Military Dog Teams Hone War-Fighting Skills

By Christine June, USAG Kaiserslautern Public AffairsJune 18, 2008

Military Dog Teams Hone War-Fighting Skills
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Alf, a three-year-old male German shepherd assigned to the 230th Military Police Company in Miesau, Germany, attacks the "suspect" in the felony apprehension scenario June 11 during the 2008 U.S. Army Europe Military Working Dog Competition. Alf and ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Military Dog Teams Hone War-Fighting Skills
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Jessica Ruggiero, 529th Military Police Company in Heidelberg, Germany, commands her partner Beny, a three-year-old male German shepherd, to crawl through the first of two tunnels in the obedience course June 11 during the 2008 U.S. Army Europe ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Military Dog Teams Hone War-Fighting Skills
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Alf, a three-year-old German shepherd assigned to the 230th Military Police Company in Miesau, Germany, goes through the wall of water on the dog walk obstacle in the obedience course June 11 during the 2008 U.S. Army Europe Military Working Dog Comp... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

MIESAU, Germany - Snagging fleeing suspects and seeking explosives were two of numerous war-fighting skills that 36 teams demonstrated at the 2008 U.S. Army Europe Military Working Dog Competition.

"Scenarios were tailored to something (dog teams) could encounter either downrange or in their garrison communities," said Sgt. 1st Class Dean Lane, USAREUR military working dog program manager, who organized the competition that was held June 9-13 in the Kaiserslautern and Baumholder military communities.

Participating teams - each consisting of a dog and handler - competed in seven events, depending on their certifications. First, second and third-place honors were awarded in each event, with points being tallied for Top Kennel and Top Dog honors.

Kaiserslautern's Staff Sgt. Clayton Glover 230th Military Police Company Dog Kennels on Miesau Army Depot, and his canine partner, Alf, a three-year-old male German shepherd, won Top Dog. Points were tallied from their win in scouting and building search, second-place in the obedience course and third-place in the felony apprehension scenario.

"I love this job," said Glover, who has been in the Army military working dog program for about four years.

"He did everything he could think of to do to get ready for this competition ... training early in the morning and after duty hours ... coming up with every scenario he could think of," said Glover's supervisor, Sgt. 1st Class Paul Adams, the 230th MP Company Miesau Kennel master. "All his hard work paid off; I'm very proud of him."

Top Kennel honors went to the 92nd MP Company's kennels in ChiAfA..vres, Belgium, and Schinnen, the Netherlands.

This is just the second year USAREUR has held the competition since 2001. Lane said requirements for the Global War on Terrorism temporarily stopped it, but those same needs are have restarted the event, as it prepares Soldiers for future missions.

"What we see in this competition (is what) handlers are doing over and over again downrange," said Lane. "Military working dogs are finding weapons caches and preventing (improvised explosive devices) attacks downrange - they are a vital combat multiplier for the forces forward."

Teams participating in this competition were mostly from Army garrisons throughout Europe, but there were also three stateside teams representing U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, airmen from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and members of Pond Security and German Polizei.

Winning teams (handler and dog) were:

Explosive Detection: Sgt. Samantha Goscinski and Brit, 527th MP Company, Ansbach Kennels;

Narcotic Detection: Sgt. Kevin Wadley and Pocket, 615th MP Company, Grafenwoehr Kennels

Obedience: Sgt. Ryan Hewett and Chyan, 92nd MP Company, ChiAfA..vres, Kennels

Felony Apprehension: Staff Sgt. Matthew Hoctel and Packo, 92nd MP Company, ChiAfA..vres Kennels

Scouting and Building Search, Staff Sgt. Clayton Glover and Alf, 230th MP Company, Miesau Kennels

Combat Course: Sgt. Andrew Lowery and Ceno, 615th MP Company, Grafenwoehr Kennels

Top Kennels: 92nd MP Company, ChiAfA..vres and Schinnen Kennels

Top Dog Award: Staff Sgt. Clayton Glover and Alf, 230th MP Company, Miesau Kennels

Rookie Team of the Year: Sgt. Clay Reyer and Hena, 212th MP Company, Wiesbaden Kennels

Hardest hitting K9: Chyan, Chievres Kennels.