From pup to Alpha

by Senior Airman Stephanie Morris
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

8/5/2014 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D.  -- This is the first in a three part series chronicling the journey of MWD handlers from technical training to kennel master.

Military working dogs and their handlers share a strong bond of trust. They work side by side at home and abroad to ensure the safety of those they protect.

Before handlers can put a leash on their first dog, they must make the transition from a security forces Airman to MWD handler and complete the required Department of Defense training course at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Staff Sgt. Tim Glover, 5th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, was one such Airman.

"I came in as security forces and I really enjoyed the work," said the Glendora, California native. "I always saw the handlers working and decided I wanted to specialize."

Glover has been in the security forces career field for approximately 3 1/2 years and completed his training approximately three months ago.

Technical training was both exciting and nerve wracking, Glover said. He talked to handlers he knew before beginning the training to try and get an idea of what to expect, but the course was still full of surprises and unforeseen difficulties.

"Going through MWD training is probably one of the more challenging things I've done," Glover said.

While in MWD handler technical training, Glover learned general care and maintenance techniques, health and welfare skills, combat and general first aid, and aggression, patrol, and detection techniques.

The course consists of two blocks. Block one focuses on patrol work, while block two teaches the handlers detection skills for narcotics and explosives.

Glover said he was very excited to get to work and meet the dog he would be training with in block one.

"I was extremely happy to finally put a leash on a dog and start training," Glover said.

He worked with a different dog for each block of training and explained that transitioning between dogs was a difficult process.

"I had such a good working relationship with my first dog that it made it hard for me to transition to a new K-9," Glover said. "It was like trading in an old friend for someone new."

Despite transitioning from one MWD to another, Glover was able to learn how to work as a cohesive team with his new K-9 partner and complete the course without any problems, he said.

After completing both blocks of training, Glover and the other new handlers gathered in the graduation hall for their ceremony. During the ceremony, all branches of service spoke to the new handlers about what is expected of them and recited the MWD creed. The graduates also paid tribute to the handlers who have died in the line of duty by saluting their photographs, which lined the walls of the graduation hall.

After graduation Glover bid farewell to his block two K-9 partner and set out for his new duty station at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.

"I was very excited to get to my base and meet my new K-9," said Glover. "I really didn't know what to expect."

Upon arrival he was assigned his permanent MWD; a black and brown male German Shepherd named Roko. However, before Glover and Roko were able to dive into work, they would have to complete an acclamation process to build trust and a strong bond between them.

Each day Glover spends time with Roko, working on simple commands such as "sit" and "heel," in addition to a variety of team building activities.

After Roko eats breakfast, usually around 5:30 or 6 a.m., he and Glover are ready to start their day.

"Every day we go on a walk for an hour or more," Glover said. "I also make sure to clean his kennel first thing in the morning."

Once their walk is complete, Glover and Roko are able to have play time and head out to the MWD obstacle course or play a game of fetch.

"Roko definitely has a personality," Glover said. "He's very high energy and we work well together as a team even though we have only known each other for a little while."

Glover went on to explain it was initially a challenge to get Roko to open up, as he had been working with his previous handler for more than two years. However, now that he and Roko have gotten to know each other a little better, they mesh really well.

"We make a really strong team," Glover said.