72nd Handlers, MWDs complete missions in Iraq

Photo By Lt. Col. Deanna Bague | Air Force Master Sgt. Rick Reidel a team instructor with the 341st Training Squadron, teaches basic obedience to a group of military working dog handlers at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.  

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TX, UNITED STATES

01.12.2010

Story by Maj. Deanna Bague 

Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — Military working dog handlers from the 72nd Military Police Detachment recently returned from Iraq after a 12-month deployment and a successful completion of several missions that mitigate the risk of casualties.

"As a bomb dog handler, we would go out on missions with the different infantry units," said Staff Sgt. Brian Moreno of the 72nd MP Det. "Depending on what the mission was — if they were doing a checkpoint , a traffic control point, searching for somebody — we would help. We would also search the vehicles before the Soldiers would get in to ensure that there was no improvised explosive device."

This was Moreno's first time deploying with an MWD. Moreno was assigned the dog, Andy, a year prior to the deployment. Once he deployed, Moreno said it took some adjustment at first, but as time progressed he managed the dog more effectively to carry out the missions.

"I couldn't wrap my mind around it at first," said Moreno. "[I thought,] 'How am I going to have this dog with me through the whole entire year down there — is he going to have his own room, how am I going to shower with him?'"

Getting him ready to ride in vehicles and helicopters, and preparing him for the sound of gunfire was also something Moreno managed.

"We took incoming gunfire where he didn't want to get down into the prone position and hide. He wanted to bark at whoever was firing at us so I had to grab him by the collar and pull him down and basically bear hug him," said Moreno

Moreno said speaking with other handlers helped him develop methods that proved successful during his deployment with Andy.

Handlers and dogs undergo rigorous training to ensure the canines reach the level of proficiency required to perform missions that range from patrolling to seeking out improvised explosive devices, said Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Passov, an instructor/supervisor for the military working dog handler course with the 341st Training Squadron.

Handlers are not immediately given a dog, said Passov. They use buckets to simulate the dog initially when teaching basic obedience. About day four is when handlers receive their dogs.

"We can't just give them a military working dog and say,' Here, go work,' so we start off on the buckets and then we move up to dogs," said Passov.

In addition to basic obedience, the dogs are trained on controlled aggression, building search, scouting and detection, said Passov.

Sgt. Jason Spalding, a dog handler from the 72nd MP Det., is currently undergoing dog handler training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He said watching how dogs supported law and order and health and welfare missions downrange encouraged him to become a handler.

"All the stuff we do here is the basic foundation for everything we do," said Spalding. "You're going to pick up tricks of the trade once you go back to your actual kennels and learn how to do things a little bit different — or a newer way or better way, so to speak."

Passov said he hopes the general public understands the value the MWD provides service members.

"The military working dog is probably one of the greatest assets we have on ground in theater," said Passov. "Their capability is equivalent to 15 servicemembers — they help save lives."

• Date Taken: 01.12.2010
• Date Posted: 02.01.2010 19:32
• Story ID: 44756
• Location: LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TX, US