Aik T694 joins the pack

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Reel
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Aik T694, 325th Security Forces Squadron military working dog, is the newest member of Tyndall's K-9 unit.

Aik, an almost three-year old German Sheppard, arrived here from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas fall of 2013. Lackland AFB houses the core training center for MWDs.

After the dogs go through years of training there, they are relocated to bases where they will finish their military careers. Aik will spend his entire career at Tyndall as an explosive detector dog.

"Because of his enhanced detection capabilities, he will help find explosives and seek out hidden threats here and in the deployed theater," said Staff Sgt. Tyler Jones, 325th SFS MWD handler. "We are fully certified as a team and fully capable of deploying."

Prior to being deployment capable, military working dogs are vetted through a series of training scenarios before being certified as a team. Depending on the dog's specialty they are exercised on scenarios of detecting narcotics, explosives and/or patrol. The certification process takes approximately 30 to 60 days.

"The thing I love the most about being a dog handler is the bond we create with them," said Staff Sgt. Axel Rodriguez-Rodriguez, 325th SFS MWD handler. "We spend long hours with these dogs. When we have to work in the heat or the pouring rain, they are right next to us without a complaint."

The 325th SFS K-9 unit is comprised of eight certified MWDs.

"Some of the dogs are specialized in narcotics others are specialized in explosives," said Jones. "It's imperative they are only certified in one area, because the dogs can't communicate to say they detected an explosive device or if they found narcotics. By having each certified in one or the other, it helps ensure safety for both the dogs and the handlers."