Luke K-9 returns from first overseas deployment

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melanie Holochwost
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Airmen aren't the only ones who deploy from Luke Air Force Base. In fact, the 56th Security Forces Squadron regularly deploys their furry counterparts to locations all over the world.

One of Luke's finest, Chrach (pronounced Crash), just returned from a six-month tour in Kuwait with Staff Sgt. Kyle Alltop, 56th SFS military working dog handler.

"During the entire deployment, we were busy searching vehicles, performing demos and training with the other dogs," Alltop said. "By the time we left, everyone knew Chrach."

Although 12 hours of their day was spent at the gate searching cars, Alltop and Chrach said they still found time to have fun.

"We were at a kennel with a lot of young dog handlers, so we enjoyed mentoring them and problem-solving issues other dogs had," he said. "After teaching the handlers that basic obedience training was just the beginning, we taught them advanced tricks. We got the dogs to jump through car windows and stand on different types of objects -- just like Chrach does."

Alltop said he is excited to be home.

"I got to meet my son for the first time," he said. "He was born a couple weeks after I left, so it was amazing to finally see him."

Chrach is ready to get back to work with all of his other K-9 friends, Alltop said. "Monk (Total Dog), Ranger and Ringo (Avondale police), and Sinbad (Tolleson police) are just a few of the dogs that Chrach trains with on a regular basis."

But, Chrach won't be home very long, Alltop said.

"While we were in Kuwait, Chrach was tasked with another deployment," he said. "He's headed back out in a couple of months with a new handler, Staff Sgt. Steven Bruner, 56th SFS."

Alltop said he's sad that Chrach isn't his partner anymore.

"I spent more time with Chrach than I did with my wife," he said. "He was the best partner I've ever had and my best friend. Although I'm sad, I'm excited someone else will get to experience the joys of working with him."