MWDs from BMT to retirement

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melanie Holochwost
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Just as enlisted Airmen begin their career at Lackland Air Force Base, military working dogs start there too. In fact, the two careers can be quite similar.

According to Tech. Sgt. John Pillarella, 56th Security Forces Squadron kennel master, MWDs arrive at Lackland when they are about three-months-old.

"Initial training usually lasts three months, but it can vary depending on the dog," he said. "Some dogs take longer than others, just like people, because they have a harder time mastering the task at hand."

MWDs are placed into jobs based on the needs of the Air Force, just like Airmen, he said.

"The dogs are trained based on future openings in field units," Sergeant Pillarella said. "Single purpose detection dogs are trained only to sniff out explosives or narcotics. Single purpose patrol dogs are used only for patrol, which includes locating suspects and biting them. And, most air force bases have dual purpose patrol and detection dogs. These dogs are used to locate either explosives or narcotics, and can locate and bite suspects."

Chasing and biting a decoy, being able to "out" (release from a bite), and detecting nine explosive odors or five narcotic odors are some of the basic tasks the dogs learn during their initial training, Sergeant Pillarella said.

Sergeant Pillarella said dogs, just like Airmen, can be disqualified from the military for several reasons.

"The most common reason dogs are disqualified is if they aren't able to detect and respond to the smell of explosives or narcotics," he said. "If they fail in one category, they will not be retrained in another."

After the dogs "graduate" from Lackland, they go through a socialization program, where they are loaned out to a local family.

"This is where the dogs get used to being handled and touched," he said. "This is important because socializing the dogs lessens the risk of an accidental bite."

After the socialization process, the dogs are sent to their first base, are paired with a handler and receive up-grade training, Sergeant Pillarella said.

"In addition to their normal duties at Luke, MWDs deploy and go on temporary duty assignments," he said. "Most TDYs support the Secret Service, in which the dogs are used to protect the president, vice president and select foreign diplomats."

Sergeant Pillarella said MWDs are often spoiled.

"When they are deployed, they receive just as many care packages as their handlers," he said. "They always have a working air conditioner, and they get their own bed in hotel rooms."

Just like Airmen, fitness is also a priority for MWDs, Sergeant Pillarella said.

"Our dogs have an ideal weight based on recommendations from the veterinarian," he said. "Our handlers also workout with their dogs, which helps them both prepare for deployments."

After several years of duty, MWDs eventually retire.

"The service life of the dog depends on the breed," Sergeant Pillarella said. "German shepherds don't usually last as long as Belgian Malinois. Our last two Malinois retired at 13 and 9 years of age."

Because most relationships between handlers and dogs are very loving, most handlers adopt their retired dog, he said.

"However, other personnel can adopt retired dogs if the handler doesn't want to," Sergeant Pillarella said. "Or, they can adopt dogs that are disqualified during the initial training."