Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Erickson | Staff Sgt. William McKay, 91st Military Police Detachment, Fort Polk, La., carries his...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas - Every year, military working dog handlers and their canine counterparts must go through a week-long U.S. Army Forces Command level recertification. This year the certification was held here at Fort Bliss.
Nine handlers and their dogs were present for the recertification. Three of them are stationed here at Bliss. The others came from Fort Campbell, Fort Bragg, Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Polk.
“I have been through seven certifications, this one is good training,” said Staff Sgt. William McKay, dog handler from the 91st Military Police Detachment, Fort Polk, La. “I think we did very well.”
The dogs also come from different angles of training as well. In the mix of the group there are three types of dogs being recertified. The drug dogs are known as Patrol Narcotics Detection Dogs. The bomb dogs are known as Patrol Explosives Detection Dogs.
Joining them were also two Special Search Dogs, which also search for explosive devices. The difference is they are usually trained to detect off leash to allow them to get further in front of their handler to detect improvised explosives devices.
During the week-long recertification the duos are put to the test every day ranging from road searches to bite drills.
“The process is to see if the handler can control his dog by working as a team,” said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Bostwick, stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y. , a certification official for U.S. Army Forces Command. “The handler has to know how to use his dog.”
The certification started with searching through barracks. Handlers had to show the officials that their dog is great at what they do by finding displaced civilians in the rooms.
Continuing the recertification, the pairs had to conduct a road search, but before they could start, the handlers had to complete a one-mile road march with their dog. They also had to answer questions from a veterinarian about their dog’s anatomy.
If they answered wrong the official simulated the dog’s death and the handler had to go back to the beginning and try again.
The next part, the dogs had to search for their scent inside a blacked out theater. The minimal light available was the lighting of the backstage area. The only light source available to aid in searching was a flashlight or a head light on the handler’s head.
“Using minimal light is key to allow the dogs to use their night vision skills in detecting the scent,” said Bostwick.
To finish off the certification the handlers had to show their command over the dogs in the bite drills. This drill is where the dog shows his ability to take down an assailant. With just one word the dogs have to respond and make the right decision, either make the take down or ease off the attack.
Every one of the handlers and canines that went through the recertification process received a passing score.
According to Staff Sgt. Matthew Hoctel, the kennel master for 72nd Military Police Detachment, Fort Bliss is used for the desert-like conditions similar to deployed conditions. The next certification planned by FORSCOM is in the July here at Fort Bliss.
“This is the best job you could ask for as a Military Police Officer,” said Spc. Augusto Gonzalez, dog handler with the 72nd Military Police Detachment. “Its great cause you get paid to play with dogs.”
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.29.2012 17:38 |
| Story ID: | 84520 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Bliss hosts FORSCOM military working dog recertification, by SFC Brian Erickson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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