CHAPTER 11 MILITARY WORKING DOGS

As the requirements for physical security and law enforcement of stations and activities continue to increase, the available manpower will probably continue to be limited.

Military Working Dogs (MWDs), when properly trained, are intended to supplement and enhance the capabilities of security forces. When integrated into existing security forces, MWD teams enable those forces to perform their mission more effectively with significant savings in manpower, time, and money.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe the management structure of the MWD program. Explain the composition of MWD teams, and describe the duties of the kennel master and MWD handler.

The U.S. Air Force is the single manager of the MWD program for the Department of Defense (DOD). Through the Air Force, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) has delegated the responsibility for the Navy-wide MWD program to the Special Assistant for Naval Investigative Matters and Security (CNO N09N), with organizational placement in the Headquarters of the Director, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NAVCRIMINVSERV).

COMPOSITION OF MWD TEAMS

An MWD team is composed of one certified MWD handler with a properly identified NEC (MA-2005, MA-2006) and one MWD trained at the DOD Dog Center (341 Military Working Dog Training Squadron), Lackland AFB.

KENNEL MASTER

The kennel master (NEC MA-2006) exercises direct supervision over the unit MWD program and is directly responsible to the security officer for managing and operating the MWD section. The kennel master is a Chief Master-at-Arms (E7 or above) who should be a qualified detector-dog handler with a minimum of 3

years' experience, and a graduate of the MWD supervisor course of instruction at Lackland AFB. Activities having 1 to 14 MWD teams should have one kennel master assigned. Activities with 15 or more MWD teams should have two kennel masters assigned. At commands having one to four MWD teams, the Chief Master-at-Arms/Security Chief may act as the kernel master if he or she meets the requirements just described.

MWD HANDLER

Patrol/Detector Dog Handlers (NEC MA-2005) perform specialized duties in law enforcement, physical security, anti-terrorism operations, and detection of explosive and/or illicit drugs in the military community, using assigned MWDs. They are responsible for the care, welfare, and continuous training of assigned MWDs to make sure that physical conditioning and proficiency are maintained. They maintain the administrative records associated with the use and maintenance of assigned MWDs. Dog handlers must be a high school graduate or GED equivalent, with a minimum GCT/ARI (WR/ARI) of 100 (a minimum GCT of 45 is required). They must be a U.S. citizen eligible for access to classified information, have no history of mental disorders and no history of drug abuse (sales, possession or use), have had no record of conviction by a general, special, or summary court-martial and no conviction by non-judicial punishment or conviction by a civil court for any offense other than minor traffic violations. Qualified individuals must obligate 36 months of service within the acquired Navy classification upon completion of military working dog training.

TYPES OF MWD TEAMS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe the three types of MWD teams. Explain dualqualification and single-purpose MWDs.

The Navy MWD program inventory consists of Patrol, Patrol/Drug, Patrol/Explosive, and Drug-Detector Dog (DDD) teams.

PATROL MWD TEAMS

Patrol MWD teams (Patrol, Patrol/Drug, Patrol/Explosive) used in normal law enforcement operations are a tremendous psychological deterrent to potential violators. MWD teams should be worked in all areas of the base. Further psychological benefit is derived by conducting periodic public demonstrations. MWD teams can be an integral part of a active crime prevention program.

PATROL/DRUG AND DRUG-DETECI'OR DOG TEAMS

A very efficient means for detecting the possession or transportation of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and related controlled substances is the well-trained patrol/drug or drug-detection team. These MWDs are trained to recognize the scent of controlled substances and to alert the handler, regardless of most efforts to mask or block the scents. Information on supposed means of confusing or restricting an MWD's effectiveness must not be made public.

PATROL/EXPLOSIVE AND EXPLOSIVE-DETECTOR DOG TEAMS

A very effective countermeasure to the increasing use of explosives is the deterrent and detection capabilities of the patrol/explosive MWD team. These teams are known by both military and civilian security and law enforcement forces as the best weapon presently available in the counter-terrorist arsenal. The most common use of these teams is for searching areas or buildings against which a bomb threat has been made. MWD teams are also useful in investigations involving most types of weapons, ammunitions, or explosives. Information indicating hidden materials in a general or specific place can be checked and verified quickly by using a MWD team.

DUAL QUALIFICATION/DUAL EMPLOYMENT

Patrol/Drug and Patrol/Explosive teams perform normal patrol duties when not required for detection work. If they are not assigned to a full range of duty positions, they will quickly lose their patrol proficiency.

SINGLE-PURPOSE MWDS

Drug-detector and explosive-detector MWDs are used mainly for their detection capabilities. These MWDs may be trained in other areas (such as tracking, evidence search and recovery) to enhance their employment capability.

CERTIFICATION

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Explain the importance of MWD certification. Identify the certification requirements for patrol MWD teams and detector MWD teams. Describe MWD team training.

Since apprehension of offenders is involved, there are several legal considerations when using MWD teams. MWDs are first certified after completing their training with the staff of the Military Working Dog Training Squadron of the U.S. Air Force. To meet legal requirements permitting their operational use, each

MWD team must undergo validity certification when first assigned to duty and annually thereafter. Detector MWDs must undergo validity certification quarterly.

PATROL MWD TEAMS

Patrol MWD teams must maintain a proficiency level of 80 points to remain certified. The MWD is required to perform critical, semi-critical, and non-critical tasks. Each dog starts with 100 points. Each task is assigned a point value, which will be subtracted if that requirement is not accomplished by the MWD. A patrol MWD team is not necessarily required to certify in front of the commanding officer; however, it is highly recommended. Commanding officers should be given a realistic demonstration to fully understand the patrol MWD's capabilities. The patrol MWD must be moderately aggressive yet controllable, to pursue, attack, and hold an intruder only on command from the handler.

DETECTOR MWD TEAMS

Drug-detector dogs must maintain 90 percent accuracy on each odor the dog has been certified to detect. Proficiency tests will include at least 10 trials for each drug the dog is trained to detect, with a false response rate no higher than 4 percent.

Explosive-detector dogs must maintain 95 percent accuracy on each odor the dog has been certified to detect. Proficiency tests include at least 10 trials for each explosive the dog is trained to detect, with a false response rate no higher than 4 percent.

When a team is first assigned to a duty station, the commanding officer (who authorizes searches) should review the training records of the dog and witness a demonstration of the team's capabilities. After review of the records and after witnessing the demonstration, the commanding officer certifies the MWD team as reliable by signing the quarterly review sheet. After the first duty certification, recertification requirements are as follows: 

. The initial certifying commanding officer should review the training and duty experience records quarterly and recertify the team. A demonstration is not required for quarterly recertification unless the records show a lessening of the team's reliability. 

l When a new handler is assigned, the new team must be recertified before being assigned to operational duty. Recertification is required even though the commanding officer has already certified the MWD with another handler. 

. When a dog team's proficiency training has been interrupted for 30 consecutive days or more for any reason, recertification is required.

. When detector dogs fail to maintain their required 90 or 95 percent proficiency for each of the required odors for a period of 30 days, they are considered decertified and must be recertified. 

. When a new commanding officer is assigned, full recertification will be required. 

l Any time the authorizing commanding officer has reason to doubt the team's reliability, full or partial recertification may be required.