Badass Afghanistan Vet Helps Rangers Hunt Down Poachers In Africa
The fight against illegal poaching in Africa is extremely frustrating – both because of the irreparable damage that poachers cause and because most of us are powerless to do anything about it. Not so for Kinessa Johnson, however – this tattooed, gun-toting badass US Army veteran works for VETPAW, an organization that connects US Armed Forces veterans with conservation rangers in East Africa who need professional training and support.
Together with other US vets, she helps the rangers with practical concerns like marksmanship, concealment, intelligence and patrolling tactics.
More info: vetpaw.org | Instagram | Twitter (h/t: elitedaily)
Meet Kinessa Johnson
She helps African park rangers track and capture illegal poachers
Serving for 4 years in the US Army as a weapons instructor and mechanic has given her the skills she needs to train them
“I patrol routinely with them and also assist in intelligence operations”
“Our intention is not to harm anyone; we’re here to train park rangers so they can track and detain poachers and ultimately prevent poaching.”
She works together with other veterans through VETPAW (Veterans Empowered To Protect African Wildlife)
“Most of the time anyone that is in a reserve with a weapon is considered a threat and can be shot if rangers feel threatened”
“Our goal is to prevent trigger pulling through strategic movements and methods of prevention.” She says she’s not a “poacher hunter,” but a trainer”
VETPAW works primarily in East Africa
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uh, excuse me, but HELLLLYEAAAAHHHHHOORAAHHHH!!! you go, girl, and you are absolutely GORGEOUS on top of all that POWER!!
if shes willing to train me i would be more than happy to help!!! good on her!!! & thankyou for protecting the animals!!
I find this all to be real charming. I'm trying to make sense of it all, because she seems stolen valor as f**k. 4 years in active duty in Afghanistan.. But the Army were never really in Afghanistan it was USMC, AFF, RAF, DRAF that were there.. The army people normally stayed at base. Also how could you change your billet while in active duty..
I love her!! You are an inspiration and I support your efforts. Give those poachers something to think about!
Kinessa Johnson all I can say is WOW! Wish I could meet you, your heart and motivation says it all!
What about the fact she changed her billet in active duty. (fun fact Mechanics, never really left the FOB)
Load More Replies... 
SHE HAS BEEN KICKED OUT OF TANZANIA BECAUSE THEIR ACTIONS WERE DETRIMENTAL TO THE REAL WORK OF CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS!! http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/05/07/reports-nonprofit-vetpaw-kicked-out-of-tanzania/70963970/
Four years in the Army does not make you an expert in anything. What it means is she failed to reenlist because she couldn't hake it.
Legend! Please let her come and help us here in South Africa. Poachers are annihilating our rhino population.
Beautiful Badass and My Hero.You Go Girl you make it Seem Easy.God Bless and Keep you Safe.
Good for you and vetpaws, vets making a difference and good use of skills! Best wishes and drive on!
It's just to bad that she doesn't get to kill those a*****e poachers
Can we be friends on facebook? kkkkkkkk seriously I would love to meet a true lion
Makes me want to go hunting in Africa but legally so she doesn't have to kick my a*s lol
vetpaw are real heros. Served with honor... now using skills to make sure the defenseless have a voice... and thank you to the rangers too!
VETPAW and Kinessa, good luck with your efforts. It's a pity you aren't poacher hunting though. It's time to make them extinct!
Agree with Makenziesheriff...let's show our daughters, that this kind of " might is right"!
Huge respect, +she is pretty. Women like her should be put as an example for our daughters, not anorexic, creepy skeletons called "models"
She looks like she's in a right place in her life. Good job. Good luck!
This lady is a example to us all and we should show suport for her and the work shes doing .
I think she is awesome, please let us know if u need donations. Thank you for your service.we r all in ur debt....
They should make a TV show about her and what she does. It would bring in viewers and bring more light to the situation.
If they were so nice they would raise 'em themselves and only harvest enough to get some horn/tusks and let them live to procreate!
up! Wtf, so keep on detaining 'em, and training the park rangers to maintain with out maybe killing the poachers, although they deserve it
I fear we have already reached the tipping point of no return on this extinct business, maybe she's too late... Who knows but we can't give
So all you vets out there that are horrified, ya need to read more. If she and her co workers don't do this they'll go extinct.
As you can see here they're pros and only want to detain them etc. That means among other stuff retrain them to make $ other ways etc.!
People actually think these poachers r getting $ the only way possible and that she + her colleagues are actually killing them, NOT SO!!!!!!
It's amazing how ignorant these well meaning people are, well written and thoughtful stuff but these chicks rule!
