77th Brigade (United Kingdom)

Last updated

77th Brigade
77th Brigade logo.jpg
Brigade emblem, the Chinthe
Active1 September 2014 [1]
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
AllegianceRoyal Standard of the United Kingdom.svg King Charles III
BranchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Size5 Groups
Part of 6th UK Division. [2]
Garrison/HQ Denison Barracks
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier Alexander Turner [3] [4] [5]

The 77th Brigade is a British Army formation, created in January 2015 by renaming the Security Assistance Group which was created under the Army 2020 concept. [6] [7] Its broad purpose is to conduct psychological operations. [8] It is based at Denison Barracks in Hermitage, Berkshire and became operational in April 2015. [9] [8]

Contents

The brigade was named the 77th in tribute to the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, which was part of the Chindits, an Indian Army guerilla warfare force led by Orde Wingate who used unorthodox tactics against the Japanese in Burma in World War II. The formation badge of the revived 77th shows a stylized lion known as a Chinthe in reference to the Chindits. [9] [10] [11]

History

The first 77th Brigade was raised as part of the new army also known as Kitchener's Army and assigned to the 26th Division and served on the Western Front and the Macedonian Front during the First World War. According to one amateur military history blog, some of the past units include: [12]

Role and composition

The Security Assistance Group (SAG)'s mission was to work with cross-Whitehall agencies to achieve the goals of Defence Engagement and Building Stability Overseas Strategies. 77th Brigade was created to draw together a host of existing and developing capabilities essential to meet the challenges of modern conflict and warfare. [9] In 2015, the UK government said the unit's objectives would be similar to those of the SAG. Specifically, it is to:

Provide support to other government departments in the aim to achieve stability overseas; lead on special influence methods; build military capacity in all stages of conflict. [7]

Laurie Clarke in Wired described the brigade as a "psychological operations unit responsible for 'non-lethal' warfare that reportedly uses social media to "control the narrative", as well as disseminating UK government-friendly podcasts and videos". [13]

Warfare Today says of the brigade that it is a combined regular army and reserve unit "for non-lethal warfare and behavioural influence", based at Denison Barracks, Hermitage, Berkshire. [14] [ dead link ]

The SAG aimed to have a full strength of 453 military and civilian personnel and occasionally, personnel from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and the Stabilisation Unit may be attached to the Brigade or work with it, [15] of this total there will be 440 military posts in the brigade. [7]

Structure

Current structure

From 2022 under the Future Soldier programme the structure of the brigade became: [16]

Previous structure

Initially designated as the Security Assistance Group, the formation included the following units: [17]

In July 2015 and October 2015, the headquarters and four subordinate elements were reshaped into six 'Columns'. [32]

There was no No. 6 Column for historical reasons. [33] [34]

Activities

The Brigade participated in a two-week disaster relief exercise in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It deployed to the Philippines in April 2015 to assist the Philippines Government in developing their contingency plans for natural disasters. [35] 77th Brigade has formed a formal partnership with the 361st Civil Affairs Brigade, US Army Europe. [36]

The Brigade uses social media such as Twitter and Facebook to influence populations and behaviour. [10] [11] David Miller, then a professor of political sociology at the University of Bristol studying British government propaganda and public relations, said that it is "involved in manipulation of the media including using fake online profiles". [37] [8]

In September 2019, Middle East Eye reported that Gordon MacMillan, a Twitter executive with editorial control over the Middle East and North Africa, is also a reservist officer in the 77th Brigade. Both Twitter and the British Army denied that they have a relationship or agreement. Miller said it was hypocritical of Twitter to close accounts alleged to be connected with non-Western governments while having links to the British Army. [38] [39]

On 22 April 2020, during the UK government's daily coronavirus briefing, General Nick Carter confirmed that 77th Brigade are working with the Home Office Rapid Response Unit "helping to quash rumours from misinformation, but also to counter disinformation". [40] [41] [42]

On 7 May 2020, The Economist interviewed Carter on the role of 77th Brigade in fighting COVID-19 pandemic disinformation. [43] The Defence Cultural Specialist Unit was used to monitor the internet for content on COVID-19 and to look for evidence of disinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines. [44] An army source later told the Mail on Sunday that this involved monitoring of the UK population. A government spokesman stated in response "These units used publicly available data, including material shared on social media platforms, to assess UK disinformation trends and narratives. They did not target individuals or take any action that could impact anyone’s ability to discuss and debate issues freely." [45]

Future

Under the Future Soldier programme, the brigade will move to Pirbright Camp in Surrey in 2026. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Army</span> Military unit

The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. As of 1 January 2024, the British Army comprises 75,166 regular full-time personnel, 4,062 Gurkhas, 26,244 volunteer reserve personnel and 4,557 "other personnel", for a total of 110,029.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of the United Kingdom

