Intelligence Support Activity
| Intelligence Support Activity | |
|---|---|
ISA Emblem | |
| Active | 1981–present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Special operations forces Special mission unit |
| Role | Clandestine HUMINT and covert action Counterterrorism ISTAR Long-range penetration Military intelligence SIGINT 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 |
| Nicknames | "The Activity", "The Army of Northern Virginia" |
| Motto | "Send Me" or Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit ("Truth Overcomes All Bonds") |
| Engagements | Operation Winter Harvest Operation Prime Chance Operation Desert Storm Operation Gothic Serpent Operation Joint Endeavor Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award Superior 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, and also nicknamed "The Activity" and the "Army of Northern Virginia", is a United States Army Special Operations unit which serves as the field military intelligence gathering component of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Within JSOC, the unit is often referred to as Task Force Orange.
Originally subordinated to the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), it is one of the least known intelligence components of the United States military, tasked with clandestine human intelligence operations and collecting actionable intelligence during or prior to JSOC missions.
The Activity and its counterparts the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC), Delta Force, DEVGRU, and the 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24th STS) 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.
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.