Photo By Staff Sgt. Cynthia Vega | U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Military...... read more read more
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AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar—For some, having a canine companion is like having a tail-wagging best friend. For the U.S. Air Force military working dog handlers with the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, it means having another wingman whom they honor like their human counterparts.
Personnel at Al Udeid AB did just that, commemorating fallen military working dogs and military working dog handlers with a remembrance ceremony followed by a three-mile ruck march April 20.
“Not everyone realizes that the dogs we train are not our pets; they are government assets just like us as Airmen, and because they are government assets they are exposed to the same dangers we are, if not more,” said Senior Airman Noah Medor, a dog handler with the 379th ESFS. “The dogs may be our wingmen, but they are different than a normal wingman.”
Medor explained that as a dog handler he is always building a bond between him and his canine partner, just like the relationships he strengthens with his coworkers and fellow Airmen, except his canine wingman has heightened senses.
“Emotions travel down leash is a common saying in the military working dog community; my dog knows when I come in to work angry or frustrated and in turn it shows in his training,” added Medor. “We feed off of each other’s energy, so it is important that I keep a steady attitude; I wouldn’t want my dog’s behavior to reflect poorly upon my training.”
Staff Sgt. Steven Watkins, also a military working dog handler, explained that one of the challenges with this is they are operating 24/7.
“We work long shifts, and when we are not working we are training, and when we are not training we are checking up on our dogs,” said Watkins. “We don’t just come in to work and play with dogs; we make a difference in the lives of our fellow service members.”
Military working dogs are an integral part of the U.S. Air Force. The result of a lack of obedience or bad training could be a matter of life and death.
“The dogs are here to find explosives and act as a psychological deterrent,” said Watkins. “I have personally seen the result of good training save a member’s life from an explosive.”
Medor added they take a lot of pride in their work and wanted to share the opportunity to honor the fallen military working dogs and handlers with the rest of the personnel currently at Al Udeid AB.
The base-wide event was considered a success with over 65 members who participated.
“Rucking is a great way to commemorate those who have given everything to their military service,” said Tech. Sgt. Jacop Parker, the 379th ESFS kennel master. “It was challenging for both the handler wearing a 60-pound ruck sack and the dog running alongside their handler.”
“All in all it is always a good day when you have your dog with you,” said Watkins.
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2017 07:15 |
| Story ID: | 231110 |
| Location: | AL UDEID AIR BASE, QA |
| Hometown: | BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US |
| Hometown: | EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL, US |
| Hometown: | MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, ID, US |
| Hometown: | PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, FL, US |
| Hometown: | PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, CO, US |
| Hometown: | VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 178 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Emotions travel down leash; Honoring fallen MWDs and their handlers, by SSgt Cynthia Vega, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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