Military working dog and handler form bond in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alice Moore
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  During his five-year Air Force career, Staff Sgt. Morgan Maul has had a variety of jobs as a security forces member. However, with his most recent deployed job, he's managed to build a special bond that he won't soon forget. 

With less than a week's notice, Sergeant Maul and eight-year-old military working dog Ajax deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. This was Sergeant Maul's fourth deployment, but his first time deployed as a military working dog handler.

"When you get the call, you have to be ready to go," Sergeant Maul said. "Ajax and I were ready."

Assigned to the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Sergeant Maul supported the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division as a military working-dog handler. He was one of many in-lieu-of Airmen, who are scattered throughout the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, supporting Army units.

While working with the 25th ID, Sergeant Maul and Ajax operated combat patrols with infantry units. They also tracked aggression (the enemy) and conducted crowd controls.

"If the Army was searching a house and a suspect escaped, Ajax has the training to track the individual down," said Sergeant Maul.

The military working dog and his handler also supported cordon searches and helped Soldiers track down enemy weapons during raids.

"It's a good feeling to know what you do is making a difference," Sergeant Maul said.

"There may be one less person who dies from enemy fire every time we find a weapons cache or when a working dog is able to detect a bomb somewhere."

Sergeant Maul worked as an entry controller, patrolman and fire team leader during his security forces career before he got the calling to become a working-dog handler.

"I wanted to join the K-9 unit back at home station because I wanted to work with dogs," Sergeant Maul said.

He's been a working dog handler since January and has been working with Ajax since February. He had no doubt the two would be a good team once he learned of their deployment.

"Ajax is a loving dog. He's protective of me, and he knows I can take care of him," Sergeant Maul said.

Although the two worked well together and a bond formed, the deployment presented some barriers.

"When you initially begin working with the Army, there are certain challenges you have to overcome, such as communication barriers," he said. "We all had to learn from each other, but once we got used to working with them, I really enjoyed it."

Another challenge for Sergeant Maul was ensuring Ajax stayed healthy.

"We don't have access to the same facilities here like we do back home," Sergeant Maul said. 

"Your dog is more prone to getting sick, and you have to be watchful if there's something wrong because you're its only protection. But a good handler can bring his dog back with minimal problems," he said. 

After spending nearly six months in Iraq together, Sergeant Maul and Ajax are preparing to head home. He said the experience has been rewarding with a bittersweet ending.

"Ajax and I were such a good team," Sergeant Maul said. "He's my first dog, and its going to be hard letting him go."