The Department of Defense in 1965 outlined its need to be more involved with collecting intelligence, supported by Robert McNamara. Years before its actual formation, the need for the ISA, or an operational entity like it, was already being examined. History of the Intelligence Support Activity There are also teams within the ISA who can conduct direct action missions should the need arise. Additionally, ISA gathers SIGINT primarily by intercepting enemy communications or sending an agent to physically bug a target. The ISA’s HUMINT collectors gather information from human sources via coercion and interrogation depending on the asset. Human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) are the most common products of their operations. The Intelligence Support Activity conducts its operations during and in advance of US military operations. While Delta and DEVGRU focus on direct engagement and specialized combat tactics, the ISA conducts intelligence and espionage operations at a tactical level. The ISA is perhaps the most major outlier doctrinally from its other, better known, counterparts within JSOC and SOCOM as a whole. Operationally, the ISA is a dedicated intelligence group, doing the intelligence leg work for special operations groups. Primarily acting as enablers for JSOC special mission units. Nowadays the ISA focuses on the preparation of the battlespace for military operations across the globe. Originally the ISA operated as a tactical arm of the National Security Agency. Its scope is quite large, and it often works in support of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), SOCOM and even other intelligence agencies. Its purpose is unlike many other special operations forces of the US military, not dedicated to direct combat, and more towards secretive and clandestine actions necessary to support other military operations. ISA has gone by many names over the years but its current one is not public knowledge. Since its inception, the Activity has been providing invaluable intelligence and support to many United States operations.The Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), the 1st Capabilities Integration Group (Airborne), or simply The Activity is a component of the US Army and acts as a dedicated intelligence group for JSOC. The HUMINT element runs agents, carries out reconnaisance, prepares safe houses, transport, plans and proves infil/exfil routes etc.ĭelta Force-trained soldiers who act as the unit's 'shooters'. The 'knob turners', who monitor and track radio, cell phone and other electronic communications The unit is organized into several elements The Activity is thought to made up of around 300 operators and is under the command of JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command). Intelligence Support Activity - Organization finding a hostage by homing in on the kidnapper's cell phones or tracking a terrorist organisation through its communications network. Monitoring and tracking radio communications e.g. The ISA also cultivates and runs agents in order to infiltrate organisations and gather intelligence. An example would be having ISA operatives, working undercover, do a recce of a suspected terrorist's safe house, finding routes in and out, looking for blind spots, assessing the numbers and dispositions of hostile forces etc. Intel gathered through eyes and ears on the ground, both directly and through agents run by the Activity. The forms of intelligence gathered by the Activity include: The Activity's primary role is to gather actionable intelligence in order to pave the way for special operations undertook by units such as Delta Force (known as 'operational preparation of the battlespace'). The Activity grew out of the need for specialized intel support for US Special Operations that was highlighted by the failed US attempt to rescue American hostages from Iran in 1980 Intelligence Support Activity - Role US Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), also known as ISA, The Activity, GREY FOX and, in recent times, the Mission Support Activity (MSA), is a top secret Army intelligence unit. Special operations forces » intelligence support activity
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |