Intelligence Support Activity | |
---|---|
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 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, 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]