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SOUTHERN IRAQ -- Doran, a 4-year-old explosive patrol dog, searches the back of a civilian vehicle at a remote location as his handler, Staff Sgt. Gregory Long, directs him to potential hiding spots. They are assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Ali Base. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo) 
Military working dogs: More than man’s best friend 7/12/2005 - ALI BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Dogs are known as man’s best friend, but to Airmen and Soldiers here, military working dogs are considered a four-legged partner in the war against terrorism. Security forces Airmen and Soldiers, along with their military working dogs, have partnered together to provide force protection on this sprawling air base that is home to thousands of coalition servicemembers and civilians. In the eyes of the Air Force, the dogs are considered valuable property, like an F-16 Fighting Falcon, said Tech. Sgt. Terri Frye, 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron’s kennel master who is deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla. But to her and many of the handlers she works with, their dogs are much more than that. Although the handlers understand that the dogs are Air Force property, they cannot help but become attached to their dogs after years of working with them side by side, she said. “Your dog is your best friend,” Sergeant Frye said. “And you will always remember the dogs that you have worked with.” Staff Sgt. Gregory Long, a dog handler here deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, said he has always been around dogs, having grown up on a cattle farm. Part of the job for Sergeant Long and his 4-year-old German shepherd explosive patrol dog, Doran, is to search vehicles that come onto base. 
Although some searches net contraband, Sergeant Long said their mere presence also provides a deterrent to bad guys, especially when they see Doran’s sharp fangs. He compared Doran’s teeth to 42 bullets that can exert 350 to 400 pounds of pressure per square inch in a bite -- enough to break a man’s arm. Nevertheless, the two share a close bond.“Doran is my partner,” Sergeant Long said. “He looks out for me, and I look out for him, and he is a partner that I would trust my life to.” Here, Sergeant Long has also struck up a partnership with his Army counterparts. Army Staff Sgt. James Demaree said he thinks it is a good idea to have joint patrols with the Air Force not only because they foster a good working relationship, but also, and more importantly, because the job they perform benefits everyone here. “The Air Force security forces and their dogs provide a service that helps us ensure that we can have a better level of force protection for our Soldiers and Airmen based here,” Sergeant Demaree said. The natural instincts a dog possesses contribute tremendously to their arsenal for deterring attacks, Sergeant Demaree said. 
“The dog is definitely an important asset,” he said. “He has keen senses like his smell and hearing that are well beyond ours and that definitely make him a combat multiplier.” (Story re-printed courtesy of AFNEWS - Air Force Print News http://www.af.mil/news/ ) |
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TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq -- Senior
Airman
Eric Stafford and his partner, Tino, patrol a bombed out building near
the
perimeter of the base. Tino is trained to detect explosives and is
credited
with stopping two men who breached the perimeter of the base. Stafford
is
a military working dog handler here. He and Tino are assigned to Moody
Air
Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham) 
Military dogs help defend Iraq 11/28/2003
- - TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) - Hiding
behind mounds of dirt or anything else his handler could find, Tino sat
and waited for an intruder to breach the base’s fence on his random
listening and observation post. “You could hear them stop breathing (when they saw Tino),” said Senior Airman Eric Stafford, a military working dog handler here from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. “They knew it was over.” The two men threw their hands in the air -- their foray onto the base was over. Stafford called for backup, and the two were hauled away. Mission complete. In today’s Air Force, it takes a special breed of airman and dog -- German shepherd, Dutch shepherd or Belgian malinois -- to secure the perimeter of a military installation, and it is no different here. To help security forces airmen cope with the hazards of the job, they team with military working dogs to thwart potential aggressors and keep base airmen safe to do their jobs. Stafford and Tino are just one example of that teamwork. All of the Department of Defense’s military working dogs are trained at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Once trained, dogs are shipped to units and paired with a trained handler. The two work together at home station and temporary duty locations, as is the case with Tino and Stafford. They will separate only when the airman permanently changes duty stations. Tino is not just a security dog, he is also trained to smell explosives or explosive-making materials. The dog and Stafford are one set of an undisclosed number of dogs and handlers here, keeping intruders and terrorist bombs out, officials said. While both tasks are important, so is keeping military working dogs