Joint Support Group Explained

Unit Name:Joint Support Group
Dates:2007-
Country: United Kingdom
Type:Military intelligence unit
Role:Agent handling
Clandestine human intelligence
Counterterrorism
Espionage
Military intelligence
Command Structure:Intelligence Corps
Motto:Piscatores Hominum[1]
Battles:Operation Banner (The Troubles)
War on Terror
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan

The Joint Support Group (JSG) is a covert military intelligence unit of the British Army Intelligence Corps. It was established in 2007 as Operation Banner concluded and following the Stevens Inquiry into allegations of collusion between the former Force Research Unit and Protestant paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.[2] [3]

Role

The Joint Support Group is tasked with obtaining intelligence by secretly penetrating terrorist organisations through the recruitment and running agents and informants. The JSG works closely with the Secret Intelligence Service, the Security Service, and United Kingdom Special Forces.[4]

Deployment in Iraq

The Joint Support Group was active during the Iraq War in running Iraqi double agents and worked closely with the Special Air Service and Delta Force as part of Joint Special Operations Command Task Force Black by providing intelligence for counterterrorism operations. The killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in June 2006 and the release of Norman Kember were both reportedly enabled by intelligence obtained by JSG.[5] JSG intelligence also supported Operation Marlborough.[6] [7]

Deployment in Afghanistan

JSG was deployed to the War in Afghanistan and reportedly provided intelligence for the capture of 65 Taliban commanders during the Helmand province campaign.[8]

Structure

JSG consists of a headquarters element, a training wing, and four squadrons. Each squadron contains around 100 operatives.[9]

Selection and training

The Joint Support Group recruits men and women of any rank from the British Army, the Royal Air Force, and the Naval Service up to the age of 42. Volunteers must pass a two-week pre-selection course followed by four months at the Joint Intelligence Training Group at RAF Chicksands.[10]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Rayment . Sean . The military’s most secretive unit on recruitment drive for undercover operations . 31 July 2024 . . 18 May 2024 . https://archive.today/20240518171441/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/18/secretive-army-unit-on-recruitment-drive/ . 18 May 2024 . en.
  2. News: Rayment. Sean. Top secret army cell breaks terrorists. 1 July 2017. The Telegraph. 4 February 2007.
  3. News: Sharp. Aaron. Secret army unit credited with saving THOUSANDS of civilian lives facing chop. 1 July 2017. Mirror. 9 March 2014.
  4. Web site: Volume 1 Chapter 3: Intelligence structures Report of the Patrick Finucane Review. Pat Finucane Review. https://web.archive.org/web/20121216022903/http://www.patfinucanereview.org/report/volume01/chapter003/. 16 December 2012. dead.
  5. News: Rayment. Sean. Top secret army cell breaks terrorists. 12 August 2017. Telegraph. 4 February 2007.
  6. Urban, Mark, Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq, St. Martin's Griffin, 2012,p.87,
  7. Moran, Jon, From Northern Ireland to Afghanistan: British Military Intelligence Operations, Ethics and Human Rights, Routledge, 2016,p.70,
  8. News: Sharp. Aaron. Secret army unit credited with saving THOUSANDS of civilian lives facing chop. 1 July 2017. Mirror. 9 March 2014.
  9. News: Sharp. Aaron. Secret army unit credited with saving THOUSANDS of civilian lives facing chop. 1 July 2017. Mirror. 9 March 2014.
  10. News: Rayment. Sean. Top secret army cell breaks terrorists. 12 August 2017. Telegraph. 4 February 2007.