Page 155 - RSDG Year of 2023

The stark irony that 77 Brigade, tasked with influencing perceptions, attitudes and behaviours, often has a mixed reputation within military circles (and in particular, ‘spicy subaltern memes’ on Instagram!) is not lost on me. Having worked for the last two years as OC of Hemingway Company within 5th Information Operations Task Force- the Brigade’s regular component providing Tactical PsyOps Teams and communications specialists to a variety of end users- I trust that by sharing my experience I will partly dispel, and to some degree confirm, much of the rumour mill that the reader may have encountered. Put simply, 77X remains by far and away the most frustrating, yet exciting, active and forward-thinking place that I have worked.
But first, what is it? I often explain the organisation by referring to the inflatable tanks used to confuse German intelligence prior to D-Day: That’s it, but in the modern age.
77X was formed in 2015, in response to the huge impact of Russian malign information operations, both in election meddling and to complement physical operations such as during its annexation of Crimea. Claiming a somewhat tenuous heritage from the Chindit campaigns in Burma, 77X’s early epoch earned it the rather derogatory label of a group of ‘twitter warriors’, producing little tangible benefit despite considerable enthusiasm. Accurate as this may have been back then, I’m reassured to report that the Brigade has matured considerably over its short existence. The first thing that strikes you on arrival is the amazing range of people that contribute to output. Alongside a tri-service mix of regulars ranging from Trooper to Major, Royal Marine to SCOTS DG, 77X employs roughly 60% reservists from all walks of life. These include clinical psychologists, artists, social media influencers, profes- sional film makers and high-end marketing executives. The result is a vibrant working environment surrounded
Maj Rupert Nurick
EAGLE AND CARBINE 153
ON ATTACHMENT TO 77 BRIGADE/OP POLARBEAR