The British Armed Forces are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, support international peacekeeping efforts and provide humanitarian aid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psychological warfare</span> Information operations to assist military objectives

Psychological warfare (PSYWAR), or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations (PsyOp), has been known by many other names or terms, including Military Information Support Operations (MISO), Psy Ops, political warfare, "Hearts and Minds", and propaganda. The term is used "to denote any action which is practiced mainly by psychological methods with the aim of evoking a planned psychological reaction in other people".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chindits</span> Long-range raiding force of the Army of India during WW2

The Chindits, officially known as Long Range Penetration Groups, were special operations units of the British and Indian armies which saw action in 1943–1944 during the Burma Campaign of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orde Wingate</span> British WWII Army general (1903-1944)

Major General Orde Charles Wingate, was a senior British Army officer known for his creation of the Chindit deep-penetration missions in Japanese-held territory during the Burma Campaign of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st (United Kingdom) Division</span> Armoured division of the British Army

The 1st Division is an active division of the British Army that has been formed and disestablished numerous times between 1809 and the present. In its original incarnation as the 1st Division, it took part in the Peninsular War—part of the Coalition Wars of the Napoleonic Wars—and was disbanded in 1814 but was re-formed the following year for service in the War of the Seventh Coalition and fought at the Battle of Waterloo. It remained active as part of the British occupation of France until it was disbanded in 1818, when the British military withdrew. The division was then raised as needed; it served in the Crimean War, the Anglo-Zulu War, and the Second Boer War. In 1902, the British Army formed several permanent divisions, which included the 1st Division, which fought in the First World War, made various deployments during the interwar period, and took part in the Second World War when it known as the 1st Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jungle warfare</span> Warfare in jungles, forests, or similar environments

Jungle warfare or woodland warfare is warfare in forests, jungles, or similar environments. The term encompasses military operations affected by the terrain, climate, vegetation, and wildlife of densely-wooded areas, as well as the strategies and tactics used by military forces in these situations and environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Calvert</span> British Army officer (1913–1998)

Brigadier James Michael Calvert, was a British Army officer who was involved in special operations in Burma during the Second World War. He participated in both Chindit operations and was instrumental in popularizing the unorthodox ideas of Orde Wingate. He frequently led attacks from the front, a practice that earned him the nickname amongst the men under his command of "Mad Mike."

15 Psychological Operations Group was a tri-service, or "purple", military unit formerly parented by 1 Military Intelligence Brigade but from April 2014, part of the Security Assistance Group within the British Army's Force Troops Command. Since April 2015, it has been subsumed into 77th Brigade within 6th Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strategic Command (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The United Kingdom's Strategic Command (StratCom), previously known as Joint Forces Command (JFC), manages allocated joint capabilities from the three armed services.

The Order of battle of the Chindits, an Allied special force which carried out two deep penetration raids behind Japanese line during the Burma campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Security Force Assistance Brigade</span> British Army unit

The 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade is a brigade of the British Army which is intended to train and assist foreign forces. In 2021, under the Future Army changes, the brigade was redesignated, formerly being the 11th Infantry Brigade & HQ South East. Prior to the Army 2020 changes in 2013, the brigade was temporarily activated for deployment to Afghanistan. Originally formed in the Second Boer War, the brigade was engaged during both World Wars.

Army 2020 Refine was the name given to the restructuring of the British Army in the mid-to-late 2010s, in light of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. As its name suggests, it was a "refinement" of Army 2020, an early 2010s reorganisation of the Army to be completed by 2020, originally conducted in light of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010.

United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) is a directorate comprising the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, the Special Forces Support Group, 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment and the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing. In British freedom of information law, "special forces" has been defined as "those units of the armed forces of the Crown and the maintenance of whose capabilities is the responsibility of the Director of Special Forces or which are for the time being subject to the operational command of that Director". The Royal Marine Commandos and the Ranger Regiment are special operations–capable forces, but they do not form part of UKSF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Force Troops Command</span> Former combat support and combat service support command of the British Army

Force Troops Command was a combat support and combat service support command of the British Army. Its headquarters was at Upavon, Wiltshire. It was formed in 2013 as a re-designation of the previous Headquarters Theatre Troops. Force Troops Command was renamed as 6th Division in August 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denison Barracks</span> British Army installation at Hermitage in Berkshire, England

Denison Barracks is a British Army installation at Hermitage in Berkshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chindit Memorial</span> War memorial in London

The Chindit Memorial is a war memorial in London, England, that commemorates the Chindit special forces, which served in Burma under Major General Orde Wingate in the Second World War. The memorial was erected in Victoria Embankment Gardens in 1990, near the Ministry of Defence headquarters, and also commemorates Wingate, who died on active service in Burma in 1944. It became a Grade II listed building in August 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Structure of the British Army</span> Organisation of the British Army

The page contains the current structure of the British Army. The British Army is currently being reorganised to the Future Soldier structure.

