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Keesler’s four legged protector

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eric Summers
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Keesler is protected by not just the Airmen on the base, but also a four-legged troop. 

The military working dogs and their handlers helps keep Keesler safe serving dual purposes of detection and patrol work. 

"Detection is used when detect explosives or narcotics," said Staff Sergeant Chad Pedersen, noncommissioned officer in charge of the military working dog section. 
"Patrol work for the dogs includes handler protection, capturing and apprehension, and deterrence from crime." 

"Walking and patrolling with the dogs serves deterrence to crime by showing their presence around the base," said the sergeant. "We have demos for the First-Term Airmen Center, Child Pride Day, Operation Hero and schools off-base." 

The canine's mission to protect, defend and deter is the same when deployed. Currently two dogs and handlers are deployed with Army units. 

Military working dogs for all the services are trained at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. 

"We further the training here with no difficulty because the canines are already trained," said Sergeant Pedersen. "They train everyday they work. They do obstacle courses, scout training such as hide and seek, attack work and detection work." 

Each dog works with only one handler. This person trains with the canine and even deploys with them. To the handler the canine is like another service member. 

"I have been a dog handler since March 2003," said the sergeant. "It's a great job -- we always have a faithful companion, even when we deploy." 

German shepherd, Dutch Shepherd and Belgian malinois are the three main types of canine trained to be working dogs. Each dog has a brand number tattooed behind its ear, similar to a Social Security number, that's used to keep track of the dog and any information that deals with the canine. 

"Each canine, like humans, is different," said the sergeant. "It depends on the dog. Some canines are more tolerant than others when it comes to letting people pet them. Some are more aggressive than others."
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