Kenya's Most Unique Army Regiment [VIDEO]

President Uhuru Kenyatta and army chiefs when they received the C-27J Spartan aircraft at the Embakasi Garrison, Nairobi on January 30, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and army chiefs when they received the C-27J Spartan aircraft at the Embakasi Garrison, Nairobi on January 30, 2020.
Twitter

A black and furry Labrador Retriever lets out a deep vibrating growl from the depth of its chest as members of an elite unit within the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) take it through several military drills.

This gentle beast gifted with a nose that can sniff out improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a combat zone, is part of KDF's 1st Canine Regiment.

Over the last eight years, this special regiment has been serving as a force multiplier that provides Kenya a way to balance the battlefield against an enemy with unconventional strategies and tactics. 

Notably, Kenya is the only country in East Africa with a canine unit organic to its military.

U.S. Service Members and Kenya Defense Force Conduct Military Working Dog Information Exchange. September 2018.
U.S. Service Members and Kenya Defense Force Conduct Military Working Dog Information Exchange..
YouTube

From the magisterial Belgian Malinois to the friendly yet overly-protective German Shepherd, these gifted dogs have been working alongside the army in hostile areas such as Somalia, saving countless lives in the process.

The unit specializes in explosive detection, patrolling, road and building clearing, as well as search and rescue.

According to KDF Major Dr. Marion Amulyoto, who serves as a veterinarian within the armed forces, the dogs have quickly become an integrel part of the army.

Major Amulyoto also serves as part of the leadership of elite canine unit.

There have been regular joint training exercises carried out involving the KDF's 1st Canine Regiment and the US Army's 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion.

Both parties gave presentations on their areas of expertise, with the KDF providing vital insights on the environmental concerns faced by US military dogs deployed in the task force's combined joint operations area.

During the last publicized joint drill, the military servicemen and women took the dogs through specialized training including  counter-improvised explosive device detection, patrol, search and rescue as well as border patrol.

The importance of the training is to give the dog handler the skills to respond to the care of the working dog in an austere environment 

These skills have played a vital role, especially during border patrols where danger could literally lurk along narrow footpaths

 

Watch KDF's 1st Canine Regiment in action below:

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