| Joint Support Group | |
|---|---|
| Active | Early 2000s - |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Military intelligence unit |
| Role | Agent handling Clandestine human intelligence Counterterrorism Espionage Military intelligence |
| Part of | Intelligence Corps |
| Mottos | Piscatores Hominum Fishers of Men[1] |
| Engagements | |
TheJoint Support Group (JSG) is a covertmilitary intelligence unit of theBritish ArmyIntelligence Corps. It was established in the early 2000s asOperation Banner concluded and following theStevens Inquiry into allegations of collusion between the formerForce Research Unit and Protestant paramilitary groups inNorthern Ireland.[2][1]
According toThe Daily Telegraph, the JSG was later renamed theDefence Human Intelligence Unit (DHU).[1]
The Joint Support Group is tasked with obtaining human intelligence by recruiting and running sources and by interrogating captured enemy personnel.[1] The JSG works closely with theSecurity Service, theUnited Kingdom Special Forces and with friendly foreign nations.[1]
The Joint Support Group was active during theIraq War in running Iraqidouble agents and worked closely with theSpecial Air Service andDelta Force as part ofJoint Special Operations Command Task Force Black by providing intelligence for counterterrorism operations. The killing ofAbu Musab al-Zarqawi in June 2006 and the release ofNorman Kember were both reportedly enabled by intelligence obtained by JSG.[2] JSG intelligence also supportedOperation Marlborough.[3][4]
JSG was deployed to theWar in Afghanistan and reportedly provided intelligence for the capture of 65Taliban commanders during theHelmand province campaign.[5]
JSG consists of a headquarters element, a training wing, and four squadrons. Each squadron contains around 100 operatives.[5]
The Joint Support Group recruits men and women of any rank from theBritish Army, theRoyal Air Force, and theNaval Service up to the age of 42. Volunteers must pass a two-week pre-selection course followed by four months at theJoint Intelligence Training Group atMOD Chicksands.[2]
JSG personnel who are tasked with recruiting and running sources are called agent handlers and their recruitment, selection and deployment is known within the military as OP Samson.[1] The selection and training of interrogators is known as OP Metis.[1] Since the unit was formed, six personnel have been killed on operations.[1]
| HM Naval Service |
| ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Army | |||||||||
| Joint Services | |||||||||
| Selection | |||||||||
| Related |
| ||||||||
