Photo By Ensign Melvin Fatimehin | Master Chief Master-at-Arms Brian Teart, right, poses for a photo with Master Chief...... read more read more
JOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK-FORT STORY — Twenty-four years ago, Master Chief Master-at-Arms Brian Teart enlisted in the Navy out of the east side of Detroit and now serves as the program manager for the fleet's military working dog (MWD) program.
After graduating from Osborn High School off Seven Mile Road, Teart decided to follow in his older brother's footsteps and enlisted in the Navy in August 2000 as a yeoman.
"When I joined, I didn't even tell my family," said Teart. "My brother joined the Navy first, and he came back with nice clothes and a nice car, and I thought, 'That looks right,' but more than that, I wanted to take care of my family, and I knew the Navy would help me do it."
Although Teart didn't tell his family of his decision, Teart said his family and school supported him in pursuing a naval career.
"Most people in Detroit go work at the assembly lines because we have a lot of companies like General Motors out there," said Teart. "Many of my classmates choose to stay home and do that, so for me to get away and try something different, my teachers and my family were just really excited for me."
Teart went to Great Lakes, Illinois, for boot camp, and shortly after completing basic training and ascension school, Teart was assigned to Gaeta, Italy, as a 9545 Navy law enforcement specialist. Teart's experiences in Italy as a law enforcement specialist led him to switch rates to master-at-arms, where he continued to travel the world.
Throughout his career, Teart took on various missions, including serving aboard USS Peleliu in San Diego, supporting detainee operations in Guantanamo Bay, operating as a military working dog handler in Japan, and deploying to Kuwait and Afghanistan.
"Fear of the unknown was always there," said Teart. "But in places like Afghanistan, where we lost people in our community, you learn to adapt and focus on your mission."
Teart now serves as the Navy’s MWD program manager based out of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. He is the principal advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations on all matters involving Navy military working dogs. He oversees 44 kennel installations across two fleets and nine regions and is in charge of 317 MWDs and 400 Sailors involved in the handling and logistics of the MWD program at any given time.
The MWD program is a critical asset for military police and special operations units serving in operational environments. Navy MWDs specialize in explosive and drug detection and patrol missions.
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Every dog has their own personality but their drives are consistent across the program," said Teart. "Whether that's prey drive or play drive, we just expand on that with our MWDs."
Department of Defense utilizes a variety of MWDs, to include Belgian malinois, German shepherds, Dutch shepherds and Labrador retrievers. Thirteen percent of military working dogs are born and bred into the MWD program, also referred to as the Puppy Program.
While their mothers are still nursing them, potential MWDs are closely examined for traits that align well with an MWD. At around six to eight weeks old, MWDs are sent to a foster family to gain socialization skills. After six months, MWDs enter an intensive training phase where they practice bite work and essential obedience competencies. MWDs are evaluated for the MWD training program at the age of one. All MWDs must pass the evaluation to be eligible to participate in the program. Most Navy MWDs will enter the fleet at two years old.
Once an MWD reaches the age of eight, the Navy starts evaluating its performance and medical history in preparation for retirement. Teart also facilitates the adoption process for retiring service dogs.
"Most of the time, if a dog is good to go as far as their behavior, getting a dog on the couch is a pretty easy process," said Teart. "The dog has to complete a process known as a ‘disposition’ and a veterinarian signs a memorandum explaining why they are recommending retirement and the dog is placed with the most appropriate caretaker, which is usually the command, or a previous MWD handler."
Since Navy MWD handlers work so closely and build a strong bond with their MWDs, they are given first rights to the MWDs when preparing to retire.
"We actually have a doctrine which gives dog handlers first dibs on retiring dogs that they worked with in the past," said Teart.
While Teart's professional accomplishments are remarkable, his focus remains on his family, whom he defines as his support system. "I struggle with balance," he confessed. "But when I'm with my family, I'm fully present because they deserve my time and attention."
Teart's wife, a veteran who previously served as a hospital corpsman, provides unwavering support and helps him find a balance between the Navy and his family.
"My wife, she just gets it; she's the core of my support system, alongside my mom," he said. "My mom may not know all the details of what I do, but I know she's proud."
As Teart prepares for his next assignment at Navy Talent Acquisition Group Rocky Mountain, he reflects on his journey with gratitude. "I don't have expectations for perfection in this new role," he said. "I just want to be present and consistent, both for the Sailors I lead and my family."
"One of my good friends told me, 'In parenthood, the goal is to be present, not perfect,' and that advice stuck with me and applies to my Navy career as well," said Teart. "I focus on being available and consistent rather than aiming for perfection."
| Date Taken: | 12.27.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 01.13.2025 14:48 |
| Story ID: | 488362 |
| Location: | US |
| Hometown: | DETROIT, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Coming From Detroit's East Side to Leading the Navy's Military Working Dog Program, by ENS Melvin Fatimehin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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