German Shepherds sniff for trouble

Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Tyreese McAllister (left), Ori, Staff Sgt. Jake Bolton and Kevin, by Tech. Sgt. Paul Dean  

ALI BASE, IRAQ

10.22.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Tech. Sgt. Paul Dean
407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
09/30/2005

ALI BASE, Iraq --Ori had a couple of different handlers while his first one was off the job for a couple of years. But they're back together now and sniffing out trouble at one of the entry check points here.

Ori and his handler, Staff Sgt. Tyreese McAllister, 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, aren't the only K-9 team on base. On this day another team, Kevin [the dog] and Staff Sgt. Jake Bolton, also a 407th ESFS K-9 handler, were helping with the work. In addition, other K-9 teams were scattered around base checking off all kinds of security tasks.

Sergeant McAllister is deployed here from the 1st Security Forces Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va. Sergeant Bolton is deployed here from the 509th Security Forces Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The dogs came from the same place as their handlers.

The K-9 teams assigned to the 407th ESFS are integral to securing the base and helping facilitate the successful coalition missions that are undertaken here.

Using K-9 teams security forces is able to add an irreplaceable dimension of security to the base. The trained handlers guide their dogs expertly around dozens of vehicles each day as both use their senses to communicate to the other. The Airmen who handle the dogs rely on human training to lead the dogs to areas for inspection; the dogs use heightened and trained scent senses to complete the investigation and communicate any suspicions. The dialogue between handler and dog is unmistakable.

Sergeant Bolton has been with Kevin since May 2003 and has mixed feelings about his eventual return to duty at Whiteman.

"I should be sewing on (technical sergeant) when I get back. That means my K-9 duty will have to end," Sergeant Bolton said. Many security forces units transition K-9 handlers into positions with greater responsibility when they're promoted to E-6.

"But I've known people who"d rather pass up a promotion and stay with their dog," Sergeant McAllister said.

Sergeant Bolton doubts he would pass up promotion, in which case Kevin will go on to work with another handler.

"[The dogs] deal with the changes pretty well," Sergeant McAllister said. "After a couple of weeks with a new handler " learning how they sound out commands " things are fine."

Ori had a few handlers while Sergeant McAllister was incapacitated, but the getting to know you again phase went smoothly.

"He acted a little funny at first, but within a couple of weeks it was as if we were never apart," Sergeant McAllister said.

Regardless of any time apart, the two move around a vehicle as if each is reading the others" mind.

K-9 dogs go to technical school at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Training lasts eight to 12 weeks (depending on the dog) according to Sergeants McAllister and Bolton, and then they train with their handler for a couple of weeks before the team is ready to work.

"You really develop a bond over time," Sergeant Bolton said of his K-9 experience.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have the option of taking Kevin with him if he loses his K-9 billet.

"The dogs work until they're 10 or 12, or until they just decide "I don't want to work anymore,"" he said. The dogs transition to new handlers as Airmen move on or until they self-retire.

K-9 handlers have preference in the adoption process at the end of a dog's Air Force career.

So as the daily traffic flows onto Ali Base, Ori, Kevin and the other K-9s will keep doing their part to make sure missions can be undertaken successfully.

• Date Taken: 10.22.2005
• Date Posted: 10.22.2005 17:53
• Story ID: 3454
• Location: ALI BASE, IQ