Photo By Karen Abeyasekere | Military working dog Desant eats his retirement "cake" after his retirement ceremony...... read more read more
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RAF MILDENHALL, United Kingdom — Military Working Dog Desant, badge number F571, hung up his leash, Feb. 24, as he retired after eight years of service to the U.S. Air Force.
At a retirement ceremony held at the 100th Security Forces Squadron MWD section, Desant lay placidly at his former handler’s feet as poems were read and he was presented certificates, including one of appreciation, signed by President Barack Obama.
Almost 50 people attended the ceremony to honor the military working dog, and watched as he swapped his official collar and leash for a bright blue “civilian” one.
During his career, spent at RAF Mildenhall, Desant, 10, has amassed 9,000 working hours – 2,500 of which were explosive detection. He’s worked with seven handlers, and throughout his career has been described as very loyal and obedient – though at the same time, not afraid to bite.
When he arrived at RAF Mildenhall in August 2004, the German Shepherd was “red tagged” – marked to show he was aggressive, according to Debbie Black, 100th Security Forces Squadron kennel attendant, from Chippenham, near Newmarket, who has been part of the MWD section for 11 years.
“He’s quite a loving dog once he knows you – he loves fuss and attention,” said Black. “But touch him in the wrong place, and he’ll [bite] you!
“His handlers had to be confident with him otherwise he would take advantage of them,” she said. “Desant loves to play. He loves chasing a ball and rough-housing; he’ll also nip at your boots and shirt to get you to play with him. When he has a ball, in the training area, he’ll often take it away, dig a hole and bury it – it’s very funny to see him scooping the dirt with his nose, covering up the ball!”
Although he didn’t have the opportunity to deploy, Desant honorably served his country and the U.S. Air Force by conducting 10 Secret Service missions in support of former presidents, vice-presidents and a first lady, in Northern Ireland, Romania, and all over the United Kingdom.
Military working dogs are a major asset to the base, said Staff Sgt. Samuel Giordano, 100th SFS Military Working Dog section, from Mt. Sinai, N.Y.
Giordano was Desant’s last handler.
“They’re a force multiplier; they give more power than just people alone,” he said, using the example that if two security forces members were facing a threatening crowd of people, having an MWD with them would be more likely to make the crowd back off.
“The dogs are a huge psychological deterrent; people are often scared of them, and we use them for our own protection as well as force and resource protection,” he said. “We also use them to help clear unsecure buildings – they can smell and track to see if anyone is inside that shouldn’t be.”
That’s in addition to countless other duties, including supporting the local community by performing demonstrations at local events, and helping out the local and Ministry of Defence Police when required.
Due to medical issues suffered throughout his life – he has herniated discs in his spine, along with several other problems – Desant stopped working about one year ago.
“He’s an old man now, and finds it harder to move about properly and do what he needs to do,” Black said.
“But Desant is a dog with a lot of character – he’s really affectionate and goofy,” she said, laughing. “He’s mellowed a lot since he’s no longer doing regimented training any more – he just wants to be loved – but he’ll still bite if given the chance! And he hates cameras and having his toenails clipped …
“He also still hates the vets,” said Black, explaining how Desant has always had a problem with them. “He has to have two muzzles on, is constantly growling at them, and tries to bite them whenever the opportunity occurs.”
Giordano said he has been a handler to eight dogs during his career.
“I’ve handled Belgian Malinois’ and other German Shepherds. He’s one of the best I’ve worked with – he does have a volatile temperament, and a ‘Don’t mess with me or I’ll eat you!’ demeanor. But he always loved to work and play, even when he was getting old.”
Other former handlers of Desant shared their memories of their one-time partner, telling why he will always have a place in their hearts:
Tech. Sgt. Joe Hayes, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
-Handler for MWD Desant, 2008 to 2009; hometown: Cookville, Tenn.
Once you’ve worked with a K-9 long enough, you know what he’s thinking. You know if he’s having a good or bad day, and vice versa. K-9s are just like children – they’re going to test the waters and see what they can get away with. But once you’ve established a rapport with them, the things you can do as a team are endless. Desant was a very loyal K-9. Once he trusted you, he’d give his life to protect yours.
He has his quirks though. He likes to bite your shoes; you can be standing there, and the next thing you know, he’s play-fighting with your shoes – it’s awesome!
I know how much Desant loved his job protecting the one that he loved the most ... his handler. When I worked with him, he was a true companion; but the greatest attribute that he had was loyalty. I’ll miss him greatly and [100th SFS] at RAF Mildenhall lost a great MWD today.
Staff Sgt. Ralph Conklin, 8th Security Forces Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Korea
- Handler for MWD Desant, 2007 to 2008, hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
On one of our presidential support missions to Bucharest, Romania [during the time of George W. Bush], Desant and I were tasked to clear a museum for Laura Bush, [the first lady at the time]. While we were waiting in the lobby of the hotel for her and her entourage to come downstairs, I noticed Desant giving me a funny look …
When I saw that look on his face, I realized he need to go “to the bathroom,” so I took him out the side entrance. But just as we got outside the door, he was already “going,” right in front of it! I tried to drag him to the side, but he just laid a line of poop all the way to the grass.
While he was still “going,” I was trying to warn people to watch their step as they came out of the hotel, but one Secret Service agent wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings – and stepped in the biggest pile of Desant’s poop! The agent was so mad that he started to raise his voice at me. I guess Desant didn’t like the way he was talking to us, so he started barking and growling back at him. Needless to say, the agent backed off immediately, and went into the hotel.
On one of our presidential support missions, I decided to let Desant sleep outside the kennel, since I’d let him on the previous missions, and he was well behaved. However, I woke up in the middle of the night to find Desant on my bed, sprawled out and practically pushing me off it.
Before I had a chance to tell him to get down, he’d pushed me right off the bed and onto the floor! I got back up and told him to get down, but he just growled at me – so I told him to move over, as I didn’t want him hogging all the bed. When I woke up the next morning, Desant’s head was on my chest and he was breathing his nasty breath all over me, and licking me in the face, telling me, “Wake up Ralph, it’s time to go to work!”
MWD Desant was always my favorite dog at the RAF Mildenhall kennels. Not because I was his handler for almost two years, but because [I think] he had the most personality of any of the dogs.
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2012 11:34 |
| Story ID: | 84389 |
| Location: | SFK, GB |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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