SQUADDIES are being urged to post upbeat videos of military life on websites such as YouTube and MySpace in a bid to win the hearts and minds of young people.
The positive films will be accompanied by blogs and direct interventions by military staff in internet chatrooms.
The controversial tactic is revealed in the MoD's 'Online Engagement Strategy', released through Freedom of Information legislation.
Military chiefs admit the image-builiding strategy leaves them open to accusations they are peddling "propaganda", and fear their online presence "may not stand up to scrutiny".
But they conclude the risks are outweighed by the prospect of being able to "bypass the mainstream media" and communicate directly with their young target audience.
The military's reputation among the young has already been boosted in recent weeks by blanket coverage of Prince Harry serving in Afghanistan.
The report, which was drawn up last year, states: "The MoD and the armed forces will harness new and emerging technologies, new unofficial online channels and new unofficial online content in order to communicate and disseminate defence and Service messages and build defence and Service reputation."
It adds: "Success will be critically dependent on our ability to monitor online discussion of Service and defence issues. This will require new resources and sharing of information across organisational boundaries. Everyone in communication will have a role in monitoring the internet discussion of defence subjects.
"There will be occasions where we wish to initiate a discussion, for example to break a significant announcement or promote a new information campaign or initiative."
The report names websites such as YouTube, MySpace, Bebo and Facebook – which are hugely popular with youngsters – and claims they represent a "Brave New World" of opportunities.
"Changes in personal technology have made people more likely to record their lives and the events they witness. Today's teenagers spend more time writing to their friends than earlier generations. People of all ages are more likely to be carrying a camera. Although often crude, this material can have an immediacy and credibility unmatched by either Government communications or the mainstream media."
The document says: "Where appropriate, media and communications staff can positively encourage Service and MoD civilian personnel to generate and submit their own unofficial material for use in official efforts."
It also suggests MoD staff make contributions to Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia, and create "official presences in virtual communities such as multiplayer games".
It lists a number of potential risks and disadvantages of making greater use of the internet and reveals fears that they would be held liable for obscenity and defamation on their sites and risk having their material "spoofed, impersonated or lampooned".
It adds: "Some of our existing responses to press reporting may not stand up to scrutiny from the expert internal audience.
"We should also be wary of allowing undue influence by an audience which may include unknown or undesirable elements, such as non-UK nationals.
"The level of interest in online projects is very difficult to predict – it could be zero or it could be overwhelming. Either would be embarrassing. By exploiting new channels we stand open to accusations of engaging in propaganda."
The document also said: "Unlike newspaper columnists, many bloggers are not hidebound by traditional editorial prejudices and could be receptive to our approaches."
Servicemen and women will be warned about posting material that is obscene or offensive or would damage security.
Professor Elaine Fernely, an expert in internet technology and communication trends at Salford University, said the MoD's move was a savvy one.
"The age profile of the average soldier – or potential soldier – is very young," she said.
"(Young people] are more inclined to believe news that they read or watch online or is passed on to them by their peers. Obviously there are risks, but they obviously believe this is the best way to get their message delivered directly to young people."
But Nationalist MSP Jamie Hepburn said: "This strategy clearly reflects the fact that the military are struggling to recruit by the traditional methods. Their recruitment and image problems stem from the folly of invading Iraq and causing huge unrest in the Middle East. That is something that the MoD cannot get away from online or anywhere else."
On YouTube The Ministry of Defence may be keen to harness the internet to enhance the reputation of Britain's forces.
But the message does not seem to have got through to a number of serving personnel.
One film on video-sharing website YouTube is a spoof diary of a day in the life of a Scottish squaddie in Iraq. It shows a grinning soldier pretending to gun down one of his colleagues, who is dressed as an Islamic militant with a scarf wrapped round his face and mock grenades strapped to his chest. The film, apparently shot at a UK military base in Basra with the Saltire flying in the background, shows the same soldier on the toilet and slumped on a bed strewn with pornographic magazines.
Another, called 'Basrah Boogie', shows two Scottish soldiers dressed as Arabs, doing Egyptian-style sand dances and mocking the Middle Eastern music playing loudly in the background.
The full article contains 865 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
