African Entrepreneurship Record-Chapter 700 - 4 The State of the Guard Division

The changes within the East African Army compared to ten years ago are quite significant. However, the 1885 Defense Army's steel helmets are particularly striking, instantly elevating the aura of the East African soldiers to a higher level, at least in Ernst's view. After all, a thousand people have a thousand perspectives, and some people's sense of aesthetics differs from Ernst's; it's something beyond control.

Aside from the steel helmet, there are other noteworthy aspects, particularly the huge improvements in the fabric quality of the Defense Army's uniforms and the materials used for their shoes.

"The overall appearance of the uniforms hasn't changed much from before, but thanks to technological advancements in the textile factories in Nairobi and Mombasa, the adoption of new machinery, and the expansion of East African fabric materials, we have more choices. For example, the material for socks is high-quality long-staple cotton from the Somali cotton region, which absorbs sweat and breathes, greatly enhancing the experience. Additionally, the development of the East African leather industry provides ample material for military boots."

Speaking of the raw materials for military boots, leather is naturally the main component. East Africa's rapidly growing livestock industry provides a sufficient supply of cowhide for East Africa. Moreover, East Africa's leather from other animals is also quite abundant, with the most renowned being the crocodile leather industry. However, crocodile leather is primarily exported. Besides, East Africa is rich in rubber, which ensures ample supply for the rubber soles of the military boots.

Additionally, the production of canvas desert boots supplied for desert regions is not small in East Africa, given that East Africa itself is a prime region for hemp and cotton, with sisal, jute, and various types of cotton planted here.

"Replacing the previous fabric military shoes with military boots allows for better handling of harsh terrains. They are also easier to clean and maintain, ensuring hygiene, making them highly suitable for use in humid and rainy regions."

Although East Africa has seen significant infrastructure development, improving road conditions greatly, the previous road construction primarily consisted of dirt and gravel roads.

Given that most of East Africa experiences a rainy season, military boots are better suited for muddy roads. Of course, there is a clear downside: they can become stuffy and sweaty, but this is unavoidable. Even in the previous world, many military boots had various drawbacks; nothing is perfect.

"Currently, military boot types are mainly divided into three categories: desert boots, hiking boots, and the most widely used conventional military boots. Due to the peculiarities of the Guard Division's jurisdiction, we basically do not equip the first two types of boots."

The Guard Division's jurisdiction is mainly on the eastern coastal plain, so there is no scene to apply the first two types, while other military zones have to choose according to actual needs. For instance, the Northern and Southern Military Zones procure large quantities of desert boots, whereas hiking boots are very common in the Northwestern Military Zone.

"Besides military boots, the Guard Division is also equipped with regular military footwear mainly used during the dry season. Due to the two rainy seasons in the east, they are replaced twice a year, and are also preferred for everyday use when not on duty or training."

After all, tall military boots are heavy, cumbersome, and make feet stuffy, so they are not suitable for everyday usage, and thus are more favored by soldiers.

Ernst asked, "Isn't it still the dry season? Why are you wearing high boots?"

"Your Highness, I mentioned before that regular military boots are still primarily used for daily training. The training intensity of our Guard Division is very high. We are always in a state of readiness for combat, so regular military boots are still used during training periods."

Upon hearing Lidley's explanation, Ernst was very satisfied. He said, "This is the right approach. Since you are part of the Defense Army, you must learn to endure hardships because the battlefield environment is a hundred or a thousand times harsher than reality. As an essential part of the East African Army, the Guard Division should set a leading example."

The Guard Division and the Defense Army have some differences, but they still belong to the Defense Army's sequence, closely related to the national conditions of East Africa.

The mission of the East African Defense Army is to protect national security, guard territorial integrity, and defend the safety and interests of the people. This banner must be established.

After all, East Africa is a monarchy, and the current East Africa is essentially a "family realm," so East African citizens should not mistakenly believe that the Defense Army is akin to the emperor's army in Europe.

If it turned out to be a war for the emperor or king, how could the army's motivation to protect the homeland and maintain East Africa's military combat strength be stimulated?

So, the nominal affiliation of the Guard Division with the Defense Army sequence is beneficial to address the changes in the 19th-century international community.

As for loyalty to the royal family, there's no need to worry overwhelmingly. After all, the king and royal family are themselves part of the East African people.

Ernst continued, "Of course, as a nation, we can't just rely on the sacrifices of soldiers. We must also actively improve soldiers' living conditions and increase military benefits. This does not conflict with the mission of the Defense Army. As the saying goes, specialization leads to mastery, and the professionalization of the military is an inevitable trend. Just like the troops' conditions are improving every year with new equipment and new weapons applied, all for the important task of constructing and defending a 'new home paradise' for the East African people."

Indeed, the improvement in military treatment over recent years is linked to Ernst's control over military expansion. While the army has not expanded, the budget for the East African Army has increased, which inevitably leads to more money being spent on weapons and equipment investment.

Additionally, with the development of agriculture and industry, the cost of living in East Africa is gradually decreasing. Many items previously requiring import have achieved domestication, exemplified by the growth of export volume surpassing that of imports.

The major East African imports mainly consist of goods that cannot be produced in tropical regions or those scarce in East Africa, with pharmaceuticals being the most typical example.

East African pharmaceutical exports primarily spread to neighboring African regions. However, imports greatly exceed exports because many medicinal materials are produced in the Far East Empire, where East African traditional medicine is widely practiced.

At the same time, East Africa also imports a small number of foreign fruits and vegetables, like apples, a typical cold-temperate crop not grown in East Africa. Although East Africa is a major wheat-producing nation, the quality cannot compare to that of temperate regions. Yet, this pertains to the current East African wheat production areas. In reality, the quality in the southern production areas is still good, but southern production is in its initial stages, and yields are limited.

Nonetheless, these imported products are clearly not abundant and are primarily used to diversify East African people's dining options or product variety.

Especially in the category of fruits and vegetables, East Africa has many substitute products. After all, in terms of planting, tropical regions with better rain and heat conditions still hold advantages, and East Africa also benefits from temperature and sunlight differences.

Ernst then observed the daily drills of the Guard Division. The training programs didn't differ much from those of other countries, although current global military training takes Europe as a model, with everyone learning from Europe. However, in specific execution, the performance of the East African Guard Division was commendable, a conclusion Ernst drew from the overall demeanor of the troops.

Practically, the Guard Division is also the most easily supervised local unit by the government, given its connection to capital security, leaving no room for negligence.

"Although the Guard Division is not on the border, the situation it faces is not much better than in the south, as you confront maritime threats simultaneously, especially in Dar es Salaam and Bajamojo. These are two crucial coastal cities for East Africa. Bajamojo's naval strength might be able to bear it better, while Dar es Salaam is more vulnerable to attacks. Dar es Salaam's single economic importance surpasses three New Hamburg Ports, and cities like First Town and Soga City in Central Province are not far from the coastline, so the military must remain on high alert, mission accomplished." Ernst emphasized.