Task Force 157
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In 1966, the Navy created Task Force 157 (sometimes Pentagon's Spies) as a covert division to control their clandestine intelligence operations, specifically human intelligence operations (HUMINT).[1]
Task Force 157, during the time of its operations, was the United States military's only network of undercover agents that operated abroad using business cover for their operations.[2] The major functions and duties of Task Force 157 involved Soviet vessel movement and nuclear weapon shipments around the world. It also recruited foreign intelligence service agents to infiltrate their respective foreign agencies. The majority of its operating areas are declassified, including Europe and the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and the Far East; however, some of the operations are still classified.[3] Task Force 157 was valuable to the United States government because it was able to operate independently, with accuracy, swiftness and extreme secrecy. The Pentagon found it difficult to maintain control over the agents involved with Task Force 157, and because of this reason, it was disestablished in 1977. The United States government wanted to pursue a clandestine operation unit that was more manageable, but at the same time was able to carry out operations at the same standard as Task Force 157. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) failed to fully absorb the missions and agents from Task Force 157; instead, they were spread among the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Army, Air Force, and Task Force 168.[4] In 1981, the United States Army created the Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) to conduct clandestine operations, and to support military operations.[1] In 1989, only eight years after ISA was established, the United States military terminated the unit and established the USSOCOM.