Page 89 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Voice of experience
– embedding with the KDF
Learning the intricacies of relationship building and consumed as much as possible. An interesting
A Company conducting Team navigation exercises ready for the rst Spec Inf Assessment Cadre
working with a partner force is a vital skill for A Coy and the Specialised Infantry. To that end, during EX ASKARI STORM, A Coy were partnered with 1 Platoon of B Company, 9th Kenyan Ri es.
During the 10 day ASKARI SPEAR phase A Coy focused on the needs of the ‘customer’ the Kenyan Platoon, teaching counter IED and ground sign awareness, anti ambush drills, a limited amount of marksmanship and offensive operations up to a live re company attack.
In order to maximize training value, Team 1 embedded with the KDF, living within their FOB, eating with them and conducting training as part of the platoon. This method allowed members of Team 1 to understand rapidly the mindset of the Kenyan soldiers, empathise with their level of fatigue and develop a rapport far more effectively than would have been otherwise possible. Critically Team 1 was able to earn the trust of the Kenyan platoon that enabled us to understand what motivated our partners and for the Kenyan soldiers to reveal previ- ously hidden concerns and issues that could then be addressed.
Motivating the partnered force became an enormous learning curve. Simple issues such as providing acceptable food became a logistical challenge as the Kenyan army eat fresh food daily (consisting of Ugallii and goats slaughtered by chef’s moments before preparation) and morale is dependent on access to this resource. Live goats were locally sourced from xers in the nearby village and we learned valuable lessons about correct goat carriage when one almost succeeded in a bid for freedom! Due to the shortage of water in Somalia, when in abundant supply the Kenyan platoon
additional friction came in the form of the timing of the exercise during Ramadan, when the Muslim members of the Kenyan platoon were only eating during dark hours and therefore were more at risk from heat and fatigue.
Training the KDF taught us a great deal in terms of cultural sensitivity and limitations. Kenyan soldiers relied heavily on learning through visualisation, which necessitated a change of training methodology and therefore demonstration and repetition are far more valuable than explanation, the importance of maintaining relationships with the partner chain of command while convincing the partner to follow direction was a continuous balancing act.
All of the teams worked hard to build a rapport; a mutual love of football, family and all of the luxuries left behind at home provided common ground. We quickly learned of the hardships that the under equipped and often under trained KDF had to go through and were able to adapt Kenyan and British Army techniques to suit their capabilities. Conducting a twelve-month operation in an IED ridden Somalia with only one Valon metal detector per company, no ECM, marching 10 miles a day through hostile terrain just to replenish water, working with iron sights and severely limited night vision capability were some of the challenges faced daily by the Kenyan soldiers.
Overall the experience of embedding with a partner force was highly rewarding, moreover it has prepared us well for the frustrations as well as the rewards of working with a partner force. A Coy is far better prepared for future training missions and we look forward to our next task.
Capt Watson Spec Inf Team Commander
WE LEARNED VALUABLE LESSONS ABOUT CORRECT GOAT CARRIAGE WHEN ONE ALMOST SUCCEEDED IN A BID FOR FREEDOM!
THE RIFLES
FOURTH BATTALION 87