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From standing guard, to playing fetch

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Veronica McMahon
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Military working dogs spend their years in the service working for Security Forces/Squadrons Air Force-wide, but people may not know what they do to contribute to the mission, or, more importantly, where they go after retirement. 

The 325th Security Forces Squadron currently has seven military working dogs, ages two through eight, who are vital to Tyndall's security.
Each dog is assigned a handler who accompanies them on all of their training and missions. 

"The dogs give so much of themselves, and it shows in their obedience," said Staff Sgt. Angel Medina, 325th SFS MWD kennel master. "They trust in us to take care of them." 

A military working dog's ordinary workday consists of four hours of training, said Staff Sgt. Johnathan Winters, 325th SFS MWD handler. Their day consists of running the confidence course, law enforcement, and detection and patrol training. The dogs also go on secret service missions across the United States and must have completed multiple deployments. 

"The favorite part of my job is the detection portion," said Sergeant Medina. "I enjoy it because it gives me the opportunity to have a hand in the actual training of the dog teams, including training the actual handlers." 

The dogs are trained to find either narcotics or explosives; they receive rewards after completing the tasks. 

Renovations have also started recently to improve the dogs' current living and training facility. Once completed, the dogs will have an indoor and outdoor running track; an air-conditioned unit, a veterinary exam room and an exercise area. Additionally, the current obedience course will be extended and remodeled. 

Just as in a servicemembers' career, there is a time when their service ends, and retirement is near. For military working dogs, this is called a disposition process. 

The dogs begin the disposition process when they get to their point where they are not meeting their standards, said Sergeant Medina, and that can be recognized through training and their interaction with the handler. The process consists of six phases involving different behavioral evaluations. 

Following the disposition process, these furry servicemembers prepare for their retirement in hopes of finding a good home to spend their last years. 

"The military would say dogs are supply," said Sergeant Medina, "but to a handler they are much more. When it gets time for the dog to retire, it's always good to see the dog adopted and finally get to be (just) a dog." 

Recently, the 325th SFS had to retire one of its finest after 8 years of service, Loeke. Fortunately, Loeke was adopted by a member of the squadron and now resides in a lively household with three children. 

"(Loeke) is loving life," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Stankieniez, 325th SFS Sentry, and new owner of Loeke. "He has been 'demilitarized', spoiled rotten and a great addition to our family." 

All military working dogs are trained at Lackland AFB and then sent to operational units. The adoption law gives priority first to civilian law enforcement agencies, then to prior handlers, and finally to the general public. For information regarding the adoption process, contact Lackland AFB at (210)671-5874.