Brave Defender: Ground combat training goes to dogs

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Hill Air Force Base participated in the first Brave Defender K-9 course, provided by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron's, as part of readiness training for deployment.

Staff Sgt. Kevin Nelson, military working dog trainer and acting kennel master at Hill AFB, attended the course as part of his requirement before deploying to Iraq in December.

Four other military working dog teams from Lackland AFB, Texas; Robins AFB, Ga.; Maxwell AFB, Ala.; and Tinker AFB, Okla., have joined ranks with the combat training squadron to get specialized training in roles and responsibilities in a combat environment.

Working dog teams deploy around the world to fill a variety of positions. In Iraq and Afghanistan, they are being attached to other military branches to assist in searching for weapons caches, insurgents, improvised explosive devices and explosives along roadsides.

"Military working dog teams are encountering new situations in the area of operations, while attached to Marine Corps and Army units," said Tech. Sgt. Todd Coning, 96th GCTS military working dog course chief. "This training gives the team a chance to refresh and hone skills and get exposure to training they don't otherwise get at home station."

Brave Defender, Air Force Materiel Command's security forces regional training center, provides ground combat skills training for security forces Airmen from around the Air Force. The cadre team consists of more than 35 security forces personnel who work side-by-side with visiting Airmen. Airmen receive training in courses such as designated marksman, leadership, headquarters, force protection and communications.

"This training provides our security forces Airmen the combat skills they need to operate in an ever evolving (Aerospace Expeditionary Force) environment," said Maj. Joe Pabalan, 96th GCTS commander. "We are up against a significant and enduring threat. Because of that, these skills are now, more than ever, critical to protect the force and (Department of Defense) war fighting assets."

The Airmen who go through Brave Defender are preparing to deploy to the Middle East in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

"I think this course is important," said Sergeant Nelson. "Using the situation-based training, we threw handlers in situations that they could experience over there like improvised explosive devices -- it was an outstanding experience."

Developing a course for the military working dog teams is the newest addition to make the training received at Brave Defender the "latest and greatest." The current operations tempo around the world with in-lieu-of taskings has K-9 teams doing more non-traditional missions.

The course takes the working dog teams through two weeks of rigorous patrols, training and long line explosive detection. The time they spend together is a chance for handler and dog to further bond as a team.

"I can focus on nothing but training here," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Jones, 72nd Security Forces Squadron kennel master at Tinker AFB. "It gives me a chance to learn more about my dog's reactions. If you can't recognize your dog's change of behavior, you're ineffective as a team."

Sergeant Jones, who is the handler for Blacky, has spent two years with his dog, eight-months of which were in Iraq on an in-lieu-of deployment with the U.S. Army.

The partnership between man and dog for Senior Airman Eric Glass and Kim is more than "man's best friend."

"It's a rapport builder for us as a team," said the handler from Maxwell-Gunter AFB. "The trust between dog and handler can be the difference between life and death."

The handlers are unanimously excited at the idea of going through training with their dogs away from their home station. They feel the value of having a dog team is second-to-none.

"A dog's senses are greater than human beings," Sergeant Coning said. "Technology has made great strides over the last few years, but it's expensive and can break. I fully trust a well-trained dog and would take one over a piece of equipment any day."

The 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs contributed to this story.