Computerworld UK (see: http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/public-sector/3596459/british-army-set-up-facebook-warriors-unit/?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_board,
which is also the photo source) and other media have reported that the British
military is standing up a 1,500 person Social Media Warrior Battalion. Dubbed
the 77th Bde (which of course is bigger than a BN), it will be a
composite unit made up of reserve forces (Territorial Army) and fleshed out
with active forces taken from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
One wonders if this is simply a re-launch and renaming of
the former 15th PSYOPS Group (see: https://wikispooks.com/wiki/15_%28UK%29_Psychological_Operations_Group).
While there is no doubt that PSYOP is an important
battlefield multiplier, one wonders if the Brits would actually devote such a
large force to address these missions when their defense budget overall is
under a great deal of pressure.
The article goes on to state: “It is part of a wider
‘Army
2020’ plan to reduce the size of the regular Army from 91,600 in 2013 to 82,000
regular troops by 2017 and recruit at least 11,000 reserve soldiers to help
meet the shortfall.”
It’s worth a moment to analyze this
statement. If we take the statements together at face value it would appear
that the British military will include combined units of active and reserve
personnel. It would be reasonable to assume that the personnel strategy would
be to have a small core and expand the core as needed. If so, the unit
personnel would be housed together and presumably train together.
Sounds like a model worth considering.
Reader feedback, especially those with
first hand knowledge of the UK force structure is much appreciated.
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