Page 267 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
dogs were trained. At the same location, mounted Carabineros were also stabled and schooled.
For Lt Col Ham one striking memory of the training schools and military establishments that were visited, was the poignancy of the memorials erected to honour the handlers and dogs who were killed in action whilst defeating the FARC.23
Returning to Kenya – 2013
When Chief Trainer, WO2 Kevin Gavin was offered the opportunity to deploy to Kenya, he understood it had been 12 years since LCpl Paul Duke had followed the pioneers of 1997 – SSgt Roger Tredwell and Cpl Alec Bates RAVC. It seemed that the draw of Kenya was ever-present and, sadly, the need to protect against the growing threat posed by wildlife poachers.
In Defence Animal Centre Short Term Training Team Kenya 2013, Kev Gavin gave his account of an extraordinary period in history for the Corps’ work overseas, and, for him, a once in a lifetime career opportunity.
The Kenyan Defence Force Department of Defence/Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) decided that their Armed Forces required a dedicated deployable dog capability. They already had an existing Home Defence capability, as part of the Defence Force Constabulary (whose role is Force Protection), patrolling Kenyan Defence Force establishments. This indicated that they already had infrastructure, such as kennel accommo- dation, Veterinary Officers and expertise within the protection role.
And so, on 1st July 2012, the 1st Canine Regiment was formed and made the Humani- tarian Peace Support School, Embakasi Garrison in Nairobi, its home. The camp was ideal with its vacant kennel accommodation, support facilities and good training areas which were formerly part of the Mine Action Centre for East Africa. There are three Units that operated within the site – the Humanitarian Peace Support School, the Disaster Response Unit and 1st Canine Regiment. In addition to this, future plans included a relocation to a dedicated camp which included accommo- dation for dogs and handlers, dedicated support and administration areas.
To assist with the growth of 1st Canine Regiment, the Kenyan Defence Force identified a lack of subject matter expertise, especially in the detection role. Consequently, they sought guidance from the British High Commission in Nairobi and in July 2012 the Commanding Officer from the Defence Animal Centre conducted an initial visit to identify
their deficiencies and areas in which the UK could assist. This resulted in a number of recommen- dations including a Regimental structure, with allocated squadrons which would have different roles and functions; the main difference from the UK model was that due to the smaller size of the Kenyan Defence Force, the model used would be a Tri-Service Regiment. Also proposed was a Short Term Training Team from the Defence Animal Centre to deploy to Kenya to provide dog and handler training to assist with the growth of the newly formed Regiment.
Within the fleet of UK Military Working Dogs, a number of surplus assets of different classi- fications were identified and, additionally, the Kenyan Defence Force would be allocated places on handler courses at the Defence Animal Centre. UK assistance would consist of three phases; firstly, the selection of Kenyan Defence Force personnel to attend the UK to conduct courses and subsequent deployment to Kenya; secondly the delivery of training in Kenya by the Short Term Training Team and, finally, recovery of the team to allow the Kenyan Defence Force to find their own way forward.
It was in March 2013 that the Commanding Officer and Chief Trainer conducted a follow-up visit to Kenya in order to finalise the planning and administration details and to enable the deployment of the Short Term Training Team. This task also included assisting the Regiment in the selection of handlers to deploy to the UK.
To enable greater cohesion, the decision to accommodate the team at the Humanitarian Peace Support School with the 1st Canine Regiment, was to pay dividends when it came to the delivery of the training and, at the same time, it offered opportunities to socialise with members of the Regiment. The Kenyan Defence Force handlers selected for training in the UK were placed on Military Working Dog handler courses and at the same time were paired with a dog. This enabled a swift initial deployment to various locations on return to Kenya.
On 25th May 2013, four handlers and a Veterinary Officer landed at Heathrow airport and were met by an official from the Kenyan High Commission and the Chief Trainer from the Defence Animal Centre. The Kenyan contingent were about to begin their five-week stay in the UK, hosted by the Defence Animal Centre, before returning to Kenya with the team, plus twenty dogs and assorted equipment – all courtesy of an
23 Chiron Calling dated Summer 2012.
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