity.^[21]

Since 2005 onward, the ISA has not always operated under a two-worded Special Access Program (SAP) name (GRAY FOX, CENTRA SPIKE, etc.). In 2009, the unit was referred to as INTREPID SPEAR, until this was revealed to have been leaked in an email to the Pentagon.^[21] In 2010 it was referred to as the United States Army Studies and Analysis Activity.^[21]

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 CIA Special Activities Division, DIA,^[23] 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.

Recruitment, training, and organization

According to Sean Naylor 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.^[22] Candidates also come from the other military branches. Most candidates assigned to the Operations, Communications, and/or SIGINT squadrons go through an assessment and selection course, as well as a lengthy background investigation and psychological testing. Once admitted, they receive further training in a specialized Training Course. Like all units, the Intelligence Support Activity contains operational detachments as well as support detachments such as intelligence analysis, medical, logistics.^[16]

HUMINT and SIGINT

Foreign language skills, although highly desired, are not a prerequisite to becoming a member of the ISA, though to be a SIGINT/HUMINT operator in the field with other Special Mission Units, working clandestine operations in non-permissive environments, knowing a minimum of several languages is usually indispensable (e.g. Persian, Arabic, Pashto etc.).

Some of the disciplines focused on in the training course are infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, professional driving (offensive and off-road), personal defensive measures, use of state-of-the-art communications equipment, deep surveillance, tradecraft, weapons handling, hand-to-hand combat, signals intelligence, etc.

Bibliography

General citations

Bowden, Mark (2001). Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press. ISBN 978-0-87113-783-8.
Emerson, Steven (1988). Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 978-0-399-13360-2.
Richelson, Jeffrey T. (1999). "Truth Conquers All Chains: The U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity, 1981–1989". International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. 12 (2): 168–200. doi:10.1080/088506099305133. ISSN 0885-0607 – via InformaWorld.
Smith, Michael (2006). Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team. New York: St Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-250-00647-9. (Several editions from 2006 to 2011 with additional material.)
Jeffrey T. Richelson, 23 May 2001, "The Pentagon's Spies: Documents Detail Histories of Once Secret Spy Units", electronic book by on the National Security Archive website (Archived). The article collects copies of declassified documents about covert US military intelligence units, including the ISA:
- Memorandum for Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, by Lt. Gen. Philip C. Gast, USAF, 10 December 1980
- Memorandum to the Deputy Under Secretary for Policy, by Frank Carlucci, 26 May 1982
- Charter of U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity, circa mid-1983
- After Action Report for Operation CANVAS SHIELD, by 902nd Military Intelligence Group, 30 July 1985
- Brief History of Unit (ISA), circa mid-1986 (presumed)
- United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1986 Historical Report
- United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1987 Historical Report
- Termination of USAISA and "GRANTOR SHADOW", by Commander, USAISA, 31 March 1989
Update - now 1st Capabilities Integration Group^[24]

References

^ ^a ^b Gray, Warren (20 June 2020). "The Guns of Delta Force". Gunpowder Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Naylor, Sean (2016). Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command. ISBN 978-1250105479.
^ "Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ Neville, Leigh (2008). Special Operations, Forces in Afghanistan. Library Genesis. Oxford; New York: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-310-0.
^ Gellman, Barton (23 January 2005). "Secret Unit Expands Rumsfeld's Domain". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ambinder, Marc (22 March 2013). "The Most Secret of Secret Units". The Week. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ Naylor, Sean D. (1 May 2015). "Meet the Shadow Warrior Leading the Fight Against the Islamic State". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ Hand IV, George (18 December 2019). "Task Force Orange: Supporting Delta Force". SOFREP. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ "Prepared Statement to be Given by MG William E. Odom, Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army Before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on 8 June 1982" (PDF). 8 June 1982. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
^ Richelson, Jeffrey T. (23 May 2001). "The Pentagon's Spies". National Security Archive. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Richelson, Jeffrey (1 June 1999). "'Truth Conquers All Chains': The U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity, 1981–1989". International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. 12 (2): 168–200. doi:10.1080/088506099305133. ISSN 0885-0607.
^ "Memorandum for Director, Defense Intelligence Agency" (PDF). 10 December 1980. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2021.
^ Clancy, Tom (2001). Special Forces. New York: Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-425-17268-1.
^ "Brief History of Unit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b "United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1986 Historical Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2001.
^ ^a ^b "United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1987 Historical Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2001.
^ "COLONEL JERRY M. KING" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
^ Wilson, George C. (23 August 1983). "Secret Army Intelligence Unit Lived On After 1980 Iran Mission". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
^ Hersh, Seymour M. (22 November 1987). "Who's In Charge Here?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
^ "COLONEL JOHN G. LACKEY III" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Ambinder, Marc; Grady, D. B. (2012). The Command: Deep Inside the President's Secret Army. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-34672-3. OCLC 778339638.
^ ^a ^b Naylor, Sean (2005). Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda. New York: Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-425-19609-0. OCLC 56592513..
^ "Army Regulation 690–950–4 Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program" (PDF). Headquarters, Department of the Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2022.
^ "The Military's Own Covert Army". secretsmachine.com. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.; https://www.secretsmachine.com/p/the-most-secret-army-within-the-army

[warren-gray-1] Gray, Warren (20 June 2020). "The Guns of Delta Force". Gunpowder Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.

[relentstrike-2] Naylor, Sean (2016). Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command. ISBN 978-1250105479.

[3] "Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

[4] Neville, Leigh (2008). Special Operations, Forces in Afghanistan. Library Genesis. Oxford; New York: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-310-0.

