Central Intelligence Agency - Special Activities Division (SAD)
C.I.A. Special Activities Division (SAD)
Special Activities Division (SAD) is a division of the Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service, responsible for covert action paramilitary operations, the collection of intelligence in hostile and/or denied areas and all high threat military and/or intelligence operations when the US government does not wish to be overtly associated with such activities. As such, members of the unit (called Paramilitary Operations Officers), when on missions, normally do not carry any objects or clothing (e.g., military uniforms) that would associate them with the United States. If compromised during a mission, the government of the United States may legally deny their status and all knowledge of their mission. SAD officers are a majority of the recipients of the coveted Distinguished Intelligence Cross and the Intelligence Star. These are the two highest medals for valor in the CIA. Not surprisingly, SAD officers also make up the majority of those memorialized on the Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters.
As the National Clandestine Service's action arm, SAD conducts military direct action missions such as raids, ambushes, sabotage, targeted assassinations, unconventional warfare (e.g. training and leading guerrilla and military units of other countries in combat), and deniable psychological operations, the latter also known as black propaganda or "Covert Influence". Special reconnaissance is another area that can be under either military or intelligence, but is usually carried out by SAD officers when in hostile areas. SAD provides the President of the United States an option when overt military and/or diplomatic actions are not viable or are not politically feasible. SAD can be directly tasked by the President of the United States or the National Security Council at the President's direction. This is unlike any other US national mission force. However, SAD is much smaller than most of the other special missions units such as Delta Force or SEAL Team Six.
As the National Clandestine Service's action arm, SAD conducts military direct action missions such as raids, ambushes, sabotage, targeted assassinations, unconventional warfare (e.g. training and leading guerrilla and military units of other countries in combat), and deniable psychological operations, the latter also known as black propaganda or "Covert Influence". Special reconnaissance is another area that can be under either military or intelligence, but is usually carried out by SAD officers when in hostile areas. SAD provides the President of the United States an option when overt military and/or diplomatic actions are not viable or are not politically feasible. SAD can be directly tasked by the President of the United States or the National Security Council at the President's direction. This is unlike any other US national mission force. However, SAD is much smaller than most of the other special missions units such as Delta Force or SEAL Team Six.