77th Brigade
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This article is part of the Propaganda Portal project of Spinwatch. |
British Army information operations and psychological warfare formation created in 2015; formed by merging the Media Operations Group, Military Stabilisation Support Group, 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group and related elements; based at Denison Barracks, Hermitage; involved in non-lethal engagement, information activity and outreach; linked to Ukraine capacity-building and Cabinet Office coronavirus counter-disinformation work
The 77th Brigade is a British Army information operations and psychological warfare formation, created in January 2015. It was a retitling of the Security Assistance Group, created as part of the Army 2020 reorganisation. The brigade initially brought together a psychological warfare unit (15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group), a media operations unit (Media Operations Group), and the Military Stabilisation and Support Group. It is based at Denison Barracks in Hermitage, Berkshire, and became operational in April 2015. Its stated aim is to challenge the difficulties of modern warfare using non-lethal engagement and legitimate non-military levers as a means to adapt behaviours of opposing forces and adversaries.[1][2]
Formation and role
The first public mention of grouping various information operations units appeared in a July 2013 update to the Army 2020 reorganisation plan, naming the Security Assistance Group and its planned supervision of the Media Operations Group, the Military Stabilisation and Support Group, and 15 Psychological Operations Group. The brigade’s columns have included elements for tactical PSYOPS, stand-off/hybrid information operations, media operations lineage, and security capacity building. Official descriptions emphasise audience analysis, planning and integrating information activity and outreach, supporting counter-adversarial information activity, and support to partners across government. In practice the unit has been associated with information warfare, narrative competition, and monitoring of the information environment.[1][2]
In 2012 General Nick Carter was appointed “Honorary Colonel Commandant” in the British Army’s “Media Operations Group” – one of the four units which were merged to form the 77th Brigade in 2015, which was called its ‘Number 5 Column’.[3]
Ukraine and earlier information-operations links
Leaked Ukrainian Ministry of Defence material and NATO documents referenced in reporting on UK–Ukraine cooperation note British units including the 77th Brigade in collaboration with NATO groups, US Special Operations Command, US Cyber Command and Psyops. The Joint Information Activities Group provided mentoring to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence on psyops/propaganda prior to February 2015, and 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group (later absorbed into the 77th Brigade) was indicated in early 2015 cooperation. In 2016 a visit of Ukrainian military intelligence to the UK included meetings with British intelligence elements including the 77th Brigade. These activities sit alongside MoD strategic communications capacity-building involving Military Strategic Effects and personnel such as Col Gerry Osborne and Lt Col Ewen Murchison.[4]
During the coronavirus pandemic the 77th Brigade supported the Cabinet Office Rapid Response Unit in efforts to identify and counter misinformation and disinformation. Armed forces minister James Heappey confirmed the Brigade’s role. General Carter, who had earlier been Honorary Colonel Commandant of the Media Operations Group, referred to the unit in the context of the government’s coronavirus response. The Declassified UK investigation by Chris King and Prof. David Miller examined the roles of the 77th Brigade and Specialist Group Military Intelligence in this period.[5]
People
- General Nick Carter – in 2012 appointed “Honorary Colonel Commandant” in the British Army’s “Media Operations Group” – one of the four units which were merged to form the 77th Brigade in 2015, which was called its ‘Number 5 Column’.[3]
- Alex Aiken – in 2019 promoted in the Army Reserve to ‘Honorary Colonel Operational Media and Communications Group 77 Brigade 1 November 2019.[6]
- Gordon MacMillan – in September 2019 the senior Twitter staffer was exposed by Middle East Eye as a lieutenant in the Brigade.[7]
- Mark Lancaster (the unit’s Deputy Commander), former Conservative MP and armed forces minister.[8]
- Tobias Ellwood – Conservative MP and chair of the House of Commons defence committee (a Lieutenant Colonel in the unit).[9]
See also
- Military Strategic Effects
- Joint Information Activities Group
- Defence Media Operations Centre
- Specialist Group Military Intelligence
- National Security Communications Team
- Rapid Response Unit
- Counter-Daesh Coalition Communications Cell
- Counter Disinformation and Media Development
- Conflict, Stability and Security Fund
- Government Information Cell
- National Cyber Security Centre
External links
- Chris King and Prof. David Miller, “UK information operations in the time of coronavirus”, Declassified UK, 30 September 2020
- Wired, 14 November 2018
- MintPress News on Ukraine propaganda specialists
- FoI request on Nick Carter appointment
- Middle East Eye on Gordon MacMillan
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 British Army official description of 77th Brigade role and formation.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Carl Miller, “Inside the British Army’s secret information warfare machine”, Wired, 14 November 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 FoI request.
- ↑ David Miller, “How US and UK Government Propaganda Specialists Collaborated with Nazis in Ukraine”, MintPress News, 2022.
- ↑ The London Gazette.
- ↑ Middle East Eye.
- ↑ Forces.net.
- ↑ Twitter.