MP K-9s enhance force protection efforts
By Staff Sgt. Monica R. Garreau
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 Sgt. Grady Bentley, 58th MP Co. a dog handler, instructs Britt to search a cement truck for explosives prior to the truck entering Bagram Air Base. The K-9s serve as an addition to the force protection efforts conducted daily by MPs. They are also trained to participate in combat patrols.
Staff Sgt. Monica R. Garreau
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BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (Army News Service June 24, 2004)-- Man’s best friend is playing a new role in Operation Enduring Freedom. Several K-9s, or military working dogs, are serving in Afghanistan, adding to the force protection efforts of the military police charged with safeguarding Coalition assets.
The K-9s are trained to detect multiple types of explosives including det cord, C-4, TNT, potassium and sodium chlorate. These highly trained dogs, and their handlers, are tasked with checking for explosives on vehicles and personnel wishing to gain entrance on to Bagram Air Base.
“Anything coming through the gate is checked by the dogs,” said Staff Sgt. Orm Jenkins, kennel master and military working dog liaison for the 58th Military Police Company.
Using a series of commands, the handler and dog team thoroughly inspect each vehicle bringing supplies and services to Bagram and other parts of the country.
The dog’s play a vital role in protecting the base by searching all of the supplies entering the base.
And the Military Police who man the gates appreciate the added force protection benefit with the dogs being on site.
“The dogs are really a great addition to what we’re doing out here,” said Pfc. Bertram Johnson, a military policeman attached to the 551st MP Company. “The trucks go through the X-ray machine, but there’s always that ‘what if,’ and the dogs take away that ‘what if.’ ”
That “what if” came into play during a recent vehicle inspection when Jenkins’ dog, Wilson, responded to the scent of explosives on a dump truck. Although the explosive ordinance detachment determined the dog must have picked up on explosive residue and there were no explosives on the vehicle, still it was turned away from Bagram.
These measures prove that it is better to be safe than risk the lives of Coalition troops and the dogs are an important part of safeguarding these troops.
Although the current mission is focused on force protection, the dogs are also trained to accompany Coalition troops on combat patrols. The dogs have sniffed out weapons caches and are a form of non-lethal force useful on the battlefield, said Jenkins. There is also one dog trained specifically to search for narcotics.
These animals are the best choice for all of these types of operations because of their sensitive noses, giving them a strong sense of smell.
“(Imagine if you were to) walk into a room and smell a pot of stew cooking,” Jenkins said. “Humans, we just smell the stew. A dog smells each individual item cooking -- the carrots, the onion, the salt and pepper.”
When searching for explosives or narcotics, the dogs are very mission-focused, paying close attention to the handler’s instructions, sticking close to the intensive training they have received. But off-duty, they resemble any other dog, serving as their handler’s best friend.
“The rapport with all our handlers and dogs is real tight,” Jenkins said.
Being deployed has brought the handler/dog teams even closer, since the handlers live next to the kennels.
“Sometimes we bring the dogs in our hooches to sleep at night,” Jenkins said. “It keeps the bond closer.”
In this line of work it is important that handlers have a strong bond with their dogs, he said.
“Once you have that strong rapport, you know that dog will go through hell and high water for you.”
Although the presence of the dogs will prove invaluable if an explosive is found being smuggled on to Bagram Air Base, they continue to serve as a deterrent to would-be terrorists.
“Just with them knowing we’re here and seeing the dogs here,” said Jenkins. “It’s one more obstacle that a terrorist has to overcome.”
Satisfaction from a job well done for these handlers comes from understanding their role as deterrents.
“One of the things in the K-9 world is, in the narcotic world, you want to have finds,” said Jenkins. “In the explosive world, you hope not to have any finds.”
(Editors note: Staff Sgt. Monica R. Garreau is from 17th Public Affairs Detachment.) |
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