K-9 training

MANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC--Capt. Natalia Balabrikova, Chief of the K-9 unit for the Kyrgyz State Security Service, trains an explosive detection and security dog to seek out suspicious items in a warehouse at Manas AB, Aug. 19. K-9 security dog handlers from the base's 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron train weekly with their Kyrgyz counterparts from the nearby Kyrgyz Republic Capital of Bishkek. The training allows an exchange of ideas and techniques between the two. (Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Ruth Holcomb)

K-9 training

MANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC--1st Lt. Maxatbek Turmanbetov, Deputy Chief of the K-9 unit for the Krygyz State Security Service, rewards Colt, an explosive detection and security dog, after successfully seeking out a suspicious item during training with Manas AB Airmen in a base warehouse, Aug. 19. K-9 security dog handlers from the base's 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron train weekly with their Kyrgyz counterparts from the nearby Kyrgyz Republic Capital of Bishkek. The training allows an exchange of ideas and techniques and builds stronger working relations and friendships between the two. (Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Ruth Holcomb)

K-9 training

MANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC--Konstantin Ilyenko and Sgt. Svetlana Kuzhetsova, both Kyrgyz dog handlers from the Kyrgyz State Security Service, train an explosive detection and security dog to seek out suspicious items in a warehouse at Manas AB, Aug. 19. K-9 security dog handlers from the base's 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron train weekly with their Kyrgyz counterparts from the nearby Kyrgyz Republic Capital of Bishkek. The training offers the opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques between the two. (Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Ruth Holcomb)

Training through the dog days of summer; Kyrgyz and Manas dog handlers build friendships, expertise

Published Aug. 25, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Ruth Holcomb
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

MANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC -- A Kyrgyz dog handler issues the order, "ISCHI!" which means "Search!" to Valya, a two-year-old pure Belgian Shepherd.

Valya frantically starts her search through a large warehouse full of boxes, sniffing and scanning everything in sight as her handler follows close behind directing her every move.

Finally she sits and quietly stares at an object. She has found the small piece of explosive that was hidden between the boxes and patiently waits for the prize she knows she's earned - a small ball.

Valya is the first certified explosive detection dog in the Kyrgyz Republic and is part of the security force that provides security for President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Valya is integral to the success of the Kyrgyz National Security and Customs Police Dogs, which has been working hand in hand with security forces Airmen at Manas AB to share training techniques and build friendships over the last three years.

K-9 security dog handlers from the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Manas AB have trained weekly with their Kyrgyz counterparts since 2005, typically rotating the session locations weekly between the base and a location in the Kyrgyz Republic Capital of Bishkek.

"There is more than one way to do dog handling," said Tech. Sgt. Darnell Breeden, 376th ESFS K-9 security dog handler. "It is nice to be able to get the Kyrgyz perspective on dog training because they have some really well disciplined dogs."

"The dogs go through different types of training," said Capt. Natalia Balabrikova, Chief of Kyrgyz K-9 State Security Service section. "Everything depends on the purpose that the dog is intended for. Some dogs are primarily sport dogs intended for show and entertainment whereas military working dogs are a security measure that can be applied to handle a variety of seen and unseen threats."

The base's professional relationship with Kyrgyz security services is not limited to training.

"We try to help them when we can and support their operations if possible," said Sergeant Breeden. "If we were ever to have an emergency that we were not able to respond to or handle, we could draw on the expertise of our Kyrgyz counterparts for assistance since we both are familiar with one another's training and capabilities."

As the weekly training sessions carry on through the dog days of August and Sergeant Breeden and his team wrap up their six month deployment here and prepare to redeploy, there is no concern amongst either the Kyrgyz or Airmen that the training will not continue on into the next rotation of security forces defenders and beyond.

"For three years we have worked closely together, learning from one another and building a strong and lasting friendship," said Sergeant Breeden. "Our new team has already had the chance to work with the State Security Service team since arriving. I'm confident they'll only continue to build upon where we left off."