[5] Gellman, Barton (23 January 2005). "Secret Unit Expands Rumsfeld's Domain". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

[ambinder_secret-6] Ambinder, Marc (22 March 2013). "The Most Secret of Secret Units". The Week. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

[nagata-7] Naylor, Sean D. (1 May 2015). "Meet the Shadow Warrior Leading the Fight Against the Islamic State". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

[:2-8] Hand IV, George (18 December 2019). "Task Force Orange: Supporting Delta Force". SOFREP. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

[odom_congress-9] "Prepared Statement to be Given by MG William E. Odom, Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army Before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on 8 June 1982" (PDF). 8 June 1982. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2022.

[pentagon_spies-10] Richelson, Jeffrey T. (23 May 2001). "The Pentagon's Spies". National Security Archive. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.

[richelson-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Richelson, Jeffrey (1 June 1999). "'Truth Conquers All Chains': The U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity, 1981–1989". International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. 12 (2): 168–200. doi:10.1080/088506099305133. ISSN 0885-0607.

[12] "Memorandum for Director, Defense Intelligence Agency" (PDF). 10 December 1980. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2021.

[13] Clancy, Tom (2001). Special Forces. New York: Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-425-17268-1.

[briefhistory-14] "Brief History of Unit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2021.

[1986_historical_report-15] "United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1986 Historical Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2001.

[1987_historical_report-16] "United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1987 Historical Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2001.

[jerry_king_bio-17] "COLONEL JERRY M. KING" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.

[washpo_83-18] Wilson, George C. (23 August 1983). "Secret Army Intelligence Unit Lived On After 1980 Iran Mission". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.

[nyt_87-19] Hersh, Seymour M. (22 November 1987). "Who's In Charge Here?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2022.

[20] "COLONEL JOHN G. LACKEY III" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.

[Command-21] Ambinder, Marc; Grady, D. B. (2012). The Command: Deep Inside the President's Secret Army. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-34672-3. OCLC 778339638.

[Naylor-22] Naylor, Sean (2005). Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda. New York: Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-425-19609-0. OCLC 56592513..

[23] "Army Regulation 690–950–4 Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program" (PDF). Headquarters, Department of the Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2022.

[24] "The Military's Own Covert Army". secretsmachine.com. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.; https://www.secretsmachine.com/p/the-most-secret-army-within-the-army

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|United States Army Special Operations unit}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
 {{Infobox military unit
-|unit_name= Intelligence Support Activity
+| unit_name                     = Intelligence Support Activity
-|image= ISA badge.jpg
+| image                         = ISA badge.jpg
-|image_size = 180
+| image_size                    = 180
+| caption                       = ISA Emblem
-|caption= Intelligence Support Activity Patch
+| dates                         = 1981–present
-|dates= 1981-present
-|country= {{flag|United States of America}}
+| country                       = {{flag|United States of America}}
-|allegiance=
+| allegiance                    =
-|branch= {{flag|United States Army}}
+| branch                        = {{flag|United States Army}}
-|type= [[United States Special Operations Forces]]
+| type                          = [[Special operations force]]<br />[[Special mission unit]]
+| role                          = {{unbulleted list|[[Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)|Human intelligence]]|[[Signals intelligence]]||[[Special reconnaissance]]}}
-|role= Operational preparation of the battlefield, provides [[HUMINT]] and [[signals intelligence|SIGINT]], [[Direct action (military)|Direct Action]]
-|size= Classified
+| size                          = Classified
-|command_structure= [[Joint Special Operations Command]]<br/>[[United States Special Operations Command]]<br/>[[United States Army Special Operations Command]]
+| command_structure             = [[File:United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg|18px]] [[United States Special Operations Command]]<br />[[File:Seal of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).svg|18px]] [[Joint Special Operations Command]]<br />[[File:United States Army Special Operations Command DUI.png|18px]] [[United States Army Special Operations Command]]
-|garrison= [[Fort Belvoir]], Virginia
+| garrison                      = [[Fort Belvoir]], Virginia
-|ceremonial_chief=
+| ceremonial_chief              =
-|colonel_of_the_regiment=
+| colonel_of_the_regiment       =
+| garrison_label                = Headquarters
-|nickname= "The Activity", "Office of Military Support"
+| nickname                      = "The Activity", "The Army of Northern Virginia"
-|patron=
+| patron                        =
-|motto= "Send Me" or ''Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit'' ("Truth Overcomes All Bonds")
+| motto                         = "Send Me" or ''Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit'' ("Truth Overcomes All Bonds")
-|colors=
+| colors                        =
-|mascot=
+| mascot                        =
-| battles= [[Operation Winter Harvest]]<br />[[Operation Desert Storm]]<br />[[Operation Gothic Serpent]] <br />[[Operation Joint Endeavor]]  <br />[[Operation Enduring Freedom]]<br />[[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]<br />[[Operation Prime Chance]]<br />[[Operation Inherent Resolve]]<br />
+| battles                       = [[Operation Winter Harvest]]<br />[[Operation Desert Storm]]<br />[[Operation Gothic Serpent]] <br />[[Operation Joint Endeavor]]  <br />[[Operation Enduring Freedom]]<br />[[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]<br />[[Operation Prime Chance]]<br />[[Operation Inherent Resolve]]<br />
-| decorations = [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]]<br />[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]]<br />
+| decorations                   = [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]]<br />[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]]<br />
-| notable_commanders = [[Michael K. Nagata]]<br /> [[James B. Linder (Major General)|James Linder]]<br /> [[Richard E. Angle]]
+| notable_commanders            = Jerry King<br>[[Michael K. Nagata]]<br />[[Richard E. Angle]]
-| current_commander = Classified
+| current_commander             = Classified
 }}
+The '''United States Army Intelligence Support Activity''' ('''USAISA'''), frequently shortened to '''Intelligence Support Activity (ISA)''', also known at various times as '''Mission Support Activity (MSA)''', '''Office of Military Support (OMS)''', '''Field Operations Group (FOG)''', '''Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA)''', '''Tactical Concept Activity''', '''Tactical Support Team''', and '''Tactical Coordination Detachment''',<ref name="warren-gray"/> and also nicknamed '''"The Activity"''' and the '''Army of Northern Virginia''',<ref name="relentstrike">{{Cite book |last=Naylor |first=Sean |author-link=Sean Naylor |year=2016 |title=Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command |isbn=978-1250105479}}</ref> is a [[United States Army]] [[United States Special Operations Forces|Special Operations unit]] which serves as the intelligence gathering component of [[Joint Special Operations Command]] (JSOC).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/dod/jsoc.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718232522/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/dod/jsoc.htm |archive-date=18 July 2022 |access-date=2021-02-28 |publisher=[[GlobalSecurity.org]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Neville |first=Leigh |url=http://archive.org/details/specialoperation00nevi_571 |title=Special Operations, Forces in Afghanistan |date=2008 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |others=Library Genesis |isbn=978-1-84603-310-0 |location=Oxford; New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gellman |first=Barton |date=January 23, 2005 |title=Secret Unit Expands Rumsfeld's Domain |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29414-2005Jan22.html |url-status=live |access-date=2021-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724154738/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29414-2005Jan22.html |archive-date=24 July 2008}}</ref> Within JSOC, the unit is often referred to as '''Task Force Orange'''.<ref name="ambinder secret">{{Cite web |last=Ambinder |first=Marc |author-link=Marc Ambinder |date=2013-03-22 |title=The Most Secret of Secret Units |url=https://theweek.com/articles/466307/most-secret-secret-units |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803052822/https://theweek.com/articles/466307/most-secret-secret-units |archive-date=3 August 2022 |access-date=2021-02-28 |website=[[The Week]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="nagata">{{Cite web |last=Naylor |first=Sean D. |author-link=Sean Naylor |date=1 May 2015 |title=Meet the Shadow Warrior Leading the Fight Against the Islamic State |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/01/nagata-islamic-state-terror-obama-pentagon-syria-special-forces/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906162852/http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/01/nagata-islamic-state-terror-obama-pentagon-syria-special-forces/ |archive-date=6 September 2015 |access-date=2021-02-28 |website=[[Foreign Policy]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Hand IV |first=George |date=2019-12-18 |title=Task Force Orange: Supporting Delta Force |url=https://sofrep.com/news/task-force-orange-supporting-delta-force/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819222856/https://sofrep.com/news/task-force-orange-supporting-delta-force/ |archive-date=19 August 2022 |access-date=2021-02-28 |website=SOFREP |language=en}}</ref> Originally subordinated to the [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|US Army Intelligence and Security Command]] (INSCOM), it is one of the least known intelligence components of the United States military,<ref name="ambinder secret" /> tasked with [[Clandestine human intelligence|clandestine HUMINT operations]] and collecting actionable intelligence during or prior to JSOC missions.<ref name="odom congress">{{cite web |title=Prepared Statement to be Given by MG William E. Odom, Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army Before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on 8 June 1982 |url=https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB520-the-Pentagons-Spies/EBB-PS10.pdf |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916083720/https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB520-the-Pentagons-Spies/EBB-PS10.pdf |archive-date=16 September 2021 |date=8 June 1982}}</ref>
-The '''United States Army Intelligence Support Activity''' ('''USAISA'''), frequently shortened to '''Intelligence Support Activity''' or '''Mission Support Activity''', and nicknamed '''The Activity''', the '''[[Army of Northern Virginia]]''',<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last1=Naylor |first1=Sean |title=Relentless Strike |date=11 October 2016 |isbn=978-1250105479}}</ref> or '''Office of Military Support''', is a [[United States Army]] [[United States Special Operations Forces|Special Operations unit]] originally subordinated to the [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|US Army Intelligence and Security Command]] (INSCOM) but now part of the [[Joint Special Operations Command]]. It is tasked to collect actionable intelligence in advance of missions by other US special operations forces, especially [[Delta Force|1st SFOD-D]] and [[United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group|DEVGRU]] in counter-terrorist operations.
+The Activity and its counterparts [[Delta Force|1st SFOD-D]], [[United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group|DEVGRU]], and the [[24th Special Tactics Squadron]], are the U.S. military's premier Tier 1 [[Special mission unit|Special Mission Units]], performing the most complex, classified, and dangerous missions as directed by the [[National Command Authority (United States)|National Command Authority]].<ref name="ambinder secret" />
-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.
+The unit is known by many names. USAISA was the official name of the unit from 1981 to 1989. It has also gone by a number of two-word [[Special access program|Special Access Program]] names, including ''OPTIMIZE TALENT'', ''ROYAL CAPE'', ''CENTRA SPIKE'', ''CAPACITY GEAR'', ''GRANTOR SHADOW'', ''TORN VICTOR'', ''QUIET ENABLE'', ''OPAQUE LEAF'', ''CEMETERY WIND'',  ''GRAY FOX'',  ''TITRANT RANGER'', and ''INTREPID SPEAR''.<ref name="warren-gray">{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Warren |title=The Guns of Delta Force |url=https://gunpowdermagazine.com/the-guns-of-delta-force/ |website=Gunpowder Magazine |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621062558/https://gunpowdermagazine.com/the-guns-of-delta-force/ |archive-date=21 June 2022 |date=20 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="relentstrike" /><ref name="pentagon spies">{{cite web |last1=Richelson |first1=Jeffrey T. |author-link=Jeffrey T. Richelson |title=The Pentagon's Spies |url=https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB520-the-Pentagons-Spies/ |website=[[National Security Archive]] |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131154556/https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB520-the-Pentagons-Spies/ |archive-date=31 January 2022 |date=23 May 2001}}</ref><ref name="richelson">{{Cite journal |last=Richelson |first=Jeffrey |author-link=Jeffrey T. Richelson |date=1999-06-01 |title='Truth Conquers All Chains': The U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity, 1981–1989 |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/088506099305133 |journal=[[International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence]] |language=en |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=168–200 |doi=10.1080/088506099305133 |issn=0885-0607}}</ref>
 ==History==
 ===Field Operations Group===
-The Field Operations Group (FOG) was created in summer 1980 in order to take part in a second attempt to rescue the [[Iran hostage crisis|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.<ref>[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document6.pdf Memorandum for Director, Defense Intelligence Agency]</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Clancy |first=Tom |authorlink=Tom Clancy |year=2001 |title=Special Forces |location=New York |publisher=Berkley Books |isbn=0-425-17268-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/specialforcesgui00clan }}</ref><ref>{{Find a Grave|11421016|Biography of Maj Dick Meadows}}</ref>
+The Field Operations Group (FOG) was created in the summer of 1980 in order to take part in a second attempt to rescue the [[Iran hostage crisis|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 1980 |title=Memorandum for Director, Defense Intelligence Agency |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document6.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608001811/https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document6.pdf |archive-date=8 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Clancy |first=Tom |url=https://archive.org/details/specialforcesgui00clan |title=Special Forces |publisher=[[Berkley Books]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-425-17268-1 |location=New York |author-link=Tom Clancy}}</ref>
-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.<ref name=richelson>[[Jeffrey T. Richelson|Richelson, Jeffrey T.]] ''Truth Conquers All Chains''</ref><ref>[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document11.pdf Brief History of Unit]</ref>
+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.<ref name="richelson"/><ref name="briefhistory">{{Cite web |title=Brief History of Unit |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document11.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017145333/https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document11.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>
-After the cancellation of Operation Credible Sport, the FOG was not disbanded but enlarged. The administration saw ground intelligence contingencies as needing improvement if future special operations were to be successful (the CIA did not always provide all the information needed). So, on 3 March 1981, the FOG was established as a permanent unit and renamed US Army Intelligence Support Activity.<ref name=richelson/> This activity should not be confused with a later activity known as the Ground Intelligence Support Activity (GISA), as subordinated to the Army G2.
+After the cancellation of Operation Credible Sport, the FOG was not disbanded but enlarged. The administration saw ground intelligence contingencies as needing improvement if future special operations were to be successful, as the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] did not always provide all the information needed. So, on 3 March 1981, the FOG was established as a permanent unit and renamed US Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA).<ref name=richelson/> This ISA should not be confused with a later unit known as the Ground Intelligence Support Activity (GISA), which was subordinated to the [[G-2 (intelligence)|Army G2]].
 ===Badge and insignia===
-The current badge depicts an [[American bald eagle]] grasping a [[claymore]], surrounded by a [[Kilt accessories#Belts|kilt belt]], inscribed with the 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 Operation Eagle Claw. This symbol of failure was later deemed no longer appropriate.
+The current badge depicts an [[American bald eagle]] grasping a [[claymore]], surrounded by a [[Kilt accessories#Belts|kilt belt]], inscribed with the Latin  phrase "''Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit''" ("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 Operation Eagle Claw. 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 seen on [[Scottish clan]] [[Scottish crest badge|badges]] (the belt signifies that the wearer is a member rather than the chief of the clan - the chief wears the badge without a belt surround).
+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 seen on [[Scottish clan]] [[Scottish crest badge|badges]] (the belt signifies that the wearer is a member rather than the chief of the clan - the chief wears the badge without a belt surround).
 ===U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity===
 ====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&nbsp;million, a secret headquarters in [[Arlington, Virginia]], and cover name, the Tactical Concept Activity.<ref name=richelson/> ISA included three main operations branches (Command, SIGINT and Operations), and an analysis branch, whose name changed over the years (e.g. Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Intelligence and Security).<ref>[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12a.pdf USAISA 1986 Historical Report] and [http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12b.pdf 1987 Historical Report]</ref> Colonel Jerry King became ISA's first commander.<ref name=richelson/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soc.mil/swcs/RegimentalHonors/_pdf/sf_king_jerry.pdf|title=COLONEL JERRY M. KING|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717000202/http://www.soc.mil/swcs/RegimentalHonors/_pdf/sf_king_jerry.pdf|accessdate=July 17, 2017|archive-date=17 July 2017}}</ref>
