Man's best friend

  • Published
Staff Sgt. Philip Mendoza pets his military working dog, Rico, wearing "doggles," during training aboard a helicopter April 21 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The training teaches the team how to safely and properly enter and exit aircraft, and prepares them for future air-assault missions. Sergeant Mendoza is a 332nd Security Forces Group military working dog handler deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. He is a native of Lancaster, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Elizabeth Rissmiller)