Photo By Staff Sgt. Matthew Cooley | Sgt. 1st Class Rex, a patrol explosive detector dog for the 178th Military Police...... read more read more
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq — Most dogs aren't required to do more than eat, sleep, and occasionally play fetch, but Rex isn't a normal German Shepherd.
15th Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), inducted Sgt. 1st Class Rex, a patrol explosive detector dog for the 178th Military Police Detachment into the Corps of Non-commissioned Officers, Dec. 12, at a ceremony in the Morale,Welfare and Recreation tent here.
The ceremony, which is normally for newly promoted NCOs, inducted 32 human Soldiers and Airmen along with Rex, who was the highest ranking NCO to be inducted, welcoming them to the "time honored corps."
Military working dogs are given a rank one higher than their handlers, so it's normal to have canine NCOs, but very rare to have one officially inducted into the corps, said Staff Sgt. Cully Parr, a McBride, Mich., native and Rex's military police dog handler for 178th MP Det.
"It's probably the first time they've ever done this for dogs," he said.
The duo paired up in July after Rex, a two-year-old, finished the military's dog version of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Parr said.
"He doesn't work without me — I don't work without him. He's like any other Soldier," Parr explained.
Rex's primary job, explosives detection, is only awarded to dogs that meet very strict special requirements determined by thorough testing, Parr said.
Parr began his career as an Army dog handler in late 2005 because he enjoys working with dogs and believes he can use the skills he's learned in a civilian career someday.
"It's one of the best jobs in the Army," he said.
Parr said that having Rex inducted was good for the other Soldiers' morale and showed that military working dogs are Soldiers too.
"People just light up when they see him," Parr said.
After the ceremony, dozens of Soldiers went to Rex to pet him and have their pictures taken together.
Parr cautioned that not all military working dogs are as well socialized as Rex though, and that one should ask the handler before petting one.
According to Parr, the Army tries to pair working dogs and handlers with similar personalities as it helps them work together better as a team.
He also said that he enjoys taking Rex to such events because it might get Soldiers interested in the program.
All of the NCOs inducted into the corps were presented with a certificate and presented by name to the audience as they stood, one by one, under crossed sabers.
"Being an NCO is more than acquiring skills, passing boards or completing courses ..." Sgt. Elizabeth Whitehead, 15th STB personnel NCO said during the ceremony.
"... It is a change in the mentality of how we conduct our day-to-day business."
Prisoners of war and Soldiers missing in action were honored at the ceremony by the presence of the Fallen Soldier's Table, a small empty dining table set for one.
Master Sgt. Terry Moten, a Dallas native and 15th STB training and schools NCO in charge, was the ceremony's guest speaker. 1st Sgt. Willie Johnson, A Company, 15th STB, first sergeant and 1st Sgt. Jeanette Short, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 15th STB, first sergeant, administered the Oath of the United States Army Non-commissioned Officer and Charge of the Non-commissioned Officer respectively.
Although Rex could not take the oath, he barked excitedly after the ceremony.
"He is also a Soldier," Parr said.
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2009 05:28 |
| Story ID: | 42825 |
| Location: | QAYYARAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 507 |
| Downloads: | 418 |
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