NCBC Military Working Dog Program Back on All Four Paws

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Rosalie Chang | 180313-N-DH124-0074 GULFPORT, Miss. (Mar. 13, 2018) – Military working dog, Vork, assigned to the Security Forces Department aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, prepares for detection and patrol training with his assigned handler, Mar. 13. Training is conducted by the kennel supervisor, trainer or handler in areas that closely resemble the environment where teams will be expected to routinely operate to increase the dogs capabilities and to ensure they are capable of meeting mission requirements. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Rosalie Chang/ Released)  

GULFPORT, MS, UNITED STATES

03.13.2018

Story by Chief Petty Officer Rosalie Chang 

Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport

Security Forces at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport received their second military working dog, Vork, March 12, as part of the reinstatement of the Military Working Dog (MWD) Program on the installation after a four-year gap.

“We are restarting our program from the ground up, which began with rebuilding the kennel facility and recertification that was completed last year,” said Installation Kennel Master, Chief Master-at-Arms Eugene Marstaller. “The regional kennel master reallocated Vork in the Working Dog Management System from Pensacola to Gulfport, so now he is our dog to continue training.”

According to the Department of the Navy Military Working Dog Program Instruction, the military dogs’ unique capabilities are used by naval security force to defend bases and resources, assist with enforcing military laws and regulations and to supplement and enhance the capabilities of military security forces.

Vork is one of two detection dogs on the installation, and the program is scheduled to increase that number in the near future.

“We currently have two dogs here, with one deploying soon,” said Marstaller. “We are scheduled to have at least five dogs on station, but we have the capability to hold more if needed.”

MWDs receive initial detection and patrol training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and are then sent to kennels of every branch of service, where they are assigned to a handler to maintain their training.

“As soon as I got here, I was chomping at the bit to get to working with a military dog,” said MWD handler, Master-at-Arms 3rd Class John Martin. “I look forward to coming in to work and training with Vork; he definitely makes work a fun experience and happier for me.”

Training is completed in areas that closely simulate the environment where teams will be expected to routinely operate. With an acute sense of smell, MWD’s can detect minute traces of explosives or drugs and alert their handlers of their presence.

“MWDs are used to enforce good order and discipline by conducting random sweeps for contraband from narcotics to explosives,” said Marstaller. “We hold exercises throughout the base to increases the dog’s proficiency and ensure we train the same way we conduct actual searches.”

Training is conducted by the kennel supervisor, trainer or handler to increase the level of patrol capabilities and to correct identified deficiencies. The kennel supervisor and handler are also responsible for conducting advanced training to ensure the MWD is fully capable of meeting mission requirements.

For more news from Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrse/installations/ncbc_gulfport.html or follow NCBC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NCBCGulfport

• Date Taken: 03.13.2018
• Date Posted: 03.16.2018 14:26
• Story ID: 269679
• Location: GULFPORT, MS, US