Photo By Capt. Brandon Janson | Joint Task Force Med 374, Vetinerian, Maj. Jill Lynn, reviews the spinal anatomy of a...... read more read more
Serving in a Role 3 medical center, it is easy to think about doctors, nurses and medical technicians working together to care for sick and wounded Soldiers. However, not all service members walk on two legs, adhere to AR 670-1 (Army Regulation) grooming standards, or wear a uniform at all. Military Working Dogs (MWD) need care just as much, if not more than, the warfighter on the front lines. To support Military working dogs, veterinary teams are stationed all over the country and overseas to ensure they receive the best care possible. Care is coordinated by the MWD handler, a Soldier specifically trained to work with Military Working Dogs, a veterinary tech, and a veterinarian.
Maj. Jill Lynn, CJTF-OIR veterinarian, is currently charged with overseeing the care of all the MWDs in-theater. While she has many roles and responsibilities, she communication with her veterinary team and dog handlers, and maintaining MWD medical readiness. Canines receive regular checkups, physical assessments and care, and their weight is also closely monitored.
Care is usually pretty routine and non-emergent, but early in the deployment, Kkeating, a three year old male German Shepherd, was having some stomach issues. He was then evacuated to the Role 3, where more medical assets are located and further assessed. X-rays were taken, lab specimens collected, and Kkeating was actually put on Intravenous (IV) fluids, including Zofran and metronidazole, medications given to help with stomach issues. In the end, it was determined the Kkeating had somehow ingested some rocks. Later, he was scheduled for a procedure to remove the foreign bodies. In the meantime, members of JTF MED 374 got to have some unique hands-on experiences working with an MWD. Additionally, a three day training event was offered by the veterinary service team, where Soldiers learned their role in assisting handlers, placing a muzzle on MWD, as well as placing modified muzzles using a kerlix dressing (rolled gauze).
“It was a pretty cool experience working with the animals,” stated Spc. Marshon Jones. “Our class got to work with a dog named Nacho who works with the Spanish forces. He [Nacho] was super friendly and attentive. When I was putting on the kerlix muzzle, he kept trying to lick my face. On my previous deployment, we did not see animals at all. I have animals at home, so getting to hang out with Nacho was definitely a morale booster,” he said.
While the class had a lot of fun learning and interacting with the animals, the educators made it very clear that not all working dogs are friendly or should be approached at all. Some of the MWD are very aggressive and have to be handled with a high level of caution. Some are so aggressive that they must be handled separately from other working dogs, which is why the course focuses on the use of muzzling dogs.
Looking back on the history of MWD, their partnership with the military is not a new idea. According to the American Kennel Club, a Not-for-profit organization interested in all things dogs since 1884, MWD have been embedded into military operations since the first World War, where they were used to deliver messages, carry supplies, and to track friendly and enemy troops. Today their skill set has expanded to tracking explosives, performing patrols, conducting search and rescue operations, as well as attack. Currently, the Department of Defense has over 1,600 MWD in the ranks and trains a majority of its dogs at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonia Texas. Surprisingly, a majority of the MWD are outsourced from eastern Europe.
As the senior veterinarian in theater, Maj. Lynn has had to overcome a number of challenges while operating in the theater. One such area is the differences of western and middle eastern traditional cultures.
“You are always going to have language barriers, but I have noticed some gender differences in the way the other forces interact with females. Some forces may take longer to accept a female advisor. I have received a lot of cultural training, and I think that helps, but I also think it is important to show respect for other cultures. I just try to focus on the job we came here to do and building relationships. When they realize how important we are and see us working, I think that helps.”
Another challenge has had to do deal with is access to medical equipment and supplies.
“Back home at my practice, I have everything I need, but here in theater it is a lot more challenging to get things ordered and delivered. You really have to be proactive and find ways to make things happen, be creative and become versatile,” said Lynn.
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 01.04.2023 11:40 |
| Story ID: | 434430 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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