Al Brittain

Labrador Retrievers In Combat As IED Detector Dogs

One of the best Military Working Dog articles I’ve seen is in the Marine Corps Times today, and this one’s about a very specific subset of MWDs – Labrador Retrievers who are trained to work off leash as Improvised Explosive Device Detector Dogs.

Marines train at the K2 facilities near Marston, N.C., to use bomb sniffing dogs. The dogs work off the leash and will be assigned to the same Marine for the whole deployment to Afghanistan.

“Dogs becoming essential in fight against IEDs”

Doesn’t pull any punches in describing how dangerous a job this is or how tough life can be for these dogs, but also gives you a real look at how much their handlers love the dogs and the relationship they have.

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OK, So All Cats Aren’t Worthless – Even Military Working Dogs Like This One

Max, a 21-pound (!) tabby at the Luke Air Force Base clinic in Phoenix, is so cool even the military working dogs like him.

Max, a 21-pound gray tabby cat, and Kisma, 56th Security Forces military working dog, greet each other at the Luke Air Force Base Veterinary Clinic in Glendale, Ariz.
Max, a 21-pound gray tabby cat, and Kisma, 56th Security Forces military working dog, greet each other at the Luke Air Force Base Veterinary Clinic in Glendale, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo – click for larger).

‘Clinic cat on orders to Luke’

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Military Working Dog Makes Historic Tandem Parachute Jump

I saw a brief newspaper article about this jump a few weeks ago with a small picture and figured it was just a matter of time before we’d see the usual hi-res official Army photos.  Well, sure enough, they’re out (click on them for the giant versions):

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Chris Lalonde, center, holds his military working dog, Sgt. Maj. Fosco, and jumpmaster Kirby Rodriguez behind them, as they free fall through the air making history with the military’s first tandem airborne jump from an altitude of 12,500 feet on Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Sept. 18, 2009. Lalonde is assigned to Company D, 701st Military Police Battalion, and Rodriguez is assigned to the 342nd Training Squadron. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Vince Vander Maarel

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Chris Lalonde, center, holds his military working dog, Sgt. Maj. Fosco, and jumpmaster Kirby Rodriguez behind them, as they free fall through the air making history with the military’s first tandem airborne jump from an altitude of 12,500 feet on Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Sept. 18, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Vince Vander Maarel

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  • About Me

    p1000219-facebook-editI'm very active with Canine Companions for Independence as a former member of the Veterans Task Force and puppy raiser. Retired US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant with my last assignments at the Air Force Academy as the Fourth Group Sergeant Major and Dean of Faculty Superintendent.


    I'm actively looking for a paid position doing what I already do full-time as a volunteer.


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    This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Canine Companions for Independence or any other assistance dog organization, and the views and opinions stated here are strictly my own.