I am almost all talked out about this lovely miss, there was a huge mile long thread of all these people arguing for and against her.
she can get shot if poachers feel threatend if guns are facing them
think the poachers can shoot a ranger if they feel threatened with their guns facing them
She is awesome thank you so much for making a hopeless cause hopeful ! Plus love your tats bad a*s !
Girl crush! A heroine in many ways. She is a strong female role model.
Omg I'm so happy people like this exist! She's really inspirational. Am absolutely amazed!
I'm glad she explained that her purpose is not to hunt the poachers down and shoot them because they are shooting the animals.
nice posters but any person can be made to look like that. it is all show for the masses. not impressed
One of the few (if not ONLY) useful things the US army has been doing for this planet!
uh, excuse me, but HELLLLYEAAAAHHHHHOORAAHHHH!!! you go, girl, and you are absolutely GORGEOUS on top of all that POWER!!
if shes willing to train me i would be more than happy to help!!! good on her!!! & thankyou for protecting the animals!!
I find this all to be real charming. I'm trying to make sense of it all, because she seems stolen valor as f**k. 4 years in active duty in Afghanistan.. But the Army were never really in Afghanistan it was USMC, AFF, RAF, DRAF that were there.. The army people normally stayed at base. Also how could you change your billet while in active duty..
I love her!! You are an inspiration and I support your efforts. Give those poachers something to think about!
Kinessa Johnson all I can say is WOW! Wish I could meet you, your heart and motivation says it all!
What about the fact she changed her billet in active duty. (fun fact Mechanics, never really left the FOB)
Load More Replies... SHE HAS BEEN KICKED OUT OF TANZANIA BECAUSE THEIR ACTIONS WERE DETRIMENTAL TO THE REAL WORK OF CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS!! http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/05/07/reports-nonprofit-vetpaw-kicked-out-of-tanzania/70963970/
Four years in the Army does not make you an expert in anything. What it means is she failed to reenlist because she couldn't hake it.
Legend! Please let her come and help us here in South Africa. Poachers are annihilating our rhino population.
Beautiful Badass and My Hero.You Go Girl you make it Seem Easy.God Bless and Keep you Safe.
Good for you and vetpaws, vets making a difference and good use of skills! Best wishes and drive on!
It's just to bad that she doesn't get to kill those a*****e poachers
Can we be friends on facebook? kkkkkkkk seriously I would love to meet a true lion
Makes me want to go hunting in Africa but legally so she doesn't have to kick my a*s lol
vetpaw are real heros. Served with honor... now using skills to make sure the defenseless have a voice... and thank you to the rangers too!
VETPAW and Kinessa, good luck with your efforts. It's a pity you aren't poacher hunting though. It's time to make them extinct!
Agree with Makenziesheriff...let's show our daughters, that this kind of " might is right"!
Huge respect, +she is pretty. Women like her should be put as an example for our daughters, not anorexic, creepy skeletons called "models"
She looks like she's in a right place in her life. Good job. Good luck!
This lady is a example to us all and we should show suport for her and the work shes doing .
I think she is awesome, please let us know if u need donations. Thank you for your service.we r all in ur debt....
They should make a TV show about her and what she does. It would bring in viewers and bring more light to the situation.
If they were so nice they would raise 'em themselves and only harvest enough to get some horn/tusks and let them live to procreate!
up! Wtf, so keep on detaining 'em, and training the park rangers to maintain with out maybe killing the poachers, although they deserve it
I fear we have already reached the tipping point of no return on this extinct business, maybe she's too late... Who knows but we can't give
So all you vets out there that are horrified, ya need to read more. If she and her co workers don't do this they'll go extinct.
As you can see here they're pros and only want to detain them etc. That means among other stuff retrain them to make $ other ways etc.!
People actually think these poachers r getting $ the only way possible and that she + her colleagues are actually killing them, NOT SO!!!!!!
It's amazing how ignorant these well meaning people are, well written and thoughtful stuff but these chicks rule!
I am almost all talked out about this lovely miss, there was a huge mile long thread of all these people arguing for and against her.
she can get shot if poachers feel threatend if guns are facing them
think the poachers can shoot a ranger if they feel threatened with their guns facing them
She is awesome thank you so much for making a hopeless cause hopeful ! Plus love your tats bad a*s !
Girl crush! A heroine in many ways. She is a strong female role model.
Omg I'm so happy people like this exist! She's really inspirational. Am absolutely amazed!
I'm glad she explained that her purpose is not to hunt the poachers down and shoot them because they are shooting the animals.
nice posters but any person can be made to look like that. it is all show for the masses. not impressed
One of the few (if not ONLY) useful things the US army has been doing for this planet!
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