DVIDS – News – Fort Bragg groups take dwelling the win at first Navy Working Canine Workforce of the Yr Competitors

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – With laser-eye focus, fight gear secured and tails wagging, eight navy working canine groups launched into their real-world state of affairs primarily based coaching lanes for one widespread objective – to earn the title, Navy Working Canine Workforce of the Yr.

The primary Navy Working Canine Workforce of the Yr Competitors was hosted March 24 by Fort Bragg’s Public Well being Exercise, on the Medical Simulation Coaching Heart, on Fort Bragg. Every canine and handler staff, specializing in both narcotics or explosive detection, competed in several duties all through the cloudy and drizzly day, difficult them on their information and abilities.

Two groups got here out on high – Cpl. Taylor Reed and navy working canine, Gert, for narcotics detection and Cpl. Jericho Arengo and navy working canine, Serif, for explosives detection. Each groups are from Fort Bragg’s 550th Navy Working Canine Detachment.

“I’m nonetheless astounded being named the Fort Bragg Explosive MWD Workforce of the Yr,” stated Arengo. “There have been a variety of nice MWD groups competing for the title. It was not a simple competitors.”

Arengo added that he and his canine companion labored properly collectively, regardless of a couple of deficiencies that they may proceed to work by means of as a staff. Nevertheless, he positively made positive Serif received a variety of additional treats, stomach rubs and free time to run round to be a canine as celebration.

“We have by no means had something like this,” stated Reed, Narcotics MWD Workforce of the Yr. “We had the chance to apply hands-on (coaching) in a simulated and managed setting on what we have to know methods to do as canine handlers. The complete occasion was far above and past any coaching I may have dreamed of and it was executed completely. I really feel very honored and prideful of our detachment.”

In whole, three navy installations throughout the nation had been represented; Fort Bragg, Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

“It’s at all times good to get comradery with our Army counterparts,” stated Senior Airmen Devon Reynolds, whose canine companion is a 2-year-old German shepherd named Bruno from the 633rd Safety Forces Squadron, JBLE. “We don’t get to work with all of them that usually, so after we do it’s a terrific alternative to study from one another and have slightly enjoyable whereas we’re at it.”

Every staff was examined on their skill to detect the scent of both narcotics or explosives, methods to administer first help to each people and canine, methods to use radio communications, methods to function in a chemical, organic, radioactive, nuclear and excessive yield explosives setting, and assemble/dissemble their weapon – all of the whereas tending to and defending their four-legged companion.

“I like how there’s a lot selection whereas going by means of the coaching,” stated Pfc. Gabriel Franco, 550th MWD Detachment. “You get much more expertise and information out of the competitors so that we are going to be ready if something truly was to occur for actual.”

When coordinating the competitors, Capt. Heather Weaver, the officer in control of the occasion and assigned to the Fort Bragg PHA, stated that they had direct backing from her command staff and their troopers labored very laborious as the primary help. The detection, chew and medical lanes had graders from third Special Forces Group, First Yr Graduate Veterinary Internship captains and 4th Safety Forces Squadron. The 550th MWD Detachment supplied detection aids, weapons and primary canine wants like trailers and water. All of the models working collectively supplied an Army, Air Power and Special Forces perspective to the scoring of every lane.

“We had been on the lookout for a contest to indicate us essentially the most well-rounded MWD-handler staff,” stated Weaver. “These handlers additionally compete within the Skilled Soldier Badge yearly, however we wished a solution to tie in detection/chew work and each day duties requested of those groups, Army Warrior Duties, and medical coaching.”

Weaver added that she regularly supplies coaching to the 550th MWD Detachment groups and 4th Safety Forces Squadron from Seymour Johnson Air Power Base, in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

“As an alternative of changing into assured and complacent in our coaching, we wished to see what the handlers would do in real-life eventualities with out my direct steerage,” Weaver stated. “This enables us to gauge the place essentially the most frequent gaps of data lie, and it additionally permits us to give you a plan of action to shut these recognized gaps.”

With the partnership between the totally different models, not solely competing collectively but in addition supporting the occasion, lots of the opponents agreed that they realized loads.

“I realized issues I didn’t even know I didn’t know,” laughed Pfc. Sheridan Reagin, 550th MWD Detachment. “I positively put myself to the check. Essentially the most difficult was the medical lane. I went in pondering I knew loads about first help, however then I kind of panicked.”

The medical lane began off with a patrol stroll by means of the woods when instantly, simulated artillery rounds went off and there have been human and canine causalities. The opponents rushed to their assigned lane and started to manage first help to both the human or canine coaching aide.

“The canine that we labored on, they’re so lifelike,” added Reagin, Max, her 5 yr previous, German shepherd companion. “I really feel like if I get environment friendly on the coaching canine, I can stay calm and carry out first help on my canine if wanted. It was a distinct expertise tending to the human casualty than the canine. There’s that added emotional reference to Max. He’s my buddy.”

The Superior Canine Medical Coach, K9 Diesel, is a full-body simulator utilized by handlers and veterinarians to apply medical help. The fur lined robotic canine whines, growls, breathes, bleeds, has a pulse, makes airway obstruction noises, has a real-time sensor that’s customizable to totally different eventualities and reacts to therapies administered – it seems to be, reacts, and appears like an actual canine.

Teaming up with the Fort Bragg Veterinarian Clinic throughout the parking zone from the 550th MWD Detachment has its perks for the native groups that practice month-to-month on totally different medical eventualities and make the most of the K9 Diesel quarterly.

“We’re very lucky to have (the vet clinic) so shut to offer their experience,” stated Reagin. “We’re our canine’s major caregiver, we will’t simply name for a medic. It’s as much as (us) to use first help till (we) can get (them) to the vet.”

With each winners coming from Fort Bragg’s 550th MWD Detachment, the occasion solidified that the coaching is being retained and that handlers are in a position to apply their information when challenged, stated Weaver.

Arengo added that having each winners from the identical unit correlates with the superb coaching alternatives and trainers obtainable at Fort Bragg.

“The 550th Navy Working Canine Detachment holds their handlers above the usual,” Arengo stated. “That claims loads concerning the detachment.”