LONDONDERRY, N.H. -- Families of troops assigned to 368th Forward Support Company and Headquarters Company, 368th Engineer Battalion, 302nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, participated here in a Family Day event to experience a little part of Soldier life Oct. 14.
"This is the first collective event the units have had since their return from Afghanistan in January," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Jennings, battalion commander of the 368th Eng. Bn. and a native of Clinton, Ark.
Jennings said some of the Soldiers have a great connection with the Londonderry Police Department, who came to the Family Day event to demonstrate the capabilities of police dog, Mingo.
In the drizzling rain, John Perry, a K-9 Patrol Officer with the LPD, talks to the Families about Mingo's role as a patrol dog.
"I go to any call that a normal patrolman would go to that doesn't have dog. I just have the added responsibility and the added benefit of having a canine partner to back me up," said Perry.
"Primarily the dog is used as a searching tool," added Perry, "to search for people, things with a human scent, and for types of drugs."
Perry along with Lt. Christopher Gandia, a support division lieutenant from LPD begin the presentation with a high-speed chase in their patrol car. They stop the car in front of everyone while Gandia, who is performing as a criminal, dashes out of the car. Meanwhile, Perry releases Mingo, who then shoots out of the car. Mingo bites Gandia's arm with the protective covering and brings him down to the wet ground.
The crowd applauds as the presentation conludes with Perry, Gandia and Mingo still attached to the protective covering on his arm. Mingo did not let go of Gandia's arm until Perry gave the releasing command.
At the end of the demonstration, some Family members took the opportunity to get inside an up-armored tactical military vehicle and stand next to a massive Tracked recovery vehicle, which is used by Engineers to assist immobile vehicles.
Jennings said, "As an Army parent, it is difficult to get my teenage son to want to come to an event like this, Landon, actually enjoyed our father and son time especially when we were getting into all the vehicles."
Other Family Day activities included the little members of the Family who like to jump in bouncy houses, eat cotton candy, and build wooden fire trucks.
Jennings said the overall event was outstanding and that his family had fun.
"I believe we have a great start, said Jennings, "In the future, I want to tie these events with Family programs and show Families how much they mean to us."
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