Photo By Keith Hayes | Fredi, the now retired K-9 from Marine Corps Police Department, MCLB Barstow, plays...... read more read more
BARSTOW, Calif. - A former K-9 handler with the Marine Corps Police Department aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow has made two of her dreams come true by becoming a United States Marine Corps officer and adopting her former partner in to her family.
Former MCPD Officer Terri Piekosz had worked for four years alongside her German shepherd dog Fredi, as they patrolled MCLB Barstow, developing a strong emotional as well as working relationship with the 125-pound animal.
For much longer than that though, Piekosz has had a dream to join the Marine Corps, but said time and circumstance forced her right out of high school to put that idea on hold for a while so she could attend college on an athletic scholarship.
Even after going to work for the MCPD aboard MCLB Barstow in 2007, Piekosz did not give up on becoming a Marine officer. Her perseverance paid off Aug. 5, 2011, when she was told she was accepted to attend Officer Candidate School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
She graduated from OCS in mid-December and resigned her position with the MCPD Dec. 16, in order to be sworn in as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
“I’m looking at my (Military Occupational Specialty) as artillery, (intelligence) or military police,” Piekosz said.
“I’ll probably get an assignment in mid-May,” she explained. “I’m hoping to go to Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, her close working relationship with her dog Fredi prompted her to request, and be granted, the privilege of adopting the 9-year-old shepherd.
“Fredi is being retired from his job and is going to live with my family,” Piekosz said.
“He’s ready to live the life. He’s done. He’s a family dog now.”
| Date Taken: | 01.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2012 18:20 |
| Story ID: | 82644 |
| Location: | BARSTOW, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 334 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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