+In 1981 the Intelligence Support Activity began to immediately select new operators, growing from the FOG's original 50 members to about 100. The ISA remained extremely secret; all of its records were classified under a [[Special access program|Special Access Program]] initially named OPTIMIZE TALENT. The ISA was given its classified budget of $7&nbsp;million, a secret headquarters in [[Arlington, Virginia]], and cover name, the Tactical Concept Activity.<ref name=richelson/> ISA included three main operations branches (Command, [[Signals intelligence|SIGINT]] and Operations) and an analysis branch, whose name changed over the years (e.g. Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Intelligence and Security).<ref name="1986 historical report">{{Cite web |title=United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1986 Historical Report |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12a.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011111134905/http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12a.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2001}}</ref><ref name="1987 historical report">{{Cite web |title=United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1987 Historical Report |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12b.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011111135055/http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12b.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2001}}</ref> Colonel Jerry King became the ISA's first commander.<ref name=richelson/><ref name="jerry king bio">{{Cite web |title=COLONEL JERRY M. KING |url=http://www.soc.mil/swcs/RegimentalHonors/_pdf/sf_king_jerry.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717000202/http://www.soc.mil/swcs/RegimentalHonors/_pdf/sf_king_jerry.pdf |archive-date=17 July 2017 |access-date=July 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="washpo 83">{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=George C. |title=Secret Army Intelligence Unit Lived On After 1980 Iran Mission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/08/23/secret-army-intelligence-unit-lived-on-after-1980-iran-mission/bd6c781f-5a8f-43b0-a854-dadd5a4d6212/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609040143/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/08/23/secret-army-intelligence-unit-lived-on-after-1980-iran-mission/bd6c781f-5a8f-43b0-a854-dadd5a4d6212/ |archive-date=9 June 2022 |date=23 August 1983}}</ref>
-ISA mission was to support [[United States special operations forces|Special Operations Forces]] (primarily [[Delta Force]] and [[United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group|SEAL Team Six]]) in counter-terrorist operations and other special operations units. The ISA would provide actionable intelligence collection, pathfinding, and operational support. The ISA performed several operations mainly in Latin America and the Middle East during the 1980s, but also in East Africa, South-East Asia, and Europe.<ref name=richelson/> The current organization of ISA is classified but does contain at least three squadrons (Operations, SIGINT and Mission Support/Communications).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12a.pdf|title=United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1986 Historical Report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519140803/https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12a.pdf|accessdate=May 5, 2015|archive-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>
+The ISA's mission was to support [[United States special operations forces|Special Operations Forces]] (primarily [[Delta Force|1st SFOD-D]] and [[United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group|DEVGRU]]) in counter-terrorist operations and other special operations units. The ISA would provide actionable intelligence collection, pathfinding, and operational support. The ISA performed several operations mainly in Latin America and the Middle East during the 1980s, but also in East Africa, South-East Asia, and Europe.<ref name=richelson/> The current organization of ISA is classified but does contain at least three squadrons (Operations, SIGINT and Mission Support/Communications).<ref name="1986 historical report" />
 ====First missions====
-The ISA conducted various missions, including giving protection to the Lebanese leader [[Bachir Gemayel]] and attempting to buy a Soviet [[T-72]] tank from Iraq (a deal that was finally stopped by the Iraqis).<ref name=richelson/>
+The ISA conducted various missions, including giving protection to the Lebanese leader [[Bachir Gemayel]] and attempting to buy a Soviet [[T-72]] tank from Iraq (a deal that was finally stopped by the Iraqis).<ref name=richelson/><ref name="nyt 87">{{cite web |last1=Hersh |first1=Seymour M. |title=Who's In Charge Here? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/22/magazine/who-s-in-charge-here.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228015413/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/22/magazine/who-s-in-charge-here.html |archive-date=28 December 2021 |date=22 November 1987}}</ref>
 ====Dozier kidnapping, Operation Winter Harvest====
-On 17 December 1981, the senior U.S. Army officer in [[NATO]] Land Forces Southern European Command, [[Brigadier General]] [[James L. Dozier]], was kidnapped from his apartment in [[Verona]], [[Italy]], by Italian [[Red Brigades]] terrorists. The search for General Dozier saw a massive deployment of Italian and U.S. forces, including thousands of Italian national police, the Carabinieri.  The search also featured some unconventional participants, including "remote viewers" from [[Project Stargate]] and an international cast of psychics, largely orchestrated by General [[Albert Stubblebine]], then-Commander of U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command [[INSCOM]], and a great believer in the use of unconventional intelligence-gathering methods. An ISA [[SIGINT]] team was sent to Italy as part of [[Operation Winter Harvest]] and in conjunction with other Army [[SIGINT]] and counter-intelligence units, employed aerial and ground-based SIGINT systems to monitor and geo-locate terrorist communications. ISA and the other Army elements provided useful intelligence, helping Italian police to arrest several Red Brigades terrorists in mid-January 1982. The Italian police and intelligence agencies have never officially disclosed how they located [[James L. Dozier|General Dozier]] in late January 1982. However, U.S. Army participants in the operation have hinted that the mid-January arrests, the interrogation of those arrested, and follow-on investigations led to the eventual location of the Red Brigades hideout where Dozier was being held, in an apartment over a store in Padova.  There is little doubt that the successful outcome resulted in part from the contributions of ISA's SIGINT specialists and the other supporting Army intelligence elements.  General Dozier was freed unharmed by [[Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza|NOCS]] operators, also known as "The Leatherheads" for their unique headgear, on 28 January 1982.<ref name=richelson/>
+On 17 December 1981, the senior U.S. Army officer in [[NATO]] [[Allied Land Forces Southern Europe|Land Forces Southern European Command]], [[Brigadier General]] [[James L. Dozier]], was kidnapped from his apartment in [[Verona]], [[Italy]], by Italian [[Red Brigades]] terrorists. The search for General Dozier saw a massive deployment of Italian and U.S. forces, including thousands of Italian national police, the [[Carabinieri]].  The search also featured some unconventional participants, including "remote viewers" from [[Project Stargate]] and an international cast of psychics, largely orchestrated by General [[Albert Stubblebine]], then-Commander of U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command [[INSCOM]], and a great believer in the use of unconventional intelligence-gathering methods. An ISA SIGINT team was sent to Italy as part of [[Operation Winter Harvest]] and in conjunction with other Army SIGINT and counter-intelligence units, employed aerial and ground-based SIGINT systems to monitor and geo-locate terrorist communications. ISA and the other Army elements provided useful intelligence, helping Italian police to arrest several Red Brigades terrorists in mid-January 1982. The Italian police and intelligence agencies have never officially disclosed how they located General Dozier in late January 1982. However, U.S. Army participants in the operation have hinted that the mid-January arrests, the interrogation of those arrested, and follow-on investigations led to the eventual location of the Red Brigades hideout where Dozier was being held, in an apartment over a store in [[Padua|Padova]].  There is little doubt that the successful outcome resulted in part from the contributions of ISA's SIGINT specialists and the other supporting Army intelligence elements.  General Dozier was freed unharmed by [[Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza|NOCS]] operators, also known as "The Leatherheads" for their unique headgear, on 28 January 1982.<ref name=richelson/>
 ====Operation Queens Hunter====
-In early 1982, the ISA was needed to support a SIGINT mission in [[El Salvador]], a mission that the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] and [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] were not able to accomplish. The task was submitted to the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] Special Operations Division (SOD), which started [[Operation Queens Hunter]]. Operating from a [[Beechcraft King Air|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]].<ref name=richelson/>