healthy. That job falls to a trained Army veterinarian technician who monitors the dogs’ health on a weekly basis, looking for signs of disease or injury. To keep the dogs hydrated, they drink the doggie version of a human sports drink to replace lost electrolytes. They also have special equipment that works like an ice pack to help them stay cool when temperatures rise, officials said. Military working dogs are one line of defense in a multi-layered defensive plan. The dogs serve two roles: to detect and to deter, said Tech. Sgt. Michael Silvin, the kennel master here. Detection is manning a post, looking for bad guys, much like Tino and his handler. Deterrence comes in a couple of forms, like posting the dogs in areas visible to those entering and exiting the base and by word of mouth, such as the two intruders that Tino stopped in their tracks, he said. “The locals talk,” Silvin said. “They know we have them, and they’re scared to death of them.” (Story
re-printed
courtesy of AFNEWS - Air Force Print News http://www.af.mil/news/
) |
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 MEXICAN BORDER
-- Staff Sgt. Joseph Saputo and his military working dog, Nero, pose
with
more than 25 pounds of cocaine worth more than $375,000. The team found
the
drugs while on temporary duty supporting the U.S. Bureau of Customs and
Border
Protection here. They are assigned to the 21st Security Forces Squadron
at
Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
Dog team assists with drug bust 05/13/03 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) -- A 21st Space Wing military working dog team was key in a recent bust on the Mexican border that netted $375,000 worth of cocaine. Staff Sgt. Joseph Saputo and his dog, Nero, both from the 21st Security Forces Squadron, were on temporary duty supporting the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. "We were called to search a car," said Saputo. "Nero showed a big interest underneath both rear wheels, so we opened the trunk and let him search it. He immediately responded. Customs agents removed the back seat (where) they found a compartment with 25.83 pounds of cocaine." This was just one of the many hiding places Saputo and Nero saw during their three months on the border. "It was pretty crazy to see how many different ways people tried to hide drugs," said Saputo. "We saw drugs found in false floors, gas tanks, dash boards, door panels, roofs and even tires. Some people just toss it in the trunk." Some hiding places are more creative. "One of the hardest loads to discover was in a propane tank," said Saputo. "An X-ray of a vehicle carrying a propane tank only showed the side of the tank. A second X-ray showed a storage compartment, a dog alerted on it, and then it didn't sound right when it was tapped on. There were drugs inside." Drug traffickers have many schemes to get drugs over the border. One bust came in the form of painted vehicles. "One group of smugglers painted a couple (of) vehicles to look like U.S. Border Patrol vehicles," said Saputo. "They stuffed the vehicles full of drugs and tried to come through the border, but they got busted." All of the experiences served as an educational opportunity for the K-9 team. "It was a really good experience to work with customs agents and see how their dogs respond," said Saputo. "Customs dogs train with (a) large variety of odors, so they are exposed to a lot more things. We got to train with them once a week. It taught me . how to conduct more thorough searches." "Handlers definitely benefit from the real-world experience they get working with customs," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Vanwinkle, 21st SFS kennel master. "They get to experience an aspect of the job they won't see on an Air Force base." (Story re-printed courtesy of AFNEWS - Air Force Print News http://www.af.mil/news/ ) |
 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Senior Airman Donnie Wells watches as Kastor, a Belgian malinois, sniffs for any hazardous materials or explosives among cable rolls aboard a flatbed trailer. Wells and Kastor are currently assigned to the 363rd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at a forward-deployed location. They are deployed from the 99th Security Forces Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Darrell Lewis) K-9 partners operate on vigilance, trust
03/25/03 - OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN) -- At base gates, military working dogs and handlers are doing their part in the war with Iraq while guarding against the threat of terrorism. These threats mean there are more reasons than ever to suspect that America's enemies will target its most valuable resources with explosives or hazardous materials. Air Force K-9 teams are on guard to detect such attempts. "We ensure everything that comes on the installation is safe and doesn't jeopardize our people and our mission here," said Tech. Sgt. Chris Goll, the kennelmaster at a forward location. Goll is deployed from the 35th Security Forces Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Dogs and handlers deploy together, usually for 135 to 140 days. This predictable process was disrupted by the build-up and military action to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein's regime. All the while, memories of terrorist strikes against America on Sept. 11, 2001, remain. "The whole culture now after 9-11 in force protection is all about looking for stuff coming on the base," Goll said. Guarding