MY TIME WITH THE IVORY SOLDIERS - FIELD ETHOS
***Please note this is the extended version of the article. The version that lives on the FE website has been cut down to meet editorial guidelines.***
“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.” - Hemmingway.
Since boyhood, the untamed spirit of Africa has called to me. I blame the 1996 film “The Ghost and The Darkness.” Based on the novel by Col John Henery Patterson, “Man-Eaters of Tsavo.” That flick lit a fire in me at a young age. But it wasn't just this film that ignited the flame. Books on the Selous Scouts, the legendary Rhodesian bush warriors, and the adventurous of Teddy R, America's Rough Rider, added fuel to the fire. Together, they mixed a potent cocktail that will nip at a young man's soul all his life.
There is something about the African content, something raw and wild. She whispers to restless spirits. If you are reading this, you have heard her too. Generations before us felt that same itch, that urge to leave their mark on her fiery red soil. But here is the thing: Africa is not for the faint-hearted. For many, it is the land of safaris, sunsets, and picturesque landscapes. But delve deeper, and you'll find an Africa that challenges, provokes, and dares you to step out of your comfort zone. Not the one showcased in glossy travel magazines. This is the gritty core, where survival isn't guaranteed, and only the sharpest thrive. The Rangers I encountered embodied this spirit. They weren't just guardians of the land; they were its soul, its beating heart. They stand as the last line of defense against those who seek to exploit their country's treasures.
As the political landscape shifts, new challenges emerge. The situation in Somalia has unleashed a wave of chaos, with elements of Al-Shabaab now clashing with these dedicated Rangers. In the name of OPSEC and because I gave my word, I have done a little editing magic. If you are savvy, you might figure it out, but I will not hand it over; you have to earn it. While I've been cautious to protect sensitive details, the underlying message is clear: Africa's guardians face an evolving enemy
This was not my first dealing with this country. While in the military free fall industry, I worked with their special operations brigades, but that was stateside. This time, I was there to increase their lethality on the ground. Which I was stoked about. It was like deja vue, but instead of a company of Afghan Commandos, it was thirty Game Rangers, same same.
Why would wildlife Rangers need paramilitary training and modern weapons? Well, they are technically a national law enforcement agency. They fill a multifaceted role within their government. These Rangers were specifically selected to attend this event because they are stationed in regions where sound tactics and reliable rifles are needed.
At the very top, the service is led by a Doctor, not a soldier. He views things through a doctor's eyes but, from what I could tell, listens to the ground truths his Rangers pass up. I think of this organization like a Swiss army knife; their customers range from tourists and researchers to Poachers and terrorists. Sometimes, you need to uncork a bottle of wine, and sometimes, you must make someone bleed. What is important is that you have the right tools for the job.
Wildlife trafficking is a lucrative trade worth billions of dollars annually. It involves smuggling various animal parts, such as ivory, rhino horns, and tiger bones, which all carry a premium in global black markets. Several terrorist groups have tapped into this trade as a source of funding, most notably Al-Shabaab. By controlling and taxing trade routes used by traffickers, these groups earn substantial revenues. The funds generated are then used to buy weapons, recruit members, and finance operations. This East African country is particularly vulnerable. Weak governance, limited law enforcement, and vast, hard-to-patrol landscapes make it a trafficker's paradise. The Ranger mission not only protects vulnerable wildlife; it also has a direct hand in denying movement to security threats across the nation.
Between shooting, patrolling, hundreds of tea breaks, and gallons of Tusker, I really fell in love with the organization's mission and people. The average Ranger day-to-day is not usually kinetic. They are doing the less sexy work of collecting snares, observing and reporting, and engaging local populations to gather intel on issues affecting the area of operation. The larger organizational efforts are directed at the human-wildlife conflict—namely, Elephants destroying local infrastructure. But there is a select group of men and women taking a multi-domain approach to combating poachers and terrorists operating within their jurisdiction.
Americans training and equipping paramilitary units is usually done through official or non-official government channels for a combination of strategic, political, and security interests. There are tell-tale signs of American involvement in regions like this. When the head firearms and tactics trainers, whom I will call Peter and David, came to greet me, I could see the SOF influence they carried with them. They walked in wearing Army Combat Uniforms–ACUs–a pattern I absolutely loath, Merril hiking boots, and ball caps with a patch of their country flag on the front. I learned they had trained with the American military, but their longest-running program was with The Customs & Border Protection’s elite unit, BORTAC. Unfortunately, the program had dried up many years ago, so new Rangers were not afforded the opportunity. Once on the range, it was clear they had left their mark on Peter and David. They were phenomenal co-instructors and really helped me get the most out of the students.
I love training people and watching lightbulbs go off for them. Most of these Rangers were issued AKs or Gallils and were not used to the precision and simplicity of a well-built AR15/10. Over the next few days, they would go from shooting minute-of-man to A-zone hits that were precise and accurate. The old adage of speed is fine, but accuracy is final holds true for these Rangers. I can only imagine what could be done in a two or three-week course.
Soldiers deepen bonds in two ways: fighting together and drinking together. Unfortunately, our patrols netted a total of zero contacts with poachers, something I’m big sad about, but any day you count in the same amount of troops you count out is a good day. I was pleasantly surprised when Peter produced a bottle of my favorite gin–Hendricks–and wanted to toss a few back before calling it a night. I jump at any opportunity to close my mouth and open my ears, especially when salty OGs want to regale me with tales from the bush. The profession of soldiering and the woes that come with it transcend time and culture. Juxtaposed feelings of wanting to retire but feeling like you have so much more to give, close calls with death, and the memory of fallen brothers are the bonds that connect all who choose to soldier as a profession.
Old-school soldiering alone is not enough. We all understand that. Force multipliers like portable drones, intelligence networks, and statecraft are all important. But, when those fail, or you find yourself in an ambush, sound tactics and fire superiority will win the day. When used in conjunction, they find success. The Rangers, through intelligence networks and paramilitary operations, have reduced the ivory trade in their country to almost zero. They are still making busts weekly, especially near their borders, but it has drastically decreased as their force modernizes.
Like many of you who have spent time on the continent hunting and bonding over bushfire beers and gin, I leave a part of me there, a piece I will return to collect and replace with something new. Opportunities like this are often hard to come by, but they are out there if you look for them. It was an honor to stand alongside Africa's guardians and help to ensure that its wild heart continues to beat for generations to come.
