Luke Airmen support inauguration prep

  • Published
  • By Deborah Silliman Wolfe
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Two 56th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handlers worked presidential support duty side by side with the Secret Service Jan. 15 through 18 in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Md.

Senior Airman Charles Wilder and Staff Sgt. Justin Kitts, and their dogs Rex and Mayo, conducted security sweeps before the inauguration of President Barack Obama last week.

"We searched a total of nine buildings, some of which were as high as 14 floors," Sergeant Kitts said. "And we searched the whole stage area where President Obama gave his last speech in Baltimore, Md., before the inauguration."

This wasn't the first big event Sergeant Kitts and Mayo have worked; they also assisted with the Republican and Democratic national conventions last year. Airman Wilder, who has been a military working dog handler for nine months, said he was glad to be able to work with the experienced Sergeant Kitts on this trip.

"I didn't know what to expect," said Airman Wilder. "But I was lucky I went with Sergeant Kitts. It was a good way for me to learn the 'dos and don'ts' of what to do in that type of situation."

The two Luke Air Force Base Airmen and their dogs were part of a collaboration of military, civilian and special agency personnel who all worked together to make the pre-inauguration events and inauguration safe for attendees and participants alike.

Airman Wilder said the Secret Service and civilian police department really took care of them, answered any questions he had, and explained the different ways they do things.

Sergeant Kitts and Airman Wilder worked long shifts, but did have the chance to see President Obama on his whistle-stop tour.

"We got to see President Obama give his last speech on Jan. 17 before the inauguration in Baltimore," Sergeant Kitts said. "You see him on TV, but it is different when you see him in person. And it was cool to see such a large crowd of people there, especially since it was 15 degrees outside.

Some people were waiting outside for four hours in 15 degree weather. It wasn't just people our age, it was old people and little kids out there in the cold. We had the chance to put our dogs up and walk around by ourselves to see what it was like."

Airman Wilder said he feels blessed to be in the military and blessed that he was asked to go to Washington for this important historic event.

"I talked to my family and told them about it," Airman Wilder said. "My grandmother started to cry. It was a big opportunity, and I was glad that I was a part of it."

Airman Wilder and Sergeant Kitts enjoyed themselves, but how about their companions, Rex and Mayo?

"The dogs seemed to have a really good time," said Sergeant Kitts. "My room had two beds, so I let Mayo have the other bed. They live in the kennels when they are at Luke, and there's a lot of difference between lying in the kennel and lying on a bed. They know the difference and had a good time."