Posted: 07/09/2013 05:07:51 PM MDT
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE >> Having a companion that harnesses higher senses than a typical person is a great asset when dealing with hostile forces.
The mission at Holloman Air Force Base is focused on training many different types of airmen. Military working dogs play a vital role for military members serving at deployed locations.
Whether it be pilot or journalist, man or beast, Holloman has a defined training program for its airmen, but that doesn't stop the handlers from going above and beyond their normal duties to make sure they have the best training possible so when they are deployed, they are better equipped to handle the duties assigned to them.
Military working dogs serve on the front lines with infantry from all branches; this means they must be trained to a level above that of a normal K9 unit typically utilized with civilian law enforcement.
An airman is never done training, and neither are military working dogs. Once a dog is received from Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, where they undergo a form of basic training much like airmen do, the dogs are tested to determine their limits and find roles that will best suit them. The dogs can serve many purposes such as patrol units, bomb detection or hostile detainers.
Not all dogs can be multi-faceted. The dogs that can assume multiple roles will
serve their handlers to a higher extent and be more combat efficient.
'One bad experience can ruin a dog,' said Staff Sgt. Zachary Burtt, 49th Security Forces Squadron, MWD handler. 'If a MWD is improperly trained, it can hinder their progress. Training the dogs is a carefully planned and executed task, and it requires many hours of training for each specialty that the dog will possess.'
Training MWDs is not limited to Holloman. The handlers team up with the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department for remedial training for dogs that are either not yet up to par or are lacking in certain areas. When a dog exhibits a lack of drive or intensity, they are taken to Las Cruces to receive additional training from the resident experts from the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department.
Sgt. Jerry Madden, of the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department, helps handlers remediate the dogs to help them exceed previous expectations. The experience of the Doña Ana County dog handlers serves as an invaluable asset to the handlers of Holloman. The remedial drilling is coupled with weekly narcotics training from the local U.S. Border Patrol unit. Together, well-rounded and capable MWDs are formed.
The MWDs aren't the only ones who benefit from the training. The dog handlers also receive certification from the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department. This gives them a greater precedence as dog trainers, and a higher chance of continuing their career as a dog handler after their military service.
Combined, all of this training creates MWDs that are experienced and capable of serving on the front lines. Airmen say room clearing, hostile detainment and bomb detection dogs are a great asset to have along with them.
The MWDs may be a lesser-known faction of warfare, but airmen said they are vital to the success of missions at home and abroad.
Aaron Montoya is an airman 1st class with the 49th Wing Public Affairs office at Holloman Air Force Base.
Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya/U.S. Air Force Military working dog Boby receives encouragement from Staff Sgt. Josef Lopuchowycz, 49th Security Forces Squadron K9 handler, during aggression training last month at Oñate High School in Las Cruces. The Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department teams up with the K9 handlers from Holloman Air Force Base once each month to perform remedial training for dogs that show a lack of drive or intensity.
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