Photo By 2nd Lt. Jorge Intriago | U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Meyer, a military dog handler with the 17th Military Police...... read more read more
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EASTOVER, S.C. - Among the large crowd, who anxiously waited for the ceremony to begin, sat Segal, a military working dog. Excitement was in the air as he, along with the others in attendance, would soon be reunited with his Soldier after being apart for more than three weeks.
On April 24 at the McCrady Training Center on Fort Jackson, 130 Soldiers graduated from the Noncommissioned Officers Academy class 007-15 Warrior Leadership Course. WLC, formerly called Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), is the first resident course noncommissioned officers attend. It is designed to teach the basic skills to lead small groups of Soldiers and focuses on leadership.
One of the graduates was U.S. Army Spec. Brandon Meyer, a military dog handler with the 17th Military Police Detachment at Fort Jackson. Members of his unit brought Segal to the ceremony to see his handler graduate.
“A military dog handler and his working dog have a bond,” said Capt. Jeremiah Hunt, commander of the 17th Military Police Detachment. “Our team played with Segal and kept him busy while Meyer was at training, but Segal has been with Meyer for years and he missed him.”
Family and friends cheered as the class was introduced. Although the highlight of the graduation was the presentation of awards and graduation certificates, the loudest applause was after the class recited the “Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.”
The WLC at McCrady is under the 218th Regiment Leadership, 3rd Battalion, NCO Academy, with instructors and training under the command of the South Carolina Army National Guard.
When the class was dismissed, the friendships formed among the class was evident as groups broke out for final cell phone photos with smiles, hugs and high-fives. Family and supporters, along with Segal, looked about the crowd, hoping to spot their Soldier among the mass of uniforms. Standing with Segal towards the back of the crowd was Meyer’s wife Ashley and their young son Aiden.
“We are happy to be together again as a family,” said Meyer. “We know how much Segal missed Brandon too.”
As Meyer hugged his wife and held his son, Segal sat with bright eyes and let out a few whimpers of excitement as his tail wagged, making loud thumps on the ground. When Meyer bent down to pet him on the head, Segal jumped up to get as close to his handler as possible.
“Segal is acting like a puppy now, and he is 7-years-old,” said Hunt. “I know they will be happy to get back to their routine of training and work.”
As the groups dissipated and Soldiers began filing out to return home, Segal proudly walked alongside Meyer. All of the WLC graduates, who had united from the active, reserves and National Guard components of the Army, would be reporting back to their stations, some as far away as Arizona. The rigorous course for class 007-15 was complete.
“WLC is a multi-component course that generates a group of Soldiers who will make positive impacts as leaders,” said Col. Ronnie Finley, commander of the 218th Regiment Leadership, South Carolina Army National Guard. “We teach the latest doctrine for these NCOs and future NCOs so they can take it back to their units and make the U.S. Army a better organization.”
| Date Taken: | 04.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2015 23:10 |
| Story ID: | 162125 |
| Location: | EASTOVER, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 363 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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