Udi, a United States military working dog stationed at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, poses for the camera after he completes his daily training, Dec. 25. Photo by Pfc. Amanda McBride.
Posted on 12/31/2007 3:28:06 PM PST by SandRat
Military working dogs first entered the United States armed services in March 1942. Today, the dogs are still providing support to the troops on the battlefield.
A single dog can search more area in less time than an entire company could do, said Staff Sgt. Charles Graves, a dog handler with 241st Military Police Detachment, Fort Meade, Md.
“By using the dogs, you are leaving your shooters to other aspects of the mission, rather than having them go out to start a search capacity,” Graves said.
Knowing the commands taught by the dog handler, the MWDs search for improvised explosive devices, weapon caches and other devices meant to harm Coalition forces and local citizens.
“They’re a good deterrent for any terrorist activity," Graves said. “They see the dogs out and know that (the dogs) will spot items humans won’t necessarily find on the first search or even with an in-depth search.”
While deployed in support of the war against terrorism, the dogs serve a one-year tour.
“Right now, we are the only service doing 12 months with the dogs,” said Sgt. Steven Ramil, a dog handler attached to 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
When not on missions, the dogs train daily to sustain the skills they already have.
“The dogs go through obedience, detection and protection training,” Graves said. “Patrol dogs also go through aggression training.”
Graves said that even though the dogs are trained to search and find items that could hurt fellow Soldiers, they are also a big morale booster.
“When we go out on some missions where the guys have been out in the field for three weeks with no hot water or hot chow, they will just brighten up when they see the dogs,” Graves said.
While deployed, the MWDs depend solely on their handler to take care of them.
“The handler is responsible for everything dealing with the dog,” Graves said. “The dog is like your child; you feed him, clean up after him and take care of him.”
The handler and dog team go out on missions knowing that they have each other’s back, said Graves.
“There is a never-ending loyalty with these dogs,” Graves said. “They would save my life and I would save theirs.”
(Story Courtesy of Task Force Marne Public Affairs)
In Other Recent Developments Here:
FR WAR NEWS! WOOF! WOOF!
SandRat!Thanks for the Military Working Dog News.
“Graves said that even though the dogs are trained to search and find
items that could hurt fellow Soldiers, they are also a big morale booster.”
And they are about as big a hit as the aircraft at the annual Memorial
Day airshow I attend.
The team from Whiteman AFB always shows how great the guard dogs are,
(and also entertain by letting the dog sink fangs into the derriere of
one of those padded suits worn by an assistant...always a crowd pleaser!)
I’m sure at Whiteman with all those B-2 bombers, these war dogs do
help greatly to keep the grounds secure.
“Forward Operating Base Kalsu”
Sidebar/background on the origin of the camp’s name
Former NFL player killed in Vietnam honored by 101st Airborne
KOTV Channel 6 / NE Oklahoma ^ | 8-2-2002 | AP
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/726718/posts
At last, a warm-fuzzy-happy story (literally!) about Iraq. I’d also guess that the soldiers love to play with those dogs on their break times... most military guys I know are dog lovers.
Well, this was Vietnam and they were local pups raised by and fed by GI’s. They hated all non Americans and were there to love and give comfort to us in our hours of need.
They were always there when we came back at night and were happy to see us and boosted our morale. These were totally unofficial but they were our dogs. The best I knew they lived for 5-6 years going from rotation to rotation.
BTW my son who was in Iraq in 2003 - well, his platoon had a n unofficial dog too. These dogs don’t ever get mentioned but I’ve heard lots of wars stories that say that these dogs were also heroes too.
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