They are additionally always one rank above their handlers. Every dog working in the military is a non-commissioned officer. You can find more details in our article “ How to Become a Military Working Dog Handler?” ![]() It is also necessary to be re-certified for the position from time to time. Dog Handler Training, which is another 17 weeks.Military Police School, which carries 19 weeks.Basic Training, which takes up to 10 weeks.To take on this role, one would have to finish: Military dog handlers must be prepared for combat missions as well as police functions. They train in order to properly take care of and work with military dogs. They are usually called military dog handlers. Just as their dogs, owners of military dogs train. To get a deeper insight, hear from Ben, an Air Force dog based at Travis Air Force base in California talk about a day in his life! It is run by the 341st Training Squadron. The program takes place in San Antonio and lasts for 120 days. Once they pass the Consignment Test, they graduate and enter the Regular military service. They will be exposed to various environments and situations and trained on how to respond.Īt 1 year old, these dogs are assessed for the Military Working Dog Training Program. They practice bite work and basic obedience before moving on to learning to recognize commands and detect odors. Gabe was named the “Hero Dog of 2012” by the American Humane Organization and donated his $15,000 award to the U.S War Dogs Association! Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Īs pups, these four-legged soldiers train intensively on base. His record holds 170 combat patrols and 26 finds. Gabe served in Iraq, where he sniffed out ammunition, explosives, and other weapons. Stubby is the first dog to receive the Sergeant rank! Throughout his career, he served in a total of 17 battles. He also alerted soldiers of gas attacks and captured a German spy. He learned to salute with his right paw and bugle calls. Stubby was a stray that was smuggled to Europe by a 102nd Infantry Regiment soldier in World War I. Today, there is a statue honoring her at Gettysburg National Military Park. ![]() She has stood alongside the unit since puppyhood. She died of a bullet wound on the front line two months before the war’s end. Sallie was the unit mascot of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry. In fact, only about 50 percent of dogs in the MWD program “enlist.” 5. As with military recruits, not all dogs make it through training. However, in order to become an “elite” military working dog, training can cost well over $150,000. It takes from $20,000 to $40,000 to train a dog. The remaining 85 percent are actually dogs from specialized breeders overseas, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany. Only 15 percent of military working dogs are born and raised in the United States by the 341st Training Squadron. According to the director for the American K9 (Afghanistan and Mali, West Africa): In addition, they did sentry, therapy, and service work. They were trained to detect drugs and explosives. Military working dogs continue to serve the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were so good at their duties that the Viet Cong had a $40,000 bounty for their capture! Dogs scouted, patrolled, detected mines and bobby traps, etc. It was estimated that 4,000 to 9,000 military dog handlers took part in the Vietnam War. They were briefly deployed to combat night patrols and did a splendid job in penetrating enemy lines, ambushing snipers, and sniffing out enemy positions. In that year, a private organization called “Dogs for Defense” was founded to recruit dogs from the public for the War Dog Program in the U.S military.įive years after World War I, the Korean War raised the need for military working dogs. The U.S military unofficially sought help from dogs in World War I but it was not until March 13, 1942, that they were officially recognized. So they do not have the same benefits as military-owned dogs, such as access to health care. They are just hired by the military from outside companies to do work for them. However, unlike the others, military contract dogs are not owned by the DoD. ![]() This is another type of dog that serves the military.
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