TWO Dorset soldiers are training in Kenya to be part of a rapid response force ready for deployment at 24 hours notice.

Rifleman Daryl Rae, 23, from Upton, Poole, and Rifleman Steve Bates, 25, from Southbourne, Bournemouth serve with 4 Rifles.

The battalion will be the British Army’s next Spearhead Lead Element on standby to deal with the likes of a major domestic terrorist attack or the evacuation of British nationals overseas.

Daryl and Steve are two of around 700 troops from 4 Rifles who have left their base at Bulford in Wiltshire for specialist training.

They are learning day-and-night patrolling, ambushing an opposing force, taking control of an area and reassuring the local inhabitants they are safe.

They have been exercising using laser systems that can detect whether a soldier has been ‘injured’ or ‘killed’.

“It is a good exercise, it has been hard but worth it and really enjoyable,” said Daryl.

“We have been doing a lot of our basic infantry drills but obviously the weather and environment make it a lot tougher.”

Soldiers train in Kenya because the challenges can not be replicated in the UK – temperatures of 40C, deserts, dust and the lack of roads.

Daryl, who went to school in Australia, joined up in 2008, following his father and grandfather into the Army.

Steve, who attended Southbourne School, was a painter and decorator with Craft Décor in Southbourne. He enlisted with the army in 2008 and has already been sent on tour in Afghanistan.

Their training culminates in a major exercise in June and the battalion will take over as the army’s spearhead element in October.