AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Staff Sgt. Jacob Brown, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and his dog, Grim, conduct their daily training Sept. 15, 2016, here.
The handlers train their dogs daily to maintain the basic level of proficiency and advance their skills. The primary MWD mission here is to maintain a secure operation environment by preventing the introduction of explosives onto the base through explosive detection.
They also directly support the Vehicle Search Area and detection sweeps around critical assets and provide psychological deterrence by conducting foot patrols and presence patrols around populated areas or high traffic areas.
“The impact of having MWDs in the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility is to achieve increased detection capabilities of personnel, explosives and narcotics,” said Tech. Sgt. Steven Lewis, 379th ESFS kennel master. “In addition, MWDs are here to deter the enemy through aggressive patrolling.”
According to Lewis, the MWD team is viewed as a highly sought asset in the Air Force.
“The MWD team alone cannot complete the mission, but when they are incorporated into a larger security forces team, that team can accomplish almost any task that is given to them,” he concluded.