Sergeant First Class Gregg Bockelman was kind enough to allow me to use them. Gregg is the Military Working Dog Program Manager for United States Forces- Afghanistan, Regional Command West. We served together at Fort Bragg, North Carolina many moons ago.

 So what is Regional Command West? Well I took this directly from Wiklipedia…..

Regional Command West (RC West) is a multinational military formation, part of the International Security Assistance Force involved in the war in Afghanistan. It is tasked with controlling Herat Province, Farah Province, Badghis Province and Ghor Province, which have a population of about 3,156,000 people. Currently, the formation is led by Italy.

There are currently four Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) under RC West:

PRT Herat — located in Herat, Herat Province and led by Italy. This is currently the command and control (C2) headquarters and the forward support … Read More »

This is part III of the series. You may wish to read part I or part II first.

For eight years Danica Dada Djikov and Mine Detector Dog Cindy practically lived in the mine fields of Bosnia Heregovina.

Six days a week, 12 hours a day, surrounded by landmines, Danica committed herself to clearing her country of these barbaric weapons. She would do everything in her power to ensure that no one would ever again lose family or friends to a landmine. She personally had lost too many already.

But after eight years of doing one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, Danica was burned out. She had a young child at home who needed her to be a mom. So she did one of the hardest things she’s ever done.

She walked away after clearing over a half … Read More »

Brake, a Syracuse Police Department working dog, sprints towards his target during water confidence and aggression training held at the East Canyon State Park reservoir, Utah, Aug. 21, 2012. The water confidence and aggression training strengthened the K-9′s ability to subdue and detect in an unfamiliar environment. Most of the dogs had never been in water outside of routine baths.
(Photo by Staff Sgt. Julianne Showalter)

(I know that wasn’t a military dog but I thought it was a terrific picture of our brother in the police department)

Staff Sgt. Gizmo, a patrol narcotics detection dog, makes his way through the back entrance of the livestock barn at the Puyallup Fair, Wash., Sept. 7. He and his military police-dog handler, Sgt. Todd Neveu, showcased a bite demonstration to display the military working dogs training on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. (U.S. Army photo by … Read More »

Everyone has a different reason for joining the Military. In 1992 I graduated from high school and joined the Massachusetts National Guard to pay for college. While in the Guard a friend convinced me to join the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). I joined to become an officer in the National Guard. But as college graduation neared I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do after school. I elected to go active duty. Sixteen years later I am still at it!

So I thought this story below was interesting. Specialist Ian Lynch joined the Army in a time of war. He knew by signing his name to that Army enlistment contract that he was going to fight and possibly die for his country.

Ian represents everything that is great about our country. From the Minuteman of the Revolution to the … Read More »

 U.S. Air Force Military Working Dog Suk waits to begin a day of training and patroling at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 15, 2012. Military Working Dogs are commonly used for detecting narcotics, explosives and other harmful materials. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Xavier Lockley/ Released)U.S. Army Sgt. Bety, a military working dog, looks up at the camera Aug. 16, 2012, at Forward Operating Base Gardez, Paktia province, Afghanistan. Bety’s handler was Spc. Eric Neher, an infantryman with Baker Company, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, Task Force 4-25. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kimberly Trumbull/Released)

U.S. Army Spc. Ian Lynch, an infantryman with Baker Company, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, Task Force 4-25, poses for a photo with Sgt. Bety, his assigned military working dog, Aug. 16, 2012, at Forward Operating Base Gardez, Paktia province, Afghanistan. (U.S. … Read More »

I didn’t write this story but I believe it warrants a read. These great folks enable our working dogs to perform their life saving duties on the battlefield. They perform a vital function on the battlefield.

When we at United States Forces- Afghanistan Headquarters began flooding dogs into Afghanistan in 2010, Veterinarian Detachments were a vital part of the package. This was actually a point of contention because every boot on the ground is managed closely. The force cap is a zero sum game. We sat at 98K as mandated by the President. Bring in something new and something must go. Regardless if both assets are needed.

I know, that is a crappy way to fight a war but….. it is what is.

But in the end it was either bring the veterinarian detachments in with the dog teams or don’t increase the … Read More »

Airman and their military working dogs from the 11th Security Forces Group perform a ruck march around Joint Base Andrews, Md. Aug. 8, 2012, the Airmen are getting the MWD acclimated to walking long distances and still performing their duties, before they are deployed downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)

 A Military Working Dog finds a traffic cone to keep him busy while taking a break during a ruck march Aug. 8, 2012 at Joint Base Andrews, Md. The Airmen are getting the MWD acclimated to walking long distances and still performing their duties, before they are deployed downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston).

When I first watched the video below I was like……holy crap! That is one badass Malligator.

Look at the speed, focus and absolute fearlessness that Belgian Malinois possesses. I wish I knew his/ her … Read More »

This Part IV of John and Honza Bear. If you haven’t already…..you may wish to read Part III: Warning: The Bear Has Been Poked or skip back to Part I: John and the Lumbering “Honza Bear”  prior to reading this one.

As the Blackhawk got ready to take off, Army Specialist John Nolan heard Sergeant Celeste says, “You won’t find shit out there man. There is nothing to be found.”

“I guess that’s good,” John said. “I mean, no improvised explosives means no one is getting blown up, right?”

Celeste looked down at John’s Specialized Search Dog (SSD) Honza, a.k.a. “Honza Bear,” and smirked.

Honza was rolling on his back and groaning trying to hit that sweet spot that was itching him. He must have succeeded because he rolled onto his stomach, stared up at John, and yelped at him.

John couldn’t resist. … Read More »