Military working dogs, handlers train for mission success

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Trisha Eldredge
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  At 10 a.m. on Aug. 5, it was in the upper 80s and humid, but military working dog handlers Staff Sgts. Chad Ditch and Nick Jensen were outside running their puppy, MWD Bbruiser, through the obedience course as part of the daily training the dogs receive.

Department of Defense identifies MWDs that are bred at Lackland AFB by doubling the first two letters of the name.

"MWD Bbruiser is just a puppy, but he shows promise even at his young age," said Ditch. "Dogs don't understand the difference between right and wrong in the same way that humans do and must be taught obedience," he said. "You have to have a lot of patience when you work with dogs."

The obedience course highlights the capabilities of the dogs, which spend hours of training on patrol, base defense and drug and explosive detection. The course prepares the dogs for whatever obstacles they might encounter, like tunnels or windows.

As Ditch and Bbruiser ran through the course, Jensen served as the aggressor and, on command, Bbruiser attacked, biting onto the dog suit Jensen was wearing with 400 to 700 pounds of force. After each successful attack, Bbruiser was rewarded with his favorite toy. This type of training builds trust between the dog and handler and improves the skills of the puppy.

"Being a MWD Handler was the best decision I have made in my career. You basically get paid to play with dogs. Plus, as K-9 handlers, we are a big family," said Ditch.

Master Sgt. Sam Figueroa, 8th SFS kennel master, observed as the team ran through the course. Figueroa also loves working with the dogs and it's evident. For all but five years of his career he has worked with K-9 units. He oversees the MWD program here, advises the commander on how to best utilize the teams, and ensures proper training is conducted with handlers and MWDs.

"There were a lot of changes during those five years I didn't work with the dogs, but I am catching up and still love what I do every single day. The mission is fundamentally the same, and that is to save lives and provide protection," Figueroa said.

In addition to the obedience course, teams also run through bomb detection scenarios in order to receive validation. The dogs need to be qualified in different areas, such as a warehouse or vehicle lot, and must pass with a 95 percent or above.

"It typically takes a dog 20 to 30 minutes to complete a course and three weeks to a month to have the dogs certified," said Figueroa.

The dogs go through extensive evaluations and are tested for gun shyness, aggressiveness and searching behavior. Their physical examination includes blood tests, radiographs and a thorough medical physical. If the dog meets all of these standards it can begin the program at Lackland AFB, Texas. Kunsan currently has nine Belgian Malinois, five German Shepherds and one Dutch Shepherd from Lackland, Figueroa went on to say.

"Many dogs are washed out of the program because they just can't hack it," said Figueroa.

But the dogs aren't the only ones who must meet requirements, because the MWD handlers also need to meet certain standards. They must be in security forces, have the rank of senior airman or higher and have approval from the kennel master.

Kunsan is unique in that there is a civilian handler as well. Mr. Choe Han Pil, kennel attendant, is the only civilian authorized to handle the dogs unattended and does everything from feeding and petting to cleaning the facility. It is clear that Mr. Choe, who has worked at the kennel for six years and on base for the past 34 years, loves his job and is an integral part of the team.

"MWDs love him because he is probably the only person constant in their lives. If the dogs know your smell they will be very friendly toward you," said Figueroa. "If you are a new guy coming into the kennel, be careful."

The facility contains 23 kennels, an isolation room in which dogs are quarantined if they become sick, a kitchen, a veterinary room and offices.

The dogs follow a feeding schedule and meals are prepared twice a day, going through about 200 pounds of food per week.

An Army vet from Camp Humphreys visits once a month to administer medication and provide check-ups for the dogs. The rigorous training the dogs receive leaves no room for unhealthy dogs.

"A few weeks ago, we had a dog, Iian, that got heat exhaustion," said Figueroa. "Dogs typically have a temperature ranging from 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Iian had a temperature of 111 F. Handlers did a great job recognizing the signs of heat stress and were able to provide first-aid. Within an hour we were able to bring it back to 102 F. The veterinarian training we receive definitely came in handy," he said.

Iian is doing fine now, but is still monitored closely because if a dog has heat exhaustion once, it is likely it can happen again. The handler team switched Iian to work nights to minimize the likelihood that he will have heat exhaustion again.

All of the handlers truly care about their dogs, perhaps Figueroa the most.

"I grew with up with all kinds of animals around me. My uncle owned a farm and my dad maintained an aviary; animals were a constant part of my life. I grew up with a German Shepherd, Toby, from the age of four until I graduated high school. He died while I was in basic training," said Figueroa. So when I learned I could be a dog handler and work with German Shepherds I didn't hesitate to volunteer. I love the dogs that I have been privileged enough to work with," he said.