By Air Force Airman 1st Class Lane Plummer, 27th Special
Operations Wing
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., Nov. 22, 2017 — Candy is a
military working dog with six deployments under her collar, and on Nov. 9, she
was finally able to rest her paws when she officially retired from duty during
a ceremony here.
Her career, like hundreds of canines before her, serves as a
reminder of how powerful a four-legged airman can be.
For most of these working dogs, it all starts across the
Atlantic Ocean. The Military Working Dog Buying Program will travel to European
kennels to purchase canines for the Defense Department. In some cases, however,
MWD’s are born and raised at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where training
occurs for both canines and their aspiring handlers. The way to tell the
difference between foreign and domestic canines is in their name. For example,
if their title is “MWD Kkeaton” or “MWD Ttoby,” the double consonant will
signify they’re a dog raised through Lackland’s Puppy Program. Names without
the double consonant are for all other adopted dogs.
After being adopted, the dogs live with foster families
before the initial training regimen begins when they are 18-24 months old. Once
they enter the training program, the dogs have 120 days to graduate.
Training Dogs, Handlers
During this training, they learn all the basics. Basic
commands such as down, sit and stay are the starting point. Once they learn
these commands, the canines begin learning more advanced techniques such as
patrol work, detection and more. Successfully completing the four-month program
means they’ll graduate and be assigned their base.
Simultaneously, aspiring dog handlers are training nearby.
It was an experience that, for Air Force Staff Sgt. Kyle Pethtel, a dog handler
with the 27th Special Operations Security Forces, was fun and filled with
challenges for both canine and handler.
“It felt hard at times because you didn’t know how much work
it takes to become [a handler],” Pethtel said. “I remember how nervous we’d be
[when] pulling our first working dog.”
Before they get to handle their first working dog, the
handlers must also learn the basics and proper commands. Not only that, they
also must learn how to groom the dogs and keep them fit to fight.
When the newly trained dogs arrive at their first
assignments, they will be assigned a handler and begin learning more advanced
techniques.
Teamwork
From there, it’s all about strengthening the bond between
handler and canine. Just like airmen in an office, team chemistry is a vital
component for these working dog teams to accomplish the mission. Between base
patrols and deployments, the bond only strengthens each time they put their
bulletproof armor on.
“When we do convoys, canines lead,” said Air Force Staff
Sgt. Paul Little, a 27th SOSFS dog handler. “When we’re downrange, dog teams
lead the way. It’s one of the most vital components to any mission they’re
involved in.”
It’s an honor that Candy, one of the most experienced and
decorated military working dogs in the DoD, had one last time before she traded
in those heavy vests for a simple collar and leash. After eight years of
service, she received an Air Force Commendation Medal and retired to her new
home in Colorado with Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Fehringer, one of her former
handlers.
From puppy to airman, the career cycle of these canine
service members is long and arduous and requires as much sacrifice as the
thousands of human airmen they serve and protect.
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