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KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq (May 12, 2008) - Prompted by a
few words of command by his handler, military working dog Charlie
sprints ahead and attacks a simulated enemy during a training
session here.
For Charlie, a German shepherd deployed here, this attack is no
less a priority than if it were a real insurgent attempting to harm
coalition forces. Despite temperatures hovering near the century
mark, Charlie makes no bones about pushing his paws to the limit
for the seemingly small reward of some praise from his handler.
"The dog sees everything he does here as a game," said Air Force
Tech. Sgt. Patrick Carroll, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces
Squadron military working dog handler. "Even when the dog does have
a big find, the dog never sees it as work. Seeking a reward and
praise from their handler is the primary reason the dogs do the
work for us."
While these military working dogs may be unable to comprehend
their important contribution to the global war on terrorism while
playing "the game," their capabilities are vital to the safety of
coalition forces both inside and outside the base perimeter.
Air Force dog handlers at Kirkuk are assigned to either 506th
Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron or 732nd Expeditionary
Security Forces Squadron. Both squadrons have separate kennels and
missions.
The 506th ESFS military working dog team conducts missions with
the goal of protecting the more than 5,000 coalition forces
personnel who reside at the base. While working inside base
confines, 506th ESFS military working dogs conduct frequent patrols
and assist security forces airmen at entry control points.
"Explosive detection is one of the main things we do with the
dogs," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Nelson, 506th ESFS military
working dog trainer. "The dogs are also trained to protect, deter,
identify and apprehend any unauthorized personnel or contraband.
Basically, the dogs prevent anything from getting on base that
isn't supposed to be here."
The 732nd ESFS team typically works with the U.S. Army's 1st
Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, during the brigade's missions
outside the wire in the city of Kirkuk and surrounding areas.
Similar to the 506th ESFS, the 732nd ESFS military working dog
team frequently is on the lookout for explosives during its
missions. The team is composed of airmen filling "in-lieu of"
taskings -- U.S. Army positions augmented by the Air Force.
"Everything we do in this capacity is outside the wire," said
Carroll, who is deployed from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
The 732nd ESFS team conducts a wide range of missions that
include raids, cache searches and vehicle searches. The team's
missions can last for more than 10 days outside the wire, Carroll
said.
Carroll is not new to the military working dog career field, but
he said he feels his current deployment is unlike anything he's
ever seen.
"People can tell you what you're getting into, but after leaving
that gate you realize it's different than anything you've ever
seen," he said. "But I build on each and every mission, and it's
been satisfying to help assist the Army mission with Air Force
canines."
Carroll, who volunteered for the position, said soldiers have
helped his transition into the Army's working environment.
"The Army has made me very comfortable incorporating the dogs
into their mission," he said. "I've been working with canines for
more than 12 years now, but nothing comes close to what I've seen
here. Working outside the wire with the Army has been a very
rewarding opportunity."
To accomplish such a wide variety of missions both on and off
the base, dog handlers rely on the keen senses of their canines,
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andrew Esparza, 506th ESFS kennel master,
said.
"A dog's scent is far more advanced than a human's," said
Esparza, who is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
"In comparison, humans can't distinguish the individual ingredients
when we smell a pizza. [Dogs] can smell the cheese, pepperoni,
oregano and all of the other ingredients individually."
Each handler typically has his or her own assigned dog during a
deployment. These dogs often travel with their handler from the
United States, and spend much of their deployment patrolling and
sharpening their skills.
Since handlers spend so many of their hours with the dogs, the
commonly known bond between "man and his best friend" often forms,
said Nelson, who is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
"You can't help being attached to the dogs; they depend on you,"
he said. "You are completely responsible for the dog's health and
safety. But you also always have a partner that will lay down their
life for you - these dogs aren't scared of guns, knives or anything
else. They are extremely loyal.
"For us, a dog is similar to another person on the team," the
sergeant added. "The dog is treated the same as if they are an
airman, because the dog won't be any good at his job if we don't
take great care of him."
Carroll's dog sleeps in his bedroom, thus making their
relationship an around-the-clock endeavor, seven days a week.
"There is definitely a bond that forms when you live with a dog
every day for six months," Carroll said. "My dog, Jack, makes the
time away from my family not as bad."
While military working dogs will never receive retirement checks
or re-enlistment bonuses for their abilities to sniff out weapons
caches, these canines are a vital and valued capability in the
deployed environment.
"These dogs are basically tools that we use to help save lives,"
Carroll said. "I know for a fact that my dogs have found weapon
caches that would've otherwise been used against coalition forces.
Whether it's protecting the base from within or going off base,
these dogs play a major part in helping to keep us safe."
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