MWDs: Taking a Bite Out of Crime

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sean Martin
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  He hears the sounds of footsteps behind him as he tries to remain hidden. He hears the handler give commands to his partner as the canine picks up his scent.

The handler shouts to release the dog, which is the last thing the perpetrator hears before being tackled from behind and pulled to the ground. The handler calls the dog off and places him under arrest.

It was not a good day to be hunted down by a 2nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, home of the Air Force Global Strike Command.

MWDs may not have all of the capabilities of their handlers, but the skills they bring to the mission are relied heavily upon during certain instances.

The MWDs' primary mission is similar to that of their human counterparts. They are trained to support detection capabilities throughout the world, in contingency operations and provide the first line of explosive detection. MWDs are found in almost every branch of service.

The secondary mission of an MWD is to attack. They are taught how to bite an enemy and become proficient in listening to their handlers. MWDs are not trained to track an individual, but to scout for them. They seek out a criminal offender as compared to going out on a search/rescue mission and searching for lost or stranded people.

MWDs are trained in many things such as street patrol, maintaining and guarding entry control points and detection of narcotics and ordnance. Sweeps of buildings, vehicles, warehouses, open fields or areas are conducted as well.

"Along with suppressing the use of illegal narcotics, MWDs are vital in protecting the armed forces valuable resources from explosives and hazardous materials," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Craig, 2 SFS MWD trainer.

Training is held at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and lasts 120 days with a 180-day option. The training consists of two parts: detection and patrol training. It consists of the minimum number of tasks they must learn according to their Air Force instruction. They also learn the basic odors of chemicals, narcotics and explosive response.

"Look at it like an Airman coming out of technical school, they do not know everything, they just know the bare minimum," Sergeant Eversley said. "Once they get to their base, they start their upgrade training and become proficient in their job."

Sergeant Eversley said they are given tools and training so that they are able to apply them in a work setting. It is up to the dog to decide how long it will take to become fully proficient and mission ready. It can range from one to five years, although a dog is usually proficient after about two years of training.

MWDs' military careers last approximately nine to 12 years. After about seven years, the dogs begin to slow down due to the rigorous training and activity they are put through.

"The drive will be there, but the physical aspect is not," Sergeant Eversley said. "So as the dogs get older, we begin to monitor them a lot more closely."

When their careers become too strenuous for them, they retire from active duty. If dogs have no health issues, they are put up for adoption. When a medical issue is the problem and they cannot be adopted, the dogs are sent back to Lackland where they are used as training aids. Retired MWDs try to be placed in military members' home, whether individuals are active duty, retired or civilian. Some dogs may even be adopted by their previous handler.

"Having the MWDs by our side is a huge benefit for us, concluded Sergeant. Daniel Craig. "They are able to bring a heightened sense of awareness to the force."