{{Short description|Former British Army unit}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name=15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group |image= |caption= |dates=1991–2015 |country= |allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}} |branch={{army|United Kingdom}} |type= |role= Psychological warfare |size= ~ 150 personnel |command_structure= |garrison=Denison Barracks, Berkshire |garrison_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= <!-- Commanders --> |commander1= |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |notable_commanders= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= |identification_symbol_3= |identification_symbol_3_label= }} '''15 (United Kingdom) 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.<ref name="HFTC">{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/structure/28213.aspx |title=Headquarters Force Troops Command |work=British Army |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110005954/https://www.army.mod.uk/structure/28213.aspx |archive-date=10 January 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Since April 2015, it has been subsumed into 77th Brigade<ref>{{cite news |title=New British Army unit 'Brigade 77' to use Facebook and Twitter in psychological warfare |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/return-of-the-chindits-mod-reveals-cunning-defence-plan-10014608.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/return-of-the-chindits-mod-reveals-cunning-defence-plan-10014608.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |first=Kim |last=Sengupta |date=31 January 2015 |newspaper=The Independent}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Army sets up new brigade for the 'information age' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31070114 |work=BBC News Online |date=31 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=British army sets up social media 'brigade' |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/media/digital/2015/01/31/British-Army-ventures-into-social-media-sets-up-special-unit.html |work=Al Arabiya News |date=31 January 2015}}</ref> within 6th (United Kingdom) Division.<ref name="HFTC"/><ref>{{cite web |title=15(UK) Psychological Operations Group |url=http://army.mod.uk/15psyops/ |work=British Army |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20041129050450/army.mod.uk/15psyops/ |archive-date=29 November 2004 |access-date=9 January 2015}}</ref>
==History== Following the Gulf War of 1991, the UK formed a shadow PSYOPS unit called 15 (UK) PSYOPS Group (Shadow). A double digit prefix was selected to avoid any confusion with the U.S counterparts of the 2nd, 4th, 7th, and 8th MIS/Psych Ops Groups, and the number 15 was chosen because PSYOPS battlefield activities in support of 21 Army Group during WW2 were conducted by Amplifier Units (numbered 10-14). The Group adopted the stag's head formation sign used by the World War II Indian Field Broadcast Units (IFBU). Reputedly the deer's antlers symbolize both the combat support function of PSYOPS and the antennae associated with a major means of dissemination of psychological warfare messages.
15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group was established immediately after the 1991 Gulf War when the success of US military psychological operations convinced the Ministry of Defence that the UK required a similar capability. Initially, it was composed of just a single desk officer with the intention that it would be augmented by additional personnel when required. As such, the group was referred to in military terminology as a 'shadow' unit.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Jolly |first=Stephen |date=October 2000 |title=Wearing the Stag's Head Badge: British Combat Propaganda since 1945 |journal=Falling Leaf |issue=170 |pages=86–89 |publisher=The Psywar Society |editor-first=David |editor-last=Minshall |issn=0956-2400 }}</ref> Subsequently, conspiracy theorists have suggested incorrectly that 'shadow' was a covert code name for the group and members of the group have been targeted in the press.<ref>{{cite news |title=Master of black propaganda gets top job at MoD |first=Hugh |last=Muir |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/dec/13/hugh-muir-diary-jolly-mod |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=13 December 2012 |access-date=26 April 2013}}</ref> During the 1990s, for a short period, the name was altered to 15 Information Operations Group (Info Ops) - it being deemed a more generic term suited to its role within the UK's newly formed Information Operations umbrella group which included Media Ops.
Since 1991, the group expanded significantly in size to meet operational requirements and participated in every major UK military operation since that period. The Black and White Association (formerly club) is the regimental association for the group and for the first time, in 2013, members paraded on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cenotaph Ceremony & March Past |date=10 November 2013 |work=Royal British Legion |url=http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/media/1373502/2013cenotaphorder_of_march.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192037/http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/media/1373502/2013cenotaphorder_of_march.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> Leading members of the Black and White Association include Colonel Colin Mason (ret'd),<ref>{{cite web |title=Colonel Colin Mason |url=http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/1646/Colin-Rees-MASON |work=Debrett's}}</ref> Tony Rowlands (former Foreign Office official), Commander Steve Tatham RN,<ref>{{cite web |title=Commander Steve Tatham RN |url=http://www.x-iap.com/commander-steve-tatham.html |work=Influence Advisory Panel |year=2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118173604/http://www.x-iap.com/commander-steve-tatham.html |archive-date=18 January 2017}}</ref> and the UK's former two-star Director of Defence Communications, Stephen Jolly.{{cn|date=November 2021}}
In October 2012, the group was awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace for its "valuable contribution to humanitarian activities by establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants of any community at home or overseas". The citation noted that: {{cquote|A small team from 15 POG has been continuously deployed to Helmand for six years. Working predominantly with the Afghan civilian population, it has sought to inform, reassure, educate and through the promotion of free and unbiased discussion persuade Afghans that their futures are best served not with the Taliban, nor with ISAF, but with themselves and their elected government. The unit runs a network of radio stations employing local Afghans as DJs, broadcasting music, poetry, debate programmes and even a Helmandi soap opera, as well as producing graphical posters and leaflets to communicate in an area where literacy rates are only around 20%. Recent projects include information campaigns to prevent children picking up spent ordnance they find, disseminating information from farming and veterinary workshops using their radio stations, and promoting debate on political issues of the day. }}
The sword was presented to the group's then commanding officer, Commander Steve Tatham RN at a ceremony in London by the Chief of Defence Staff General Sir David Richards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/firmin-sword-of-peace-awarded-to-15-uk-psychological-operations-group |title=Firmin Sword of Peace awarded to 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group |work=Ministry of Defence |access-date=26 April 2013}}</ref> The award was covered by the BBC which was granted exclusive access to the group.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-20096416 |title=Psy-ops: Tuning the Afghans into radio |last=Wyatt |first=Caroline |author-link=Caroline Wyatt |date=27 October 2012 |website=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC News |access-date=28 October 2012}}</ref>
The group's honorary colonel Lieutenant General Sir Paul Newton, formerly Commander of Force Development and Training for the British Army, stepped down in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psywar.org/psywar/reproductions/15POG_Annual_Report_2008.pdf |title=15 (United Kingdom) Psychological Operations Group: Annual Report |publisher=15 (UK) PSYOPS Group|access-date=29 May 2011}}</ref> In 2016, 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group was moved from Chicksands to Denison Barracks, Hermitage, Berkshire, where it was integrated into 77th Brigade, formerly the Security Assistance Group.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.militarysurvey.org.uk/Newsletters/2014/Newsletter%2053%20Summer%202014.pdf |title=Hermitage – The Next Chapter |journal=Military Survey (Geographic) Association Newsletter |date=August 2014 |number=53 |page=8 |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref>
==Role== 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group had over 150 personnel under its command, approximately 75 from the regular Armed Forces and 75 from the Reserves. The Group supported deployed commanders in the provision of psychological operations in operational and tactical environments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/15psyops/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060620154544/http://www.army.mod.uk/15psyops/index.htm |archive-date=20 June 2006 |title=15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group |work=Ministry of Defence |access-date=23 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/psychological-ops-group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702002020/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/psychological-ops-group |archive-date=2 July 2010 |title=Psychological Ops Group |work=Royal Navy |access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Military history of Berkshire Category:Group sized units of the British Army Category:Organisations based in Berkshire Category:Psychological operations units and formations Category:West Berkshire District Category:Units of the Intelligence Corps (British Army) Category:Military units and formations established in 1991 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2015