Peering through window to world of ‘sniffing’ Published Oct. 21, 2005 By Staff Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) -- Security forces military working dog handlers have a unique job. But not every handler gets the opportunity to train with customs agents from a host nation. Military working dog handlers here train with Japanese K-9 agents from Narita and Osaka as part of a joint-training opportunity established with the Government of Japan nearly six years ago. “This training program was established so handlers from Yokota could train with handlers from Tokyo, Narita, Nagoya and Osaka customs,” said Mr. Naokazu Tajika, 374th Security Forces Squadron K-9 handler. “This last exercise was conducted here but we have also trained at Narita Airport where we toured facilities and trained with Narita dog handlers.” “All these training scenarios are something we learn in school, but we rarely get to apply them to our dogs -- for example, protocol training," said Staff Sgt. Kurt Otto, 374th SFS military working dog trainer. "We have a real sense of accomplishment when seeing the final product, knowing we played a part in training that dog in some aspect.” On a normal day, Japanes customs agents are limited to certain training scenarios, such as luggage and postal facilities, said Mr. Masayuki Wakatake, Tokyo customs chief instructor. “Our dogs and handlers can train in areas ranging from the base theater, large vehicles like busses, tractor/trailers and forklifts, warehouses, schools and even inside airplanes,” Mr. Wakatake said Mr. Wakatake said the training scenarios were an overall success and he looks forward to training with the Yokota military working dog teams again in the future. “In order for the Japanese customs agencies to train here, we need a lot of coordination and cooperation from various agencies on base,” Sergeant Otto said . “The help and support we received made the training scenarios a complete success. While the training only lasted a week, the bonds of friendship we forged with our host nation will last a lifetime.”