Photo By Jerry Saslav | Staff Sgt. David Schultz, 66th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog handler,...... read more read more
Members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron gathered here this week on a small arms range to conduct live fire training with their military working dog counterparts.
For the military working dog handlers, the mission was simple: Work as a team while they deploy two weapon systems. One Airman to fire their weapon, the other to assist as the working dog -- the other weapon system -- is nearby.
“Part of their [military working dog] requirement is to do gunfire training,” said Staff Sgt. Victor Portes-Garcia, 66 SFS MWD kennel master. “It’s to acclimate the dogs … to be around the sound and ensure that they can still work proficiently.”
Exposure to gunfire is part of a military working dog’s training before it enters service. However, as Portes-Garcia points out, it’s a perishable skill.
“Dogs have sensitive hearing and loud noise can cause them to react differently. The last thing you need is to have your dog aggress on you when you’re trying to fight the enemy,” he said. “There are so many things you have to worry about when the pressure’s on and you don’t want to worry about how your partner’s reacting.”
Portes-Garcia notes that those distractions can affect the mission.
Another aspect of the training was reinforcing the bond between handler and dog.
“You never know when you’re going to get that call and you’re going to have to use your gun,” said Staff Sgt. David Schultz, a 66 SFS MWD handler. “We want to build the dog’s confidence, this training builds my confidence -- builds our confidence as a team.”
The training at Fort Devens began with handlers firing pistols without the working dogs next to them. This allowed the handlers to familiarize themselves with the range. Then the dogs were introduced.
Handlers approached the firing line with their weapon secured and their dog attached to their body armor by leash. Before each Airman fired their weapon, they would issue a command, such as “sit” or “stay,” to their working dog. The second Airman, stationed behind the dog, would have a second leash on the animal. This allowed them to restrain the dog if needed.
If the dog performed as commanded, they were rewarded.
“In that pack mentality that dogs have, if you’re [the Alpha dog], they’re going to be working for you,” said Portes-Garcia. “The dog just wants your approval. Overall it went well; the dogs reacted better than what I thought they would do."
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Marquart, 66 SFS Combat Arms NCO in charge, said the training was beneficial.
This training wasn’t just for the dog to get used to live fire, it’s also for the handler to get used to what the dog’s going to do,” he said. “We have the luxury to come out here to Fort Devens and be able to do this kind of training.”
Something Marquart says they plan to do more often to stay proficient.
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2016 11:52 |
| Story ID: | 217997 |
| Location: | HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 96 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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