Working dog teams readying for combat

Photo By Cpl. J Nava | Cpl. Gary Rowan a combat tracking dog handler at Military Police Support Company, 3rd Marine Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, picks up his dog Cherry to traverse an obstacle on Camp Hansen Aug. 11. MP Support Company's dogs and handlers are preparing to stand-up III MEFs first deployable K-9 units.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.20.2010

Story by Pfc. J Nava 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

In 1942 the U.S. military first began extensively using canines in war-time operations.

Today, military working dogs are accompanying Marines on patrol in Afghanistan to help identify hidden explosives as well as assisting military policemen in their duties.
A few good men and a few good dogs are training together on Okinawa to make up III Marine Expeditionary Force's first deployable dog teams.

The Marines and dogs at Military Police Support Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, are working on putting together 60 K-9 teams to support combat operations in Afghanistan.

"The main reason we're standing up our dog teams is so that we can relieve I MEF and II MEF when it's our turn to push out," said Cpl. Gary Rowan a combat tracking dog handler at MP Support Co. "We're trying to maintain the two to one deployment ratio."

While many Marines have seen or dealt with the dogs at the local Provost Marshal's Office, these dogs serve a much different purpose.

"PMO's dogs are for aiding in law enforcement activities in garrison," said Gunnery Sgt. Michael Ray, operations chief at MP Support Co. "Our dogs and their handlers are trained on a variety of different elements specific to combat operations."

Rowan says the dogs and their handlers are a vital part of supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.

"We need to have these assets in combat to get the bombs that are killing our Marines and to find the guys who are putting the bombs there," Rowan said.

When all 60 teams are stood up, they will include combat tracker teams, specialized search teams, explosives detector teams and drug detector teams.

Each dog team requires specialized training in accordance with their specific purpose. Combat tracker teams can track enemies or friendly forces during combat operations. Explosives detector teams train to find roadside bombs. Specialized search dogs can be separated from their handler and given commands via radio.

"We push past our set training standards as much as possible," Rowan said. "You'll see my dog and I tracking everywhere from the woods to the post exchange parking lot."

Not only can dogs provide support for combat operations but they also serve as a morale booster for Marines around them.

"Mostly everyone grew up with a dog or pet of sorts," Rowan said. "Having dogs around brings back a piece of home for the Marines."

Armed with their keen senses and powerful mandibles, III MEF dogs and their handlers are anxious to get boots and paws on the ground in Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2010
• Date Posted: 08.20.2010 00:53
• Story ID: 54877
• Location: OKINAWA, JP