MWD's and their handlers

Senior Airman Angela Jones, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, plays with her seven year old Belgian Malinois, Chester after his training at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Jones is a military working dog handler, deployed from Nellis Air Force Base and a Lafayette, Louisiana native. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Desiree W. Moye)

MWD's and their handlers

Senior Airman Angela Jones, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, takes a break with her seven year old Belgian Malinois, Chester after his play time at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Jones is a military working dog handler, deployed from Nellis Air Force Base and a Lafayette, Louisiana native. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Desiree W. Moye)

J-2 Team builds K-9 sun shade

1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group J-2 team constructs a sun shade for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog section at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Prior to installation, the K-9 teams performed repetitive training drills around base while dealing with inclement weather and temperatures that reached into the 100’s during the summer months. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Desiree W. Moye)

The Rock's K9's receive new sun shade

Published Jan. 4, 2014
By Senior Airman Desiree Moye
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog section opened a new sun shade training pavilion Tuesday, ensuring a safer training environment for their canine partners.

Prior to installation, the K-9 teams performed repetitive training drills around the base in inclement weather and temperatures that reached into the 100's during the summer months.

"When our dogs train without protection from the sun, the scorching ground burns their paws," said, Tech. Sgt. Jason Fields, 386th ESFS MWD trainer, deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and native of Mesa, Ariz.

Fields said heat exhaustion and burned paws sustained by the dog's leads to veterinary quarters which impedes on their mission readiness.

The sun shade was installed over a 14,000 square foot sandy training area to alleviate those injuries.

"There won't be a work stop due to rain and temperatures reaching upward of 120 degrees," said Master Sgt. Donald Ellison, 386th ESFS MWD kennel master, deployed from Peterson AFB and native of Yoder, Colo. "The dogs are more comfortable during training drills now."

With sufficient square feet available for multiple handlers at once and taking only four months to fruition, the handlers believe it's an ideal structure for the four legged warriors.

"It's not only the accessibility, which allows more training and play," said Senior Airman Angela Jones, 386th ESFS MWD handler, deployed from Nellis AFB and a Lafayette, La. native, "but it's darn comfortable for Chester."