against this danger has become a constant job. "We're the first ... line of defense. It's very important that our guys are vigilant and making sure that these dogs are working hard because sometimes they get tired. It's up to our handlers to keep them going. "A good handler -- and all of our handlers are good -- can motivate a dog to work past (its) threshold. There are so many ways to hide things in vehicles; a trained eye can only find so much. That's the biggest thing (the dogs) provide." The two primary breeds of working dogs used in the Air Force are German shepherds and Belgian malinois which are similar in appearance, Goll said. Handlers have to take precautions to keep the dogs working at peak performance in temperatures that can reach 120 degrees. The dogs work inside climate-controlled search areas whenever possible, Goll said. Patrols, however, may take them out in the heat of the day. "If it gets too hot we have cool vests that go on the dog," Goll said. Other (preventative) measures include swapping out a dog's work schedule from days to nights. "This will shorten our week so they get more time to rest. But there's some days you just have to (work) through it." The importance of the K-9's mission was not always apparent to those outside the law-enforcement community before 9-11, Goll said. "They knew we were there if they needed us. Now you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone -- the commanders, the senior enlisted leadership -- who aren't focused on the dog's mission." Military working-dog handlers are a special breed themselves, Goll said. "It is important that you like animals, because you're with these dogs a lot. It's a friendship that grows out of trust for each other. The dog has to come to trust you as well as you trust the dog. Once that happens you've got a real good team." Staff Sgt Sloan Kalina graduated from the Department of Defense military working-dog school at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in August after nine years in security forces investigations. Deployed from Kirtland AFB, N.M., he is teamed with Torro, a Belgian malinois. "It's a great responsibility protecting all these people and all these assets," Kalina said. "Planes don't fly if these people aren't safe." Kalina said Torro has alerted twice on suspicious scents. The first was on his third day on the job. Kalina said his training told him what to do next. "You just pull (the dog) out of there, get everybody out of the location and let (the explosive ordnance disposal airmen) come and do their job." Although nothing was found on either alert, Kalina said he would "rather not have something there than let something through that was." The staff sergeant said he trusts the dog with his own life every day that he sends him in after potentially deadly materials. "I've got all the faith in the world in him. He'll find it if it's there." (Story re-printed courtesy of AFNEWS - Air Force Print News http://www.af.mil/news/ ) |
 Staff Sgt. Rodney Dove recently adopted Barry after the military working dog retired from active military service. Dove is a dog handler assigned to the 90th Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. (Photo by Mark Crabtree) From biscuits to gravy 03/10/03 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (AFPN) -- Barry has retired from the 90th Space Wing Security Forces here after 11 years of battling crime. He was obedient, loyal, vigilant and protective. Barry was an ideal military working dog. The Air Force purchased Barry in 1991 for $3,500 from a Belgium breeder. He was one of only three Belgium Turvueren dogs actively deployed in the entire Air Force. The breed is distinguished by their long hair and charcoal color. After completing a physically demanding and mentally challenging K-9 training course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Barry was assigned to Warren -- his first and only duty station -- as an explosives detection dog. Throughout his career, Barry served in a variety of roles, including four deployments overseas supporting Operation Southern Watch. During his tour here, Barry searched thousands of vehicles and buildings, and he provided special protection to dignitaries like Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. He served with nine different handlers and earned a 98 percent proficiency rate in explosive detection. Until recently, retirement wasn't an option for military working dogs. Those dogs that could no longer perform their full duties in a field assignment were either sent back to Lackland to train new handlers or were offered to civilian law enforcement agencies. Now Barry and other dogs like him can be adopted after their military service, thanks to the Robby Bill, passed by Congress three years ago. Robby was the first military working dog to be formally adopted, opening the doors to hundreds of dogs following a successful military career. A dog's retirement from the military is similar to a person's -- some paperwork has to be done before they go. First, a veterinarian identifies the dog as physically unable to perform assigned duties. This usually occurs between the 10- to 12-year mark. At the end of a military working dog's career, the dog is worth an estimated $75,000 based on experience and training. As a valuable asset, the next step is to deem the dog "non-deployable or stateside deployment only." The dog's records are then sent to Lackland for a full medical review board. In Barry's case, the board concurred