Photo By Spc. Jessica Luhrs-Stabile | Bryan, a Specialized Search Dog for the U.S. Army and Spc. Chris Bozovich, a native of...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Jessica Luhrs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq— At first glance the brown Springer Spaniel with a happy tail moving close to 90 miles a minute, looks and acts like any other dog, but a moment later this dog is in work mode once his camouflage vest is snapped on.
The Spaniel's name is Bryan; he is a specialized search dog in the U.S. Army. His main mission is to be deployed, during deployment his job is to search for explosive devices, clear roadways, clear open areas and clear buildings, with help from his handler.
We are a team, according to Spc. Chris Bozovich, a native of York, Penn., and a SSD handler with the 385th Military Police Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga., who has been Bryan's handler for 3 years. We look out for one another to complete our mission.
Bryan and Spc. Bozovich train daily for their mission, while in the states and deployed, by practicing on different obedience courses and the detection of explosive materials, according to Spc. Bozovich.
Now that they are on their first deployment together to Forward Operating Base Warrior, near Kirkuk, Iraq, work for the two really begins, according to Bozovich. We really don't have a mission in the states besides training now that we are here we can begin making Iraq safer for the citizens and Soldiers.
For these two it is not just all about work, said Bozovich, while throwing Bryan a yellow tennis-ball. Even though Bryan is a SSD, he also needs time just to be a dog too; Bryan's favorite thing to do on his off time besides chase a ball is to chew.
He has basically chewed on everything in our room, according to Spc. Bozovich.
We try to make this play time a type training for work too, according to Bozovich. To work on endurance we throw a tennis-ball to them and also reward the dogs with a toy after training or working.
Because the dog's now know they get rewarded for working they practically jump into their vests whenever we pull them out, according to Bozovich.
All of the training and playing has really paid off, according to Bozovich.
Recently we were given a coin from Col. Larry Swift, the commander of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Tx. for discovering weapons caches during a patrol this month.
| Date Taken: | 01.04.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2010 09:16 |
| Story ID: | 43665 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 133 |
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