References

  1. ↑ "Newsletter" (PDF). The Military Survey (Geographic) Association. Summer 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Laity, Mark. "The Birth and Coming of Age of Nato Stratcom" (PDF). Defence Strategic Communications. p. 69.
  3. ↑ Mackie, Colin (1 October 2020). "Generals October 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 3 November 2020. Brigadier I. Alexander J. Turner Commander, 77th Brigade, November 2020
  4. ↑ "News from 77 Brigade" (PDF). The Chindit Column. 2021. p. 7. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "UK to streamline influence operations to help with its new ambitions in Indo-Pacific". Intelligence Online. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2023. 77th Brigade commanded by Brigadier Alexander Turner
  6. ↑ "Army revives Chindits as 'Facebook warriors' for smart battle". Financial Times. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Information Warfare:Written question - 225283". UK Parliament. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "BBC News - Army sets up new brigade 'for information age'". BBC News. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 MacAskill, Ewan (31 January 2015). "British army creates team of Facebook warriors". The Guardian . Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Army sets up brigade 'for information age'". BBC News. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  11. 1 2 Miller, Carl (14 November 2018). "Inside the British Army's secret information warfare machine". Wired UK. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "26th Division". The Long Long Trail. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  13. ↑ Clarke, Laurie (8 October 2019). "Twitter needs to start exposing the UK's murky online propaganda". Wired UK. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  14. ↑ "77th Brigade". Warfare Today. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Freedom of Information Request" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Future Soldier Guide" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "Transforming the British Army" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 13. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Military Stabilisation Support Group". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "MSSG exercise looks at conflict prevention - Announcements - GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "March of the white-collar army - FT.com". Financial Times. ft.com. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "RAF engineer brings government message to local Afghans - Announcements - GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Reserve Elements - British Army Website". army.mod.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  23. ↑ "Royal Aeronautical Society | Society News | Recognising excellence in newly qualified Chartered Engineers". aerosociety.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  24. ↑ "Troops at the ready". army.newsdeskmedia.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  25. ↑ Structure of the MSSG Retrieved 30 December 2022
  26. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ↑ "MSSG awarded for humanitarian work in Afghanistan - Announcements - GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  28. ↑ "Stabilisation in Afghanistan: winning the population from the insurgent - Announcements - GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  29. ↑ "Operation Herrick Campaign Study Chapter 5-4" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  30. ↑ "Philippines: 18 Nov 2013: Hansard Written Answers - TheyWorkForYou". theyworkforyou.com. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  31. ↑ "CIOR | Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers". cior.net. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  32. ↑ "77th Brigade". mod.uk (via archive.org). Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  33. ↑ Fogden, Steve. "Rfm. Ramkrishna Limbu IDSM, including the story of Vivian Weatherall". Chindit Chasing, Operation Longcloth 1943. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  34. ↑ Young, Frank. "Chindits 1st Expedition 1943 Operation Longcloth". Chindits Special Force Burma. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  35. ↑ "77th Brigade: Natural Disasters Response Training". Forces TV. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  36. ↑ Jones, Greg (12 November 2015). "21st Theater Sustainment Command forges UK partnership". United States Army. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  37. ↑ Hutcheon, Paul (7 April 2019). "Scottish Labour candidate facing questions over links to 'secretive military propaganda unit'". The Herald Scotland. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  38. ↑ Haddad, Tareq (1 October 2019). "Twitter executive revealed to be 'psyops' soldier linked to spreading disinformation across social media: 'a threat to our democracy'". Newsweek. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  39. ↑ Knowles, Tom (2 October 2019). "Twitter boss Gordon MacMillan helping to wage army's online war". The Times. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  40. ↑ "Live: Dominic Raab leads UK government's daily coronavirus briefing - 22 April". ITV News. YouTube. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  41. ↑ Young, Gregor (22 April 2020). "Defence chief says 77th Brigade is countering Covid misinformation". The National. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  42. ↑ "Armed Forces chief: Coronavirus greatest logistic challenge in 40 years' service". Express and Star. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  43. ↑ "What can past wars teach us about conquering coronavirus?". The Economist. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  44. ↑ Pogrund, Gabriel; Ripley, Tim (29 November 2020). "Army spies to take on antivax militants". The Times. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  45. ↑ "Army's 'information warfare' unit monitored Covid lockdown critics" . The Daily Telegraph. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.