Dog Teams Keep International Zone Safe

Photo By David Moore | Spc. Jaime Lowe, of the 50th Joint Area Support Group, Baghdad, gets taken down by Lio, a military working dog assigned to the Baghdad kennel. The Sicklerville, N.J., resident volunteer for the deomonstration in the bite suit.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.20.2008

Story by Master Sgt. David Moore 

44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

By 1st Sgt. David Moore
Joint Area Support Group-Central Public Affairs

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Military personnel of the Joint Area Support Group Central learned that one of the most invaluable assets protecting them in theater has an acute sense of smell and alertness that most times can certainly exceed that of a human.

They are the military working dogs of Baghdad's International Zone Military Kennel. They showed their stuff Oct. 20, 2008, during an event at the U.S. State Department's Embassy Annex to educate individuals conducting operations both in and around the IZ the capabilities of canines.

The two handler and canine team event, sponsored by the JASG-C Security Directorate, was held to show how critical the working dogs are in providing a safe and sure environment throughout Iraq.

"The importance of using these dogs is that every time we have to accept something like a generator that travels through the Red zone and its coming into the Green zone these dogs and their handlers are making sure we are safe," Maj. Robert Hughes, of the 50th JASG-C 's security directorate and a resident of Stafford Township, N.J., said.

Sgt. Brandon Sanford, a native of Texarcana, Texas, and a Soldier of the 22nd Military Police Det., Fort Bliss, Texas, is assigned as a dog handler to the IZ kennel. He said the patrol and explosive trained dogs are used at entry control points, as well as vehicle searches to head off any dangerous contraband coming into the area.

His German Shepherd dog, Rexo, is now on his fourth combat deployment, continues to display the high energy and accuracy to be successful at his missions. The dog is his key battle buddy on force protection operations.

Sanford, who has conducted 150 combat missions with Rexo, served as the narrator for the demonstration, which showed the dogs chasing down a mock terrorist in a bite suit . While the dog appeared to have a good nature chasing down the suspect-- its size, speed and ability to bring down an adult human was enough to instill fear in anyone.

It is estimated a few hundred such dogs are in Iraq and Afghanistan combat zone. Stateside, the number of canines involved in military force protection hovers around 2,500.

In addition to the dog teams completing combat missions, they regularly conduct physical fitness training. The dog trainer teams also provide their resources for training the civilian contracted dog teams in the IZ.

One critical area where the military working dog team is having much success is in support explosive ordinance detachments when they are working on improvised explosive devices that have or have not been detonated. The MWD team's role is to prevent a secondary explosion. The combined operations have resulted in finding the suspects who have set up the dangerous explosives, as well.

"I have a lot of fun working in this career field. What other job can you go to where you work and play with dogs," he said. "Seriously, if you find something you save someone's life, if you don't you still deterred someone from doing something that can harm someone."

The demonstration included a request for a volunteer in a bite suit to be on the receiving end of a handler and dog training scenario. The JASG volunteer, Spc. Jaime Lowe of Sicklerville, N.J. , had waited for a chance just like this one, she said.

So Lowe pulled on the bite suit. Then she began running. Quickly, Freemont, Mich., native Staff Sgt. Richard Workman, 163rd Military Police Det.,, of Fort Campbell, Ky., released the leash that was holding back Lio, a young Belgian Shepherd with 115 combat missions, intent with getting the job done. In less than a minute, Lowe was taken down to the ground.

"I couldn't believe how strong the dog was and the force he had when he knocked me down," Lowe said.

"I'm glad they have these dog handler teams in the IZ and they are able to identify the different explosives and stop threatening situations before they can hurt us there while on duty," she added

• Date Taken: 10.20.2008
• Date Posted: 10.24.2008 02:24
• Story ID: 25473
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