Military Working Dog teams take flight

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Military Working Dog teams assigned to the 66th Security Forces Squadron here recently participated in Helicopter Emerging Training to acclimate the dogs to entering and exiting a helicopter.

The first-of-its-kind training at Hanscom Air Force Base simulated a combat environment for security forces dog handlers and their canines.

"The training provided the military working dog teams assigned here an opportunity to experience loading and unloading on a military helicopter," said Tech. Sgt. John D. Twomey, IV, 66 SFS NCO in charge of the MWD section. "The dogs were able to experience the sensation of lifting off the ground and flying in a Massachusetts National Guard Blackhawk helicopter."

Because, as the squadron's kennel master points out from his own past experience, it's best to provide the dogs and handlers this type of tactical experience before a deployment to learn how the dogs will react to that situation.

"Ideally the time to learn how your dog will react to flying is not while deployed," Twomey said, who deployed with MWD Peta in 2012. "You don't know if the dog will become aggressive or skittish during a mission and that unpredictability could adversely affect mission success."

The SFS teams trained in three phases: First they practiced with no noise and the aircraft shutdown, next the teams practiced with the aircraft stationary and making noise, and the final component was flying with the teams on board.

According to Twomey, none of the handlers had prior deployment experience with their assigned MWD partners and only two of the canines have been deployed.

"Our handler teams are pretty young and only a few have had the opportunity to experience training like this," said Senior Airman Justin Ricketts, 66 SFS handler and junior member of the MWD section.

The training is also important for the aircrews that operate the helicopters, some of whom may be unfamiliar with carrying the four-legged passengers.

"The opportunity to participate in joint training events ensures that all parties involved explore and maintain a high-level of proficiency," said Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremy Rada, Mass. Joint Force Headquarters state safety manager. "The training event provided both the 66th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog teams and the Massachusetts Army National Guard assets an opportunity to exploit these new types of training events and enhance skill sets."

Twomey hopes that the joint training is only a building block in preparing the security forces teams for future deployments.

"The joint training we conducted with the Army National Guard will hopefully lead to other training opportunities that will better prepare us for when we deploy downrange," he said. "I really want to test the limits of what my team is capable of doing to enhance their overall mission effectiveness."

Dog handler teams provide a unique capability in securing the installation and the forces assigned there whether at home or while deployed.

"These highly-trained dog teams are a deterrent for anyone who has ill-advised intentions," Twomey said.

As the only active duty Air Force base in New England, Twomey said the 66 SFS MWD teams are often called on to support Defense Department missions as well as other government agencies in the Northeast.

Most recently MWD teams provided bomb detection support to the Boston Marathon.

"Military Working Dog teams are a tremendous asset to Hanscom and the New England region when called upon," the kennel master said. "This type of training, and other training that we do, enhances our effectiveness when we are called on to secure a location."