Global InformationIntelligence Support Activity information
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
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]
- ^ 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 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.
- ^ 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.