+In early 1982, the ISA was needed to support a SIGINT mission in [[El Salvador]], a mission that the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], the [[National Security Agency|NSA]], and [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] were not able to accomplish. The task was submitted to the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] Special Operations Division (SOD), which started Operation Queens Hunter. Operating from a [[Beechcraft King Air|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]].<ref name=richelson/>
 ====The POW/MIA affair====
-The ISA has also conducted an operation to search for US [[Missing In Action|MIAs]] (soldiers reported as Missing In Action) allegedly held in South-East Asia in secret [[Prisoner of war|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 [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces]] Major [[Bo Gritz|James G. "Bo" Gritz]] planned a private rescue mission with other S.F. veterans. Having informed U.S. government officials about the mission, 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.<ref name=richelson />
+The ISA has also conducted an operation to search for US [[Missing In Action|MIAs]] (soldiers reported as Missing In Action) allegedly held in South-East Asia in secret [[Prisoner of war|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 [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces]] Major [[Bo Gritz|James G. "Bo" Gritz]] planned a private rescue mission with other S.F. veterans. Having informed the U.S. government officials about the mission, 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.<ref name="richelson" />
+In 1989, the then USAISA commander John G. Lackey sent a [[telex]] "terminating" the USAISA term and his special access program GRANTOR SHADOW. Colonel John Lackey served as unit commander from 1986 to 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ikn.army.mil/apps/MIHOF/biographies/Lackey,%20John.pdf|title=COLONEL JOHN G. LACKEY III|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227120647/https://www.ikn.army.mil/apps/MIHOF/biographies/Lackey,%20John.pdf|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> However, the unit continued under a series of different [[Top Secret]] codenames which are changed every two years. Known codenames included CAPACITY GEAR, CENTRA SPIKE, TORN VICTOR, QUIET ENABLE, CEMETERY WIND, and GRAY FOX.<ref name="relentstrike" />
-Operation Grand Eagle-aka "BOHICA" was an ISA Clandestine Armed Operation to seek intelligence on the fate of US military and or CIA personnel who may have been captured and left behind in Laos after the Vietnam war. ISA operatives were sent to Laos and located an armed encampment there that had at least two captured men, believed to be either US military personnel or "covert" operatives who were captured while engaged in either CBW drug smuggling, or some other "rogue" element of a secret team gone bad.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
-This was detailed in two books, "BOHICA" by Scott Barnes an ISA operative on this mission and "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" by Monkia Stevenson both detailed the covert mission of Operation Grand Eagle.
-In 1989, the then USAISA commander John G. Lackey sent a [[telex]] "terminating" the USAISA term and his special access program Grantor Shadow. Colonel John Lackey served as unit commander from 1986 to 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ikn.army.mil/apps/MIHOF/biographies/Lackey,%20John.pdf|title=COLONEL JOHN G. LACKEY III|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227120647/https://www.ikn.army.mil/apps/MIHOF/biographies/Lackey,%20John.pdf|accessdate=December 27, 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> However, the unit continued under a series of different [[Top Secret]] codenames which are changed every two years. Known codenames included Capacity Gear, Centra Spike, Torn Victor, Quiet Enable, Cemetery Wind, and Gray Fox.<ref name=":0" />
 ====Gray Fox====
-Gray Fox was the codename used by the ISA at the beginning of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]. Its members often worked closely with [[Joint Special Operations Command]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].<ref name="Command">Marc Ambinder and DB Grady (2012) ''The Command: Inside the President's Secret Army''</ref>
+Gray Fox was the codename used by the ISA at the beginning of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]. Its members often worked closely with [[Joint Special Operations Command]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].<ref name="Command">{{Cite book |last1=Ambinder |first1=Marc |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/778339638 |title=The Command: Deep Inside the President's Secret Army |last2=Grady |first2=D. B. |date=2012 |publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|John Wiley & Sons]] |isbn=978-1-118-34672-3 |location=Hoboken |oclc=778339638 |author-link=Marc Ambinder |author-link2=David W. Brown}}</ref>
-In 2002, Gray Fox operators served alongside [[Delta Force]] and [[DEVGRU]] in the mountains of [[Afghanistan]].<ref name="Naylor" /> Gray Fox 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 (United States)|10th Mountain Division]] and [[101st Airborne Division]] soldiers fighting near [[Battle of Takur Ghar|Takur Ghar]] in Afghanistan's [[Shahikot Valley]] during [[Operation Anaconda]].
+In 2002, Gray Fox operators served alongside [[Delta Force]] and [[DEVGRU]] in the mountains of [[Afghanistan]].<ref name="Naylor" /> Gray Fox 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 (United States)|10th Mountain Division]] and [[101st Airborne Division]] soldiers fighting near [[Battle of Takur Ghar|Takur Ghar]] in Afghanistan's [[Shahikot Valley]] during [[Operation Anaconda]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
+The unit helped spearhead the search for [[Saddam Hussein]] and his family after the [[Iraq War|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 included [[DEVGRU]], the Army's [[Delta Force]], and [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment]]. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured during [[Operation Red Dawn]].<ref name="Command" /> Under the command of Colonel [[Michael K. Nagata]] from 2005 to 2008, Gray Fox continued to operate in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside US Special Operations Forces.
-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 included [[DEVGRU]], the Army's [[Delta Force]], and [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment]]. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured during [[Operation Red Dawn]].<ref name="Command" /> Under the command of Colonel [[Michael K. Nagata]] from 2005 to 2008, Gray Fox continued to operate in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside US Special Operations Forces.
 ===Under Joint Special Operations Command===
 In 2003, the Intelligence Support Activity was transferred from the Army INSCOM to [[Joint Special Operations Command]], where it was renamed the Mission Support Activity.<ref name="Command" />
-Since 2005 onward, the ISA has not always operated under a two-worded [[Special Access Program]] (SAP) name (Grey Fox, Centra Spike, etc.). In 2009, the unit was referred to as INTREPID SPEAR, until this was revealed to have been leaked in an email to the Pentagon.<ref name="Command" /> In 2010 it was referred to as the United States Army Studies and Analysis Activity.<ref name="Command" />
+Since 2005 onward, the ISA has not always operated under a two-worded [[Special Access Program]] (SAP) name (GRAY FOX, CENTRA SPIKE, etc.). In 2009, the unit was referred to as INTREPID SPEAR, until this was revealed to have been leaked in an email to the Pentagon.<ref name="Command" /> In 2010 it was referred to as the United States Army Studies and Analysis Activity.<ref name="Command" />
-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 [[Special Activities Division|CIA Special Activities Division]], [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]],<ref>https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar690-950-4.pdf</ref> 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.
+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 [[Special Activities Division|CIA Special Activities Division]], [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Army Regulation 690–950–4 Military Intelligence Civilian Excepted Career Program |url=https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/ar690-950-4.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802154420/https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/ar690-950-4.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2022 |publisher=[[United States Department of the Army|Headquarters, Department of the Army]]}}</ref> 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.
-==Recruitment, Training and Organization==
+==Recruitment, training, and organization==
-According to [[Sean Naylor]] in ''Not a Good Day to Die'', most (but certainly not all) Activity operatives come from [[Special Forces (United States Army)|United States Army Special Forces]], due to their self-reliance and specialized skill-set.<ref name="Naylor">Sean Naylor (2006). ''Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda''. New York: [[Berkley Books]]. {{ISBN|0-425-19609-7}}.</ref> Candidates also come from the other military branches. Most candidates assigned to the Operations, Communications and/or SIGINT squadrons go through an assessment and selection course, as well as a lengthy background investigation and psychological testing. Once admitted, they receive further training in a specialized Training Course.  Like all units, this Intelligence Support Activity contains operational detachments as well as support detachments such as intelligence analysis, medical, logistics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12b.pdf|title=United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1987 Historical Report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825003642/http://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB46/document12b.pdf|accessdate=August 25, 2017|archive-date=25 August 2017}}</ref>
+According to [[Sean Naylor]] in ''Not a Good Day to Die'', most (but certainly not all) Activity operatives come from [[Special Forces (United States Army)|United States Army Special Forces]], due to their self-reliance and specialized skill-set.<ref name="Naylor">{{Cite book |last=Naylor |first=Sean |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56592513 |title=Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda |date=2005 |publisher=[[Berkley Books]] |isbn=978-0-425-19609-0 |location=New York |oclc=56592513 |author-link=Sean Naylor}}.</ref> Candidates also come from the other military branches. Most candidates assigned to the Operations, Communications, and/or SIGINT squadrons go through an assessment and selection course, as well as a lengthy background investigation and psychological testing. Once admitted, they receive further training in a specialized Training Course.  Like all units, the Intelligence Support Activity contains operational detachments as well as support detachments such as intelligence analysis, medical, logistics.<ref name="1987 historical report" />
 ===HUMINT and SIGINT===
-Candidates must have previous training in tactics, such as [[Close quarters combat|CQC]], sniper, counter-sniper, and source development.  Foreign language skills, although highly desired, are not a prerequisite to becoming a member of the ISA, though to be a SIGINT/HUMINT operator in the field with other Special Mission Units, working clandestine operations in non-permissive environments, knowing a minimum of several languages is usually indispensable (e.g. [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Arabic]], [[Pashto]], etc.).
+Foreign language skills, although highly desired, are not a prerequisite to becoming a member of the ISA, though to be a SIGINT/HUMINT operator in the field with other Special Mission Units, working clandestine operations in non-permissive environments, knowing a minimum of several languages is usually indispensable (e.g. [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Arabic]], [[Pashto]] etc.).
-Some of the disciplines focused on in the training course are: infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, professional driving (offensive and off-road), personal defensive measures, and state-of-the-art communications, deep surveillance, tradecraft, weapons handling, hand-to-hand combat, signals intelligence, etc.
+Some of the disciplines focused on in the training course are infiltration techniques, advanced air operations, professional driving (offensive and off-road), personal defensive measures, use of state-of-the-art communications equipment, deep surveillance, [[tradecraft]], weapons handling, [[hand-to-hand combat]], signals intelligence, etc.
 ==See also==
+Other Intelligence-based special operations units:
 * [[13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment]], a similar unit of French army special forces
-* [[14 Intelligence Company]], a similar unit in the [[United Kingdom Special Forces]], superseded by the [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]]
+* [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]], a similar unit in the [[United Kingdom Special Forces]].
-* Joint Task Force X, a similar unit in the [[Canadian Forces Intelligence Command]]
+* Sister JSOC units:
-==References==
+** [[Delta Force|1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta]]
-{{reflist}}
+** [[24th Special Tactics Squadron]]
+** [[SEAL Team Six|Naval Special Warfare Development Group]]
+** [[Regimental Reconnaissance Company|75th Ranger Regimental Reconnaissance Company]]
-===Bibliography===
+==Bibliography==
+=== General citations ===
-* ''Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era'', by [[Steven Emerson]], G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1988 {{ISBN|0-399-13360-7}}
+* {{cite book |last1=Bowden |first1=Mark |author1-link=Mark Bowden |title=Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw |title-link=Killing Pablo |date=2001 |publisher=Atlantic Monthly Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-87113-783-8}}
-* "Truth Conquers All Chains: The U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity, 1981–1989", by [[Jeffrey T. Richelson]], article of the ''International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence'', Vol. 12, No. 2, 1999, pp.&nbsp;168–200, {{issn|0885-0607}}, available on the InformaWorld
+* {{Cite book |last=Emerson |first=Steven |title=Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era |date=1988 |publisher=[[G.P. Putnam's Sons]] |isbn=978-0-399-13360-2 |location=New York |author-link=Steven Emerson}}
-* "The Pentagon's Spies: Documents Detail Histories of Once Secret Spy Units", electronic book by [[Jeffrey T. Richelson]], 23 May 2001, on the [[National Security Archive]] website. The article collects duplicates of [[Classified Information|declassified]] documents about covert US military intelligence units, including the ISA:
+* {{cite journal |last1=Richelson |first1=Jeffrey T. |author1-link=Jeffrey T. Richelson |title=Truth Conquers All Chains: The U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity, 1981–1989 |journal=International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence |date=1999 |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=168–200 |doi=10.1080/088506099305133 |issn=0885-0607 |via=InformaWorld}}
+* {{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |author1-link=Michael Smith (newspaper reporter) |title=Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team |date=2006 |publisher=[[St Martin's Press]] |location=New York |isbn=978-1-250-00647-9}} (Several editions from 2006 to 2011 with additional material.)
+* [[Jeffrey T. Richelson]], 23 May 2001, [https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB520-the-Pentagons-Spies/ "The Pentagon's Spies: Documents Detail Histories of Once Secret Spy Units"], electronic book by on the [[National Security Archive]] website ([https://web.archive.org/web/20220131154556/https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB520-the-Pentagons-Spies/ Archived]). The article collects copies of [[Classified Information|declassified]] documents about covert US military intelligence units, including the ISA:
 ** Memorandum for Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, by Lt. Gen. Philip C. Gast, [[United States Air Force|USAF]], 10 December 1980
 ** Memorandum to the Deputy Under Secretary for Policy, by [[Frank Carlucci]], 26 May 1982
@@ Line 109: / Line 116: @@
 ** United States Army Intelligence Support Activity 1987 Historical Report
 ** Termination of USAISA and "GRANTOR SHADOW", by Commander, USAISA, 31 March 1989
+* Update - now 1st Capabilities Integration Group<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.secretsmachine.com/p/the-most-secret-army-within-the-army|title=The Military's Own Covert Army|publisher=secretsmachine.com|date=3 January 2022|access-date=28 December 2022}}; https://www.secretsmachine.com/p/the-most-secret-army-within-the-army</ref>
-* ''Killing Pablo: the hunt for the world's greatest outlaw'', by [[Mark Bowden]], Atlantic Monthly Press, New York, 2001 {{ISBN|0-87113-783-6}}
-* ''Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team'', by [[Michael Smith (newspaper reporter)|Michael Smith]], St Martin's Press, New York, 2006, {{ISBN|1-25-000647-3}} (several editions from 2006 to 2011 with additional material)
+=== References ===
+{{reflist}}
+{{US Special Operations Forces}}
+{{United States intelligence agencies}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Special Operations Forces of the United States]]
 [[Category:United States Joint Special Operations Command]]
+[[Category:Military intelligence units and formations of the United States Army]]

