thedrifter
11-15-07, 02:05 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-- The station’s Military Working Dog Unit’s personnel and canines participated in explosive training at The Bob Hope Theater here Nov. 1.
Marines with the unit hid items containing common chemical compositions and scents throughout the theater to simulate an inert bomb threat, giving both the dogs and the handlers a chance to train for responding to emergencies.
The Marines also hid narcotics outside the facility to familiarize the dogs’ noses with scents associated with drug searches and raids.
“Training is constant for us,” said Sgt. James L. Harris, the platoon sergeant for the unit. “It helps the dogs maintain proficiency using their noses to seek out explosives and drugs. The simulated bomb threats here prepare for cache sweeps and detecting roadside explosives in Iraq.”
The Marines chose to utilize the theater so the dogs could search through the stadium seating and also investigate the other rooms in the large area.
The unit trains at as many of the station’s buildings as possible to prepare them for any emergencies that may arise, explained Harris.
Trained to seek out either drugs or explosives, each dog works in it’s own specialty, explained Harris. That way, the handler will know what to expect when the dog gives a cue – such as lying down or stopping in a certain area.
The dogs, a vital asset to the military since World War II, lead their handlers through the facility, hot on their unseen trail lifting and lowering their heads as they pick up different scents.
Dogs have 25 times more smell receptors than humans, sensing concentrations approximately 100 million times lower than humans, according to the National History Museum Web site.
As each team maneuvered through the theater and discovered the explosives, an evacuator critiqued the handler and rewarded the dog with a treat for a job well done.
Marines within the unit take the time to groom the dogs and use play to advance their skills and relationship with the handler.
“Training builds rapport and trust for the handlers as they learn the dog’s signals and notice their behavior changes,” said Sgt. William Patino, a working dog handler with the unit. “It gives the handlers confidence to trust the dog in real situations.”
The dogs arrive to the station after months of training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. But much like recruit training for Marines, the dogs only have a general knowledge of their mission that is enhanced with various drills, explained Harris.
The handlers work with the dogs approximately two per day, during the week. Each handler trains with his or her assigned dog and responds to three calls per month, on average.
“There’s no other job in the Marine Corps like this,” said Cpl. Matthew Favinger, a working dog handler with the unit.
Marines with the unit hid items containing common chemical compositions and scents throughout the theater to simulate an inert bomb threat, giving both the dogs and the handlers a chance to train for responding to emergencies.
The Marines also hid narcotics outside the facility to familiarize the dogs’ noses with scents associated with drug searches and raids.
“Training is constant for us,” said Sgt. James L. Harris, the platoon sergeant for the unit. “It helps the dogs maintain proficiency using their noses to seek out explosives and drugs. The simulated bomb threats here prepare for cache sweeps and detecting roadside explosives in Iraq.”
The Marines chose to utilize the theater so the dogs could search through the stadium seating and also investigate the other rooms in the large area.
The unit trains at as many of the station’s buildings as possible to prepare them for any emergencies that may arise, explained Harris.
Trained to seek out either drugs or explosives, each dog works in it’s own specialty, explained Harris. That way, the handler will know what to expect when the dog gives a cue – such as lying down or stopping in a certain area.
The dogs, a vital asset to the military since World War II, lead their handlers through the facility, hot on their unseen trail lifting and lowering their heads as they pick up different scents.
Dogs have 25 times more smell receptors than humans, sensing concentrations approximately 100 million times lower than humans, according to the National History Museum Web site.
As each team maneuvered through the theater and discovered the explosives, an evacuator critiqued the handler and rewarded the dog with a treat for a job well done.
Marines within the unit take the time to groom the dogs and use play to advance their skills and relationship with the handler.
“Training builds rapport and trust for the handlers as they learn the dog’s signals and notice their behavior changes,” said Sgt. William Patino, a working dog handler with the unit. “It gives the handlers confidence to trust the dog in real situations.”
The dogs arrive to the station after months of training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. But much like recruit training for Marines, the dogs only have a general knowledge of their mission that is enhanced with various drills, explained Harris.
The handlers work with the dogs approximately two per day, during the week. Each handler trains with his or her assigned dog and responds to three calls per month, on average.
“There’s no other job in the Marine Corps like this,” said Cpl. Matthew Favinger, a working dog handler with the unit.