Inside the Army's Most Secretive Unit Ever: The Story of ISA

What You Need to Know: The U.S. Army’s Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) was born from the failed 1980 Iran hostage rescue mission, Operation Eagle Claw. Recognizing a lack of actionable intelligence, the Army formed an elite, covert unit to gather human and signals intelligence for special operations.

-Officially established in 1981, ISA operates in the shadows, blending military and intelligence capabilities. Often referred to as Task Force Orange, the unit has been a key support for elite forces like Delta Force and SEAL Team 6.

-Though little is publicly known about its missions, ISA is considered one of the U.S. military’s most secretive and effective units.