Working dogs patrol Kirkuk

Published Aug. 29, 2006
By Staff Sgt. Stacy Fowler
506th Air Expeditionary Group

KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Argo and his partner are a lot alike. They can be laid back and fun-loving or firm and focused. They're always on the lookout for possible danger as members of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq.

Senior Airman Steven Kaun, a military working dog handler, and his four-legged partner Argo are part of the 506th ESFS military working dog section here. They protect the base from anyone attempting to bring explosives inside, whether on a person or a vehicle, as well as to stop anyone trying to gain unauthorized access.

Working dogs constantly patrol the base and search all vehicles entering Kirkuk AB. They are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"(Working dogs) are deployed to act as a force multiplier for all military police units," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Somers, the 506th ESFS military working dog section NCO in charge. "We capitalize on their ability to detect."

The dogs are vital in air base defense operations.

"Working dogs greatly improve security measures all over the world with their ability to detect explosives and personnel hidden in just about anything imaginable. Also, their presence alone at entry control points or patrolling the base has been proven to deter hostile attempts," said Sergeant Somers.

Sometimes all it takes is seeing a dog on patrol to keep things under control.

"There's a psychological affect that is caused by seeing military working dogs," said Staff Sgt. Robert Amon, another 506th ESFS military working dog handler. "That's one large benefit from this job. There's just something about seeing and hearing a 100-pound dog start to growl at you that will make you think twice about doing something bad."

Being part of a working dog team can be hard work, especially in the extreme heat of the desert.

"We always have to be aware of not just ourselves, but our partner," Airman Kaun said. "When doing a patrol or a search, it's the handler's job to monitor the dog's vital signs, keep him hydrated, and take it easier during mid-day when the heat is extreme. Argo is my best friend. I call him my 'little troop.' I rely on him for his abilities, and he relies on me to take good care of him."

When patrolling with their partner, handlers also have to be aware of other dangers besides the heat, especially when the sun starts to go down.

"When you're working night shifts, other dangers start to come out," Sergeant Somers said. "You have to watch for the creepy-crawly things like snakes and scorpions. Nighttime is when a lot of the critters out here eat, and we have to make sure our dogs don't have a run-in with them.

Sergeant Somers said when a dog can't see in the dark, "he leads with his nose as he sniffs the ground to get his information, and that nose is a prime target if he comes across a snake or scorpion."

Another challenge at night, Sergeant Amon said, deals with the large amounts of C-wire placed in and around the camp.

"When I'm taking (my dog) on a patrol, I know where the C-wire is and can take him around it," Sergeant Amon said. "Getting caught in C-wire can be dangerous, especially for an animal. If a dog gets caught in C-wire, he'll (quickly) try to get out any way he can, because he's in pain."

This is why the relationship between the dog and its handler is important, because there isn't just one person going out into possible danger, it's two.

"I think of it as courage on both ends of the leash," Airman Kaun said. "I have to have courage to follow where he leads, and he has to have the courage to lead me. These dogs do everything they can to please their handlers, and that's why we can't let them down no matter where we are or what we're in the middle of."

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