Infanteers test their combat capabilities in Kenya as focus shifts to fighting

Infanteers from the Royal Anglian Regiment and The Royal Regiment of Scotland will be honing their fighting skills as they take on Exercise Bull Storm in Kenya.

The soldiers from 1 R Anglian and 3 SCOTS will be in action in Laikipia and Samburu during their deployment to British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).

For the past few years, the Royal Anglian Regiment has been focused on security force assistance, helping train allied forces around the world.

• Live firing: Keeping soldiers safe when the rounds start flying as part of platoon attack
• Royal Anglian soldiers sharpen combat skills ahead of their Kenya deployment
• BATUK: The home of the British Army's largest contingent of soldiers in Africa

Before the battalion left the UK, the soldiers sharpened their own combat skills as they prepared for Bull Storm, carrying out live-firing on the range at Otterburn.

The Royal Anglians and their RRoS comrades are among more than 1,200 members of 11 Brigade who will be put to the test as the brigade transforms from its security assistance role into a warfighting formation.

The aim is to prove that 11 Brigade is more capable and lethal than ever in a time of increasing global uncertainty.

British Army Training Unit Kenya is the British Army's largest contingent of soldiers in Africa.

Based out of Laikipia Air Base, the Army regularly conducts joint training with the Kenyan Defence Forces as well as outreach and engagement programmes.

These include support to the replanting of forestry and pop-up medical clinics in remote regions which treat thousands of patients in areas that have limited regular access to healthcare.

The British Peace Support Team is also based in Kenya, and soldiers deployed there regularly operate across Africa to advance peace and security as well as counter the illegal wildlife trade.

BATUK provides demanding training to exercising units preparing to deploy on operations or assume high-readiness tasks.

There are around 100 permanent staff with a reinforcing short-tour cohort of another 280 personnel.

Under an agreement with the Kenyan government, up to six infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya.

The Royal Engineers also carries out exercises including civil engineering projects. There are also medical deployments which provide primary health care assistance to the civilian community.