Dog Days In Iraq

Photo By Maj. Anthony Buchanan | Air Force Staff Sgt. Glen Gordon (Left) and Staff Sgt. Robert Black pose with their dogs after conducting training.  

01.09.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

2nd Lt. Anthony Buchanan
133d MPAD

BOUQUBA, Iraq -- Aaron is three years old and Ricky is seven. Every day they go out on a 'scavenger hunt" for certain items. If they find the items, their guardians will reward them handsomely for their efforts.

Aaron, Ricky and their guardians have been to numerous locations around Iraq and have found many items on their list, like weapons caches, explosives and ammunition, but there's more to find.

Aaron and Ricky are military police dogs that belong to Air Force Staff Sgts. Robert Black and Glenn Gordon. Aaron belongs to Black and Ricky is Gordon's dog.

The two teams from the Security Forces Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., have been in Iraq now for almost six months. Gordon, a native of Tinton Falls, N.J., has been a military dog handler for seven years. Black, a native of Westminster, Calif., has been a dog handler for 12 years.

All military dogs are trained for patrolling and either to search for narcotics or explosives. Aaron and Ricky are trained to search for explosives.

Military dog handlers develop a bond with their dogs and quickly discovery the dog's personality.

"He's young and he's got a lot of fire in him," said Black, referring to Aaron.

"He's a good dog and he has got a great nose. He already found a lot of weapons and ammo."

Gordon's dog Ricky is a little more calm and collective.

"He'll try to test you to see what he can get away with, but he understands basic commands," Gordon said. "You can talk to him and he'll act like he's not listening by turning his head to the side."

The teams have made significant contributions to the war on terror.

"I feel it's very important and vital for us to be here as far as dog handlers because, not only are we securing a lot of the compounds and forward operating bases that are out here, we are also going outside and ensuring that nothing happens to [Soldiers] while we are out here," Black said. "In the big picture, I feel that what we are doing here is going to benefit the [Iraqi] people in the long run."

The dog handler field is short and it takes a special person to be a dog handler.

"First of all you have to like dogs," Gordon said. "A lot of people do realize how much paper work is involved with a dog. My dog has been in the military for five years."

"Every single day of this dog's life, his records have to be updated," Gordon said.

Keeping the dogs sharp is an ongoing process. There is little time to rest on yesterday's laurels.

"It's not like my dog found marijuana and now I'm done for the day," Gordon said. "You have to maintain the dog's training."

Gordon likened his role to that of a parent.

"He's just like a little kid," said Gordon. "If he doesn't continue to tie his shoes, he's going to forget."

Black had some advice for would-be dog handlers.

"If you want to be a dog handler, go to your local kennel and talk to them and get your hands mixed in there to see how it really is," Black said. "You're not just sitting in an air conditioned car riding around with a dog."

You get to do some pretty cool stuff, but there's actually a lot that you don't see. That's the stuff you need to seek out to make sure this is what you want."

The hardest part for about being a dog handler for the majority of handlers is giving up their dogs when they move to another installation.

"You're with a dog from anywhere between one to three years," Gordon said. "When you leave a base, you have to leave your dog behind."

"You always remember your first dog," Black added. "You go in knowing that you have to give him up. You get a little disheartened by it."

• Date Taken: 01.09.2006
• Date Posted: 01.09.2006 09:47
• Story ID: 5010