diff --git a/src/app/organizations/manage/group-add-edit.component.html b/src/app/organizations/manage/group-add-edit.component.html
index b613947b48f..41aa36552bb 100644
--- a/src/app/organizations/manage/group-add-edit.component.html
+++ b/src/app/organizations/manage/group-add-edit.component.html
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
                 <div class="form-group">
                     <label for="externalId">{{'externalId' | i18n}}</label>
                     <input id="externalId" class="form-control" type="text" name="ExternalId" [(ngModel)]="externalId">
+                    <small class="form-text text-muted">{{'externalIdDesc' | i18n : ('group' | i18n).toLocaleLowerCase()}}</small>
                 </div>
                 <h3 class="mt-4">{{'accessControl' | i18n}}</h3>
                 <div class="form-group">
diff --git a/src/locales/en/messages.json b/src/locales/en/messages.json
index bfdba4c196e..5fa4afca226 100644
--- a/src/locales/en/messages.json
+++ b/src/locales/en/messages.json
@@ -1724,6 +1724,15 @@
   "externalId": {
     "message": "External Id"
   },
+  "externalIdDesc": {
+    "message": "The external id is used to link this $THING$ to an external system such as a directory.",
+    "placeholders": {
+      "thing": {
+        "content": "$1",
+        "example": "group"
+      }
+    }
+  },
   "accessControl": {
     "message": "Access Control"
   },