Training for Indifference 'Dogs of War' and Medevac

Photo By 1st Sgt. Suzanne Ringle | Kuwait- U.S. Marine K-9 team, Sgt. Dustin Campbell and K-9 Uurzua, are inseparable during down time from a training session with medevac crew from Charlie Company 1-111th, Jacksonville, Florida, trains with U.S. Marine K-9 teams from 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California, to familiarize both K-9 and medevac crew on the unique requirements for rescues involving K-9, Dec. 03. (Photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Suzanne Ringle/Released)  

UNITED STATES

12.03.2016

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Suzanne Ringle 

77th Combat Aviation Brigade

On the tarmac of 77th Combat Aviation Brigade’s medevac team, Charlie Company, eight K-9 dog teams arrive to train for helicopter indifference. Training for indifference sounds anti productive unless the training subject is a dog and the need for indifference is with noisy flying objects, now it becomes a necessity. The ‘Dogs of War’ (as they are referred to at the kennels) are between 3 and 8 years old and all seem excited as the two military groups intermingle to shake hands and pet a few of the exuberant students. The U.S. Marine K-9 teams handle security for the base in Kuwait. The K-9 team’s typical missions include Counter Improvised Explosive Device work, convoy security and VIP security.

Military K-9 teams, dog and handler, face dangerous situations that could require the need for a medevac; likewise, medevac crews need to be familiar with getting and having a K-9 on board. U.S. Marine Sgt. Dustin Campbell a handler for the 3-year old Belgian Malinois named Uurzua explains, “Today's training was a great opportunity to help continue our dogs’ indifference training toward helicopters. Dogs senses are extremely sensitive so keeping them used to the sounds and feeling of boarding, working around and riding in the aircraft is vital to a majority of missions,” he said. Campbell also mentioned that all of the dogs receiving the training are explosive finders and only a few train to handle human suspects as well.

While the training increased the dogs’ level of indifference to the noise, wind and feeling during flight, it gave the helicopter crew chief and medic on board additional real world experience for getting a dog on a litter and securely inside the aircraft. The main difference between human patients and K-9 is the disbursement of weight. Charlie company medic, Staff Sgt. Shonnah Adams, Tampa, Florida, says, “The biggest difference first off is how uneven the weight is on the litter, but after that we have to know K-9 anatomy and be able to take vitals and perform an IV if needed. I have had to handle this situation before on another deployment in Afghanistan,” she said. Adams instructed the different handlers on the proper way to secure the dogs on the litter and carry, as a team, to the crew chief assisting with loading the dogs inside the helicopter. Each dog team went through two cycles called hot and cold loads, when the aircraft has engines running and not.

The training made sense to Army Capt. Michael Echevarria, Atlanta, Georgia, a Platoon Leader and Training Officer with Charlie Company, “It made sense to provide this experience to the medics and crew chiefs that have not had to work with K-9 before, several, like Staff Sgt. Adams have had experience and is now able to pass it along,” he said. The Charlie Company detachment deployed to Kuwait runs all medevac missions in the area, with a crew on call 24-hours a day. When the crews are not on call they perform training for proficiency and expanded learning, such as the K-9 medevac training.

Each dog team took turns loading and unloading their K-9 counterpart and going for a short flight at an altitude of only 500 feet. The short trips provide enough flying time to give the dogs’ familiarization with the feelings of flight.

A unique fact about military K-9 is they carry the rank one above their handler and receive military honors when killed in action. There is an obvious solidarity between each individual team on the tarmac as they wait their turn through the constant interactions that reaffirms the bond. U.S. Marine Sgt. Campbell and K-9 Uurzua, during any down time, a part of the dog will be touching a part of the sergeant, like his paw on his boot. Campbell says, “It’s his way of knowing where I am and what I am about to do,” he said. The sergeant says he wants the opportunity to adopt Uurzua when his military time is over and take him home to Seattle, Washington, where he plans to continue this line of work, “most likely with a police department. I get paid to play with dogs all day, so how could I give that up,” said Campbell.


When military working dogs retire or are no longer able to meet the demands of their job, they have a chance for adoption. Adoption can occur only after the dog passes tests that prove they are still people friendly.
The K-9 dog teams spend months training together to build a solid bond and mutual respect; this includes rigorous exercises, command prompts and playtime.

• Date Taken: 12.03.2016
• Date Posted: 12.14.2016 09:15
• Story ID: 217642
• Location: US