with the veterinarian's request to retire him. Next, the dog is offered to local law enforcement or prior Air Force handlers depending on how old the dog is and its aptitude for continued law enforcement service outside of the military. Then, an interview process is conducted to find suitable homes for the dogs to live out their remaining years. Staff Sgt. Rodney Dove, a base dog handler, was part of Barry's interview process. Dove's adoption application was approved after Barry was not claimed for local law enforcement duties. Dove's adoption approval was a popular one, not only with the handler, but also with squadron members. "This is the first retirement of a military working dog that I've witnessed in 12 years of active duty service," said Staff Sgt. Jack Waid of the 90th Security Forces Squadron commander's support staff. "It was great to see a handler adopt him." Upon retirement, the 90th SFS commander presented Barry with retirement orders and an unofficial but highly appropriate "Meritorious Service Medal." (Story re-printed courtesy of AFNEWS - Air Force Print News http://www.af.mil/news/ ) |
 Arkie inspects a truck at the vehicle search area at a forward-deployed location. The veteran military working dog with the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron K-9 patrol, Arkie works with Staff Sgt. Louis Smith. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Nancy Kuck) Four defenders work like dogs 02/04/03 - OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- Working like a dog. This simile relates to someone who works tirelessly throughout a busy day. For four exclusive members at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, "working like a dog" is more than a simile. It is their daily life. Arkie, Tasja, Athos and Dutchy are part of the military working dog team at a forward-deployed location. These fabulous four put forth all their effort to ensure base residents sleep safer at night, protecting them from any explosive that may enter the base. "The dogs go through extensive training before getting deployed here," said Staff Sgt. Damion Tineo, part of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron K-9 patrol who is teamed up with Tasja. "Dogs are getting deployed now more than ever before," he said. A three-month deployment is nothing new to these four dogs. Each of them has been in the area at least once before. Arkie, who is designated as the veteran of the group, is currently on his fourth desert deployment according to his partner, Staff Sgt. Louis Smith, 380 ESFS K-9 patrol. The only German shepherd here, Arkie is the oldest dog of the four. The military working dogs are treated in the same manner that their trainers are when arriving in theater. "When the dogs arrive here, they have to get adjusted to the new environment as we do," said Staff Sgt. Robert Odom, a handler with the 380th ESFS K-9 patrol who is teamed up with Dutchy. "They are just like people, (and) they get stressed out too," he said. Their days here include lengthy hours and rotating shifts at the vehicle search area. It is here where people can see these base members examine vehicles for any suspicious materials. "Their instincts are 10 times better than ours," said Tineo. "They are awesome with their senses." Training never stops for the dogs while they are here. On days when they are not at the vehicle search area, they are either training in various areas such as patrol and protection, resting or just being dogs. "We can't have them work all the time because it is not fair to them," said Odom. "We let them relax and make sure they are not always cooped up by coming in on our off days and letting them out to be dogs." Their scheduled training revolves around two days of patrol exercises and two days of protection exercises. Done in various buildings throughout the base and on the flightline, the dogs participate in exercises where they are required to complete certain tasks. After accomplishing the required tasks, they get rewards that range from praise to squeaky toys. Although these dogs appear approachable, these selective four are not family pets by any means and are not to be petted without permission by their trainers. "A lot of people do not realize that these dogs are trained to attack," said Staff Sgt. Patrick Smith, who is teamed up with Athos. "These dogs are meant to be petted by their handlers, and if strange people just come up and pet our dogs ... they may lose their edge, and we are not going to let that happen." Athos, Arkie, Dutchy and Tasja show base residents what it is really like to work like a dog. (Story re-printed courtesy of AFNEWS - Air Force Print News http://www.af.mil/news/ ) |
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| The
Mission of the DOD
Military Working Dog Center is to provide trained military working dogs
and
handlers for the Department of Defense, other government agencies and
allies
through training, logistical, veterinary support and research and
development
for security efforts worldwide
The Department of Defense is now making Military Working Dogs that are no longer capable of performing their military duties available for adoption. Public Law 106-446 makes the Department of Defense military working dogs available for adoption to law enforcement agencies, former handlers of these dogs, and other persons capable of caring for these dogs. |
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Copyright ©2002-2006 Military Working Dog Foundation, Inc. |
