MWD demo bites

Photo By Staff Sgt. Tryphena Mayhugh | Senior Airman Taylor Medeiros, 86th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, is bitten by Kick, 86th SFS military working dog, as part of a demonstration at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 27, 2015. The demonstration was for Ramstein Intermediate School students and showed how a handler and their canine respond to various situations with a possible perpetrator.  

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RP, GERMANY

04.02.2015

Story by Airman 1st Class Tryphena Mayhugh 

86th Airlift Wing

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – The 86th Security Forces Squadron conducted a military working dog demonstration for students March 27, at the 435th Construction and Training Complex here.

The demonstration was one aspect of a field trip for Ramstein Intermediate School students and showed how a handler controls his MWD in various situations involving a possible perpetrator.

“We have the military working dogs come out to make it more fun for the children,” said Staff Sgt. Tania Darder, 435th Construction and Training Squadron engineer contingency instructor. “It’s something entertaining for the kids instead of just watching slides.”

Staff Sgt. Brett Christensen, 86th SFS handler, and his MWD Kick, demonstrated how they work together to de-escalate scenarios involving cooperative and uncooperative perpetrators.

“It’s a very exciting, fast-paced demonstration,” said Christensen. “The kids love it, and it’s exciting for them to watch.”

Senior Airman Taylor Medeiros, 86th SFS MWD handler, acted as the perpetrator and responded to being confronted by Christensen and Kick. They demonstrated how to react to a suspect who cooperates, one who tries to run away and one who runs away, but then stops to cooperate.

“My primary goal in this job is to keep Kick at his highest proficiency level possible to keep this base safe,” said Christensen.

He explained participation in events such as this not only brings joy to children, but also allows Kick to work in varying environments and adapt to situations that are unfamiliar to him.

“We patrol the base at night and don’t have a lot of interaction with children,” Christensen said. “Kick didn’t like being around kids, but after coming out for a few of these demonstrations, he has been doing much better. He takes the same notice of children now, who are usually louder and tend to make quick movements, as he would an adult.”

The benefits of the demonstration are not limited to sharpening a canine’s skills, but also help them and their handlers become closer.

“It makes the bond and the obedience stronger,” Christensen said. “Anything that improves work as a team is always welcome and appreciated. On my days, off I sometimes come in to walk and play with Kick to keep our relationship strong.”

The 86th SFS MWD handlers and dogs are strong teams that work to keep Ramstein safe. When each team spends time together, gives demonstrations of its abilities and continually sharpens its skills, that team is an example of how Airmen can go above and beyond to always be forward, ready, now.

• Date Taken: 04.02.2015
• Date Posted: 04.02.2015 09:16
• Story ID: 158922
• Location: RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RP, DE