v t e United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
United States Army USASOC	Units 1st Special Forces Command 75th Ranger Regiment Army Special Operations Aviation Command John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Types Special Forces Rangers Civil Affairs Psychological Operations
United States Marine Corps MARSOC	Units Marine Raider Regiment Marine Raider Support Group Marine Raider Training Center Types Critical skills operator
United States Navy NAVSPECWARCOM	Units Naval Special Warfare Group 1 Naval Special Warfare Group 2 Naval Special Warfare Group 4 Naval Special Warfare Group 8 Naval Special Warfare Group 11 Naval Special Warfare Center Types Navy SEALs Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen
United States Air Force AFSOC	Units 1st Special Operations Wing 24th Special Operations Wing 27th Special Operations Wing 137th Special Operations Wing 193rd Special Operations Wing 352nd Special Operations Wing 353rd Special Operations Wing 492nd Special Operations Wing 919th Special Operations Wing Types Pararescue Combat Control Team Special Reconnaissance Combat Rescue Officer Special Tactics Officer Combat Aviation Advisors Psychological Operations
Special mission units JSOC	Army 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force) Intelligence Support Activity (ISA / The Activity) Navy Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU / SEAL Team Six) Air Force 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24 STS) Joint Communications Unit
Theater Special Operations Commands	SOCAFRICA SOCCENT SOCEUR SOCKOR SOCPAC SOCNORTH SOCSOUTH
Source: SOCOM 2013 Fact Book