Media operations

The role is an exciting one for individuals as they find themselves working across the spectrum of Defence activities. They help to promote activity, capture images and footage, train others for facing the media and facilitate in the delivery of clear messages to many audiences which assists the Commander in achieving his overall mission.

Operationally, media operations staff work closely with the fighting troops. Senior officers advise Commanders and develop strategy. MOG(V) officers run the Press Information Centre (PIC) which is the first port of call for journalists in an operational theatre. It is here that journalists are briefed on what is happening with the military campaign, given access to the spokesperson for interviews, and are briefed to contextualise events.

From here they are often embedded with front line units and they will also be assisted with their requirements for power and administration. Many prime-time news anchors have hosted their programmes from a Press Information Centre run by MOG(V) operators.

MOG(V) also run Combat Camera Teams (CCTs) in theatre. These are teams of military personnel who can operate alongside other units to capture stills and video footage, including interviews.

Often when you see 'MOD pictures' on the TV screen, those images will have been collected by a CCT and distributed to the media outlets.

MOG(V) works closely with the Defence Media Operations Centre at RAF Halton, which runs a number of courses and also provides the regular capability in the form of a Joint Media Operations Team (JMOT).

The JMOT deployable teams can deploy quickly into theatre and set up a Media Operations Centre to support the military and the journalists.

MOG(V) has a rapidly deployable reserve capability which will work closely with the regular teams. This team flies to Afghanistan at short notice