thedrifter
07-16-07, 06:11 AM
A special bond in the military
CHRISSY VICK
July 16, 2007 - 12:00AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Staff Sgt. Mark Kyllingstad has a special bond with his military working dog.
The two can read each other without either making a sound.
"You get so in tune with your dog, you don't have to say anything," Kyllingstad said. "The bond is definitely there for most of us."
Military working dogs have been known to protect Marines and sailors in combat, often saving their lives.
"They've alerted us before by detecting something we didn't," said Kyllingstad, who has worked with the Military Working Dog Unit for nine years. "They've protected Marines on several occasions. One of our dogs in the kennel saved his handler's life by pulling him out of the way from a sniper."
But no matter how close a handler gets to his dog, Kyllingstad said they have an even closer bond with fellow dog handlers within the Military Working Dog Unit, Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment-27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group aboard Camp Lejeune.
The unit has lost handlers and dogs in the global war on terrorism - and each incident has hit home with the 50-service member unit.
"We're a small group, and you get very in tune with what's going on, so when you lose a handler, it affects everybody," Kyllingstad said.
Marines and their dogs work together to track odors and detect a person or explosives, such as an improvised explosive device. Working dogs have been used since World War I, but their role has changed over the years. Teams are deployed to protect troops in Iraq but are also used at home, much like a civilian law enforcement K-9 team.
"Our primary role now is shifting more into combat operations," Kyllingstad said. "We are being freed up with security because of technology and do more foot patrols. We are out with the people in Iraq."
Most military working dogs have been deployed more than their Marines or sailors, he said. That's because there are fewer dogs than troops due to the extensive training dogs must undergo.
A civilian law enforcement dog usually takes about one year to be trained, while a military working dog takes two or more years.
"They have to be able to work around people, friend or foe, and heavy weapons systems and vehicles," he said. "If an aircraft landed right there in the field, most of these dogs could run up and jump into the aircraft."
Dogs are trained to obey their handler, no matter the distraction. They can assist in escorting, searching, detaining or capturing prisoners. Kyllingstad's first working dog knew the commands in three languages, he said.
"These dogs are a force multiplier," he said. "By having one Marine with a dog, that force protection is phenomenal. One man and a dog are worth roughly five Marines. The dog is its own unique weapons system."
Dogs give a better warning system than people because of their heightened sense of sight and smell, Kyllingstad said. And the unit strives to find the perfect match for each military working dog team.
"We just build a bond and a friendship," Cpl. Michael Caniparoli said. "It's hard to leave a dog, because we do everything together. It's the best job in the Marine Corps."
Kyllingstad and others in the unit say it's a job that deserves recognition. They fully support an initiative to build a National War Dogs Monument, sponsored by Congressman Walter B. Jones. The monument will honor war dogs and handlers from the past across all services.
"You put your heart and soul into something, and the guy standing next to you did, too, and you lose them," Kyllingstad said. "It's nice to be able to take your son to that monument and say I knew him. He's a friend.
"It's a bond people don't understand."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 8466. To comment on this story, go to www.jdnews.com
Ellie
CHRISSY VICK
July 16, 2007 - 12:00AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Staff Sgt. Mark Kyllingstad has a special bond with his military working dog.
The two can read each other without either making a sound.
"You get so in tune with your dog, you don't have to say anything," Kyllingstad said. "The bond is definitely there for most of us."
Military working dogs have been known to protect Marines and sailors in combat, often saving their lives.
"They've alerted us before by detecting something we didn't," said Kyllingstad, who has worked with the Military Working Dog Unit for nine years. "They've protected Marines on several occasions. One of our dogs in the kennel saved his handler's life by pulling him out of the way from a sniper."
But no matter how close a handler gets to his dog, Kyllingstad said they have an even closer bond with fellow dog handlers within the Military Working Dog Unit, Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment-27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group aboard Camp Lejeune.
The unit has lost handlers and dogs in the global war on terrorism - and each incident has hit home with the 50-service member unit.
"We're a small group, and you get very in tune with what's going on, so when you lose a handler, it affects everybody," Kyllingstad said.
Marines and their dogs work together to track odors and detect a person or explosives, such as an improvised explosive device. Working dogs have been used since World War I, but their role has changed over the years. Teams are deployed to protect troops in Iraq but are also used at home, much like a civilian law enforcement K-9 team.
"Our primary role now is shifting more into combat operations," Kyllingstad said. "We are being freed up with security because of technology and do more foot patrols. We are out with the people in Iraq."
Most military working dogs have been deployed more than their Marines or sailors, he said. That's because there are fewer dogs than troops due to the extensive training dogs must undergo.
A civilian law enforcement dog usually takes about one year to be trained, while a military working dog takes two or more years.
"They have to be able to work around people, friend or foe, and heavy weapons systems and vehicles," he said. "If an aircraft landed right there in the field, most of these dogs could run up and jump into the aircraft."
Dogs are trained to obey their handler, no matter the distraction. They can assist in escorting, searching, detaining or capturing prisoners. Kyllingstad's first working dog knew the commands in three languages, he said.
"These dogs are a force multiplier," he said. "By having one Marine with a dog, that force protection is phenomenal. One man and a dog are worth roughly five Marines. The dog is its own unique weapons system."
Dogs give a better warning system than people because of their heightened sense of sight and smell, Kyllingstad said. And the unit strives to find the perfect match for each military working dog team.
"We just build a bond and a friendship," Cpl. Michael Caniparoli said. "It's hard to leave a dog, because we do everything together. It's the best job in the Marine Corps."
Kyllingstad and others in the unit say it's a job that deserves recognition. They fully support an initiative to build a National War Dogs Monument, sponsored by Congressman Walter B. Jones. The monument will honor war dogs and handlers from the past across all services.
"You put your heart and soul into something, and the guy standing next to you did, too, and you lose them," Kyllingstad said. "It's nice to be able to take your son to that monument and say I knew him. He's a friend.
"It's a bond people don't understand."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 8466. To comment on this story, go to www.jdnews.com
Ellie