Salty Dogs On The Sea

ATLANTIC OCEAN

12.18.2016

Story by Chief Petty Officer Anastasia McCarroll 

USS Bataan (LHD 5)

As you walk down the ramp from the hangar bay of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), and go beyond the various types of armored reconnaissance vehicles you will find two small kennels. These kennels house Bella, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, a combat tracking dog, and Cezar II, a 3-year-old German Sheppard, a patrol explosive detection dog.

Having dogs aboard a U.S. naval vessel is not common, but each dog has a different mission set and are essential assets to the Bataan and the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU).

Cpl. Sunsette Winsler, of Poplar Grove, Ill., a combat tracking dog handler and Lance Cpl. James Nemger, of Phoenix, Ariz., an explosives devices detection dog handler, are assigned to the 24th MEU which is currently underway with Bataan completing Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit exercises.

Everyday Winsler and Bella are on stand-by during flight operations and when the MEU goes ashore on missions, they support air and ground troops by finding friendly or enemy personnel or weapons caches.
In the event a weapon cache or an IED are found, Winsler and Bella are able trace the person or persons who put the weapons in the ground. This is instrumental in intelligence gathering.

"Often times the enemy will fire off a few shots in the direction of our troops then leave the area," said Winsler. "We can then head to the area we believe the shots were fired from and begin tracking to find the enemy."

For Nemger, and his dog Cezar II, the two have been training on IEDs and other types of explosives detection.

"My dog is trained to detect explosives, and acts as a psychological deterrent that's able to purse, bite and hold on command," said Nemger.
Cezar and Nemger clear routes for explosives, and perform vehicle and building searches.

To do a vehicle search Nemger sends Cezar to systematically smell out the vehicle for explosives, while keeping a safe distance between the vehicle and the rest of the platoon.

"Cezar can pick up on scents that humans can't," said Nemger.
When conducting a building search, Cezar first sniffs the door and then they explore the building room by room, adding an extra layer of protection for their colleagues.

Cezar and his handler are aboard Bataan to continue explosive detecting and bite training, as well as adjust the Cezar to the shipboard environment for Bataan's upcoming deployment.

Some situations call for the use of non-lethal force when our troops are on the ground. Cezar's biting abilities can be utilized when dangerous adversaries refuse to comply with orders. He can also be used for area defense because he is able to provide early warning for the presence of unauthorized personnel by scouting through sight, sound and scent even while behind enemy lines.

Due to the mission sets of Bella and Cezar the noisy shipboard operations, both Winsler and Nemger have special protective equipment issued to their dogs to ensure their safety such as earmuffs, ointment to protect their paws from the non-skid deck.

“The reason I go to such great lengths to keep my dog safe is because without my dog I wouldn’t be here,” said Winsler, “So I’ll go to any length to keep her happy and healthy so we can save lives.”

The handlers' commitment to their dogs does not end with protective gear it can be seen in their daily care. Winsler is with Bella for the majority of the day and night. When it’s time to go to bed the pair is still found together, with Bella sleeping on Winsler’s feet.

“It’s easier to sleep with her than have someone come down every hour and check on her, plus I sleep with her in the field anyway so I might as well sleep with her here too,” said Winsler.

While they’re on the ship Winsler and Bella, and Nemger and Cezar II are happy pairs to see, and they can’t go far from the kennel without a Sailor or Marine coming up to them to ask if they can pet Bella or Cezar, which instantly boosts the service members morale, after the meet and greet the service member walks away with smiles on their faces.

• Date Taken: 12.18.2016
• Date Posted: 12.18.2016 10:36
• Story ID: 218069
• Location: ATLANTIC OCEAN