Task Force Wraith Soldiers build capability and survivability with joint training

Courtesy Photo | CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – U.S. Marine military working dog, JoJo, takes a break during joint training held with Soldiers from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade’s Task Force Wraith on September 1 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. This interoperability training provided military working dogs and their handlers an opportunity to become more comfortable around aircraft and allowed Task Force Wraith medics an opportunity to learn how to care for military working dogs. (Courtesy photo)  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

09.01.2017

Courtesy Story

29th Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Soldiers from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade’s Task Force Wraith conducted joint tactical training with the U.S. Marines from Area Support Group – Kuwait’s Directorate of Emergency Services at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Sept. 1, 2017.

This event afforded 29th CAB Soldiers an opportunity to work with U.S. Marines and their nine military working dogs from the DES and improve capabilities within the two services.

“Any time you get to integrate other branches of service, in this case Marine K-9 handlers and U.S. Army aviators, it is a success,” said Sgt. Michael Reynolds, a flight medic with Task Force Wraith.

The intent of the training was to get the dogs comfortable around aircraft. In the unfortunate circumstance their handlers become injured, the handlers could be medically evacuated with their military working dogs.

“The medevac mission does not just entail American Soldiers; we also pick up coalition forces, wounded enemies and even working dogs,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Ward, an aeromedical evacuation pilot with Task Force Wraith.

The training not only allowed for the dogs to become comfortable around aircraft, but also gives medics from Task Force Wraith the opportunity to become familiar with the military working dogs and their possible medical needs in the event one may need medical evacuation.

“The best part of the training was integrating on-site Army veterinarians to teach IV access and wound management,” said Reynolds.

For many of the working dogs and their handlers, this isn’t their first flight. Most have at least three prior training experiences with other aircraft.

Operating with military working dogs in the aviation environment could help in real life situations and it helps knowing how to handle the dogs in a situation that might intimidate them,” said Spc. Alec Brewer, a crew chief assigned to Task Force Wraith.

The military working dogs are trained to perform various tasks to include individual attacks, building searches, and searching for explosives.

The 29th CAB, an Army National Guard brigade, provides aviation assets, partnership training, logistical and operational support to Operation Spartan Shield while simultaneously conducting operations for Operation Inherent Resolve.

• Date Taken: 09.01.2017
• Date Posted: 09.17.2017 02:56
• Story ID: 248540
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW