For many years, I had the opportunity to see Military Working Dogs operating on Barksdale Air Force Base, the military installation in Louisiana that I called home. I usually only got to watch the dogs work from a distance, so when the chance came in early July of this year to observe a demonstration by these furry, four-legged “airmen” up close, I was psyched to go.
I’m an animal lover and have been since I was a kid. I own felines now, but I love dogs, reptiles, rodents – even snakes. My friends predict my eventual cause of death will result from an attempt to pet the wrong animal. “WORTH IT!” is all I’ll have to say for myself as I bleed out from the bite wounds.
But of course, Military Working Dogs (“MWD” for short) have serious jobs to do and petting them is rarely allowed by anyone other than their handlers. I knew it would be a special treat to witness these amazing animals perform their duties up close.
Military working dogs are bred at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and in some eastern block countries with the sole purpose of performing law enforcement or military duties. MWDs train for two years from birth before becoming certified and sent to their first base of operation. The MWDs at Barksdale live in the kennels at the 2nd Security Forces Squadron, led by kennel master Staff Sgt. Stephen Lammers. There they are matched with their handlers and trained in either explosives detection or narcotic detection.
On the day I visited, Lammers and the K-9 handlers were showing off the skills of a Belgian Malinois named Jason for a group of visiting US Air Force Academy cadets. As the handler gave Jason distinct verbal commands, Lammers explained how the dogs are trained to respond to varying levels of aggression from uncooperative individuals.
As you can see in the clip below, Jason demonstrates his expertise at following his handler’s commands without a misstep.
After Jason’s demo, the kennel master turned to me and said, “Ma’am, would you like to put the suit on?”
As I was poured into a two hundred-pound padded bite suit in the oppressive heat and humidity of the Louisiana summer, I began to question my sanity. I very nearly passed out from just getting fitted into the suit.
The dog I “worked with” was Aura, a female German Shepherd. Aura’s handler, Staff Sgt. Brandon Winter, gave me instructions on what to do (and not to do.) Among the pieces of advice I received was, “If she bites you low on the arm near your wrist, don’t ball up your fist or she may crush your knuckles.”
The look in this animal’s eyes while she waited to be released on me was fascinating. I can’t even describe the glee and anticipation on her face. As I tried to listen to my instructions, I noticed that Aura wasn’t looking at anyone except me, the piece of meat in the Bad Guy Suit. I felt like I could read her mind: “I have waited my whole life for this.” It was at that moment when we locked eyes that I thought, “This may have been a mistake.” This is the first furry animal I’ve ever met that I did not have the slightest urge to reach out and pet.
As you’ll see in the short video below, I’m instructed to “sprint” away from the sergeant giving me orders to stop. What I’m doing here doesn’t come close to what anyone would call a “sprint”, but I gave it everything I had. Aura rapidly gained speed and my face was in the grass before I knew what had hit me. I’m not what you’d call a “petite” woman, and this dog took me down effortlessly. I can’t imagine what it would be like doing this without the protection of a heavy suit. As you can see, I had a blast and couldn’t stop smiling and laughing like an idiot the entire time.
Being able to observe these extraordinary K-9s and learn about their special relationships with their handlers gave me a deeper appreciation for how they aid the military in security and special forces. These animals are doing what they were created to do and they love going to work every day. We humans should be so lucky!
Special thanks to Staff Sgt. Stephen Lammers, Staff Sgt. Brandon Winter, Staff Sgt. Tagliari, Sgt. Warren, and Senior Airman Roberto Padilla for taking time out of their day for my visit.
If you would like to consider fostering or adopting a patriotic pup who has served his country, please visit the Lackland Air Force Base web site for more information on how to provide a forever home to a retired MWD.
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