Dog days of Afghanistan

Photo By Pfc. David Hauk | Bartek and his handler Luis Derrero play after training to find explosives in Afghanistan. The two have worked together for nine months and created a bond Derrero said makes them like brothers.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MASUM GHAR, AFGHANISTAN

12.21.2009

Story by Pfc. David Hauk 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MASUM GHAR, Afghanistan — "When I'm sleeping, he is sleeping. When I'm watching a movie, he is watching the movie too. He is my best friend here. We have become like brothers."

Luis Derrero is a contracted civilian from American K-9 Detection Services. His best friend is his co-worker. With a black and tan coat and a nose for explosives, his seventy pound companion is a German shepherd named Bartek. The two have been together in Afghanistan for nine months sniffing out improvised explosive devices along patrol routes.

"He is a very good dog," said Derrero. "He is very obedient and is great at his job."

Snorting and sniffing his way around piles of dirt and stone, Bartek franticly searches for any devices that could harm troops on the ground. After checks every rock and around the corners of all the wooden pallets, he suddenly stops. He has found some homemade explosives buried in the ground and will not move until his partner is also aware of the device.

His reward for this feat, perhaps saving lives if not in a training environment, is not a bone or even a Scooby-snack. It is his favorite ball. He loves to fetch the ball with Derrero.

While this is only training for the German shepherd similar scenarios do happen while on patrols in Afghanistan, and Bartek has save untold lives by finding IEDs. To do this, Bartek trains with his handler at least twice a week to make sure he is ready when the situation does occur.

Bartek wasn't always this good at his job though. It has taken hard work by both the dog and handler to get Bartek's skills to a proficient level.

"When I first got him, he wouldn't listen at all. I would tell him to sit and he would just stare at me," said Derrero, a native of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic. "Now if I tell him to sit, he won't move until I tell him he can get up."

After training is complete, the two spend the rest of the day playing until exhausted from all the fun. For Derrero, the saying that a dog is a man's best friend has never been more real.

"I love him with all my heart and I know he feels the same for me," said Derrero. "I wouldn't have things any other way."

• Date Taken: 12.21.2009
• Date Posted: 12.21.2009 10:22
• Story ID: 43006
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE MASUM GHAR, AF