K-9 unit’s training keeps Eielson safe Published Aug. 3, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Canines from the 354th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog Section receive hours of training from qualified canine handlers. Trainers from the Military Working Dog Section train their canines with the capability to do more than just sit, heel and stay. Like new Airmen, upon arriving from Lackland Air Force Base located in San Antonio, Texas, young military working dogs know only basic commands and it is up to their trainers to bring them up to speed. The creation of an effective military working dog begins as early as a puppy. The program at Lackland AFB dedicates much of its time to the task of selecting puppies for training at the most basic level and slowly progresses as they mature in their military training. For those that meet the requirements of the Department of Defense, they receive further training at Lackland, namely basic training comparable to an Air Force trainee. Once at Eielson, the kennel master is responsible for making sure handlers and canines are meeting Air Force standards. He makes sure new military working dogs are dual certified in both detection and patrol. "I make sure military working dogs on base are ready to be certified as a team," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Brown, 354th Security Forces kennel master. "On the other end of the spectrum, I make sure their handlers have trained them to patrol and detect drugs and bombs." When pursuing a threat, bite training becomes a critical tool in the canines' skill set. The dogs themselves can act as a deterrent in many situations because of their bite training. In a bite training exercise Sergeant Brown releases Iro, a senior military working dog, upon Staff Sgt. Joshua Lewis, SFS canine trainer who is wearing a protective bite suit. "We do train our dogs to stop," said Sergeant Lewis. "If Sergeant Brown released Iro on me and I decide not to run he can call him off before he bites me. If instead I made the decision to keep running, I ultimately choose to have Iro bite me." As exciting as patrol training may seem, both Sergeant Brown and Sergeant Lewis agree that bomb detection is where the military working dogs show their worth. Where Airmen receive a paycheck, canines are content to receive a small treat upon detection of bombs or drugs. "All the training and the many hours that anyone's ever put in that dog it was well worth it when it finds one bomb," said Sergeant Lewis. "If we find an explosive in a building and clear the building during a bomb threat we just saved assets and countless lives, "said Sergeant Brown. "Just to know that you have the capability to detect an explosive. I think that exceeds the rewards of patrol training." The relationship between trainer and canine is paramount in various scenarios, especially during a bomb threat when the canine's nose does most of the heavy lifting. "You become more familiar with your dog," said Staff David Bloom, SFS canine handler. "You notice when the dog changes behaviors. This is really important when neither you nor your partner knows the location of the explosive." The canines' sense of smell is an available tool that lends itself to the various threats that may exist on an installation. Practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to smell. Handlers expose the dogs to different odors and concentrations to sharpen their already heightened sense of smell. This routine conditioning prepares the handlers as well as the dogs. "The more you expose your dog to heavy levels of concentration of an odor the better prepared they will be down range," said Sergeant Brown. "They can focus on the odor and pin-point it. This way they are used to the odor and aren't overwhelmed when they experience it." Exercises and obstacles experienced by canines make them better at their job. The overall goal is to set the dog and handler up for success. "The wider-range of training is done to expose the dogs to different things so that they are ready," said Sergeant Lewis. "In a worst-case scenario you go into a building at 2:30 a.m. with no lights on for a bomb threat and there are grates on the ground in front of you. Your dog doesn't like grates. How productive is the search going to be? We want to expose them to it before the drastic stuff happens. We do the training and get them comfortable to these environments to prepare them." Over time the sharp instincts of the military working dogs of Eielson have become an invaluable part of the Air Force, but what becomes of man's best friend after the Air Force? For many dogs, retirement from the Air Force depending on their temperament may earn them a place in the homes and hearts of loving families. Others who are less suited for a life outside the kennel may better serve their advanced age as useful training dogs at Lackland, where they first started their careers. Motivated by their instincts, these four-legged Airmen have remained loyal to their trainers and their country. At the end of the day spending some quality time with their partner and best friend is perhaps the greatest reward of all. "The dogs themselves enjoy what they do every day," said Sergeant Lewis. "What we see as work they see as play." Quality training depends upon the special relationship between an Airman and his canine. A trainer may spend endless hours training their new partner to build rapport with his or her canine. Many consider canines as tools of the trade, but ask a handler and he'll say otherwise. "That's my partner, that's my buddy, that's my friend," said Sergeant Brown. "Especially when you deploy with a canine and they save your life countless times." Building rapport, later fused with training, proves beneficial when it comes time to go to work. "They just want to be with you and ride in the truck, get out and walk around, play ball" he added. "But when it's time to work you have that rapport with your dog. He's your partner." The future of the military working dog shines bright at Eielson. These canines, Air Force friends and partners, are here to stay.