Our guest for this episode is a Marine Corps Veteran who served as a Military Working Dog (MWD) Handler and Trainer. He enlisted in 2000, and by the end of that year, he graduated from the MWD Basic Handler Course at Lackland AFB with orders to the Provost Marshal’s Office (PMO) MWD Section, Camp Pendleton, California.
This Marine experienced a pre-9/11 Marine Corps and quickly saw the mission of a Marine Corps MWD Handler change overnight. He deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), where he left the stateside garrison mission and conducted combat operations with fellow handlers.
This initial group of Marine MWD Handlers faced the reality of combat on short notice. They realized the importance of training for the fight and bringing back critical information from their experiences to prepare the following handlers for upcoming deployments.
He was one of the first Marines to attend an advanced Canine Course at Von Liche Kennels (VLK).
From 2001-2008 the Marines did their best to prepare all Handlers for upcoming deployments by identifying gaps in training and outsourcing to fill those gaps with advanced training courses and ultimately established the Marine Corps's MWD Team Deployment Training Course in Yuma, AZ. The increasing demand for Marine Corps MWD Teams led to the formation of an MWD Platoon under the Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF).
Toward the end of his Marine Corps career, he focused on developing his Marines for future operations. He transitioned into the civilian sector and continued to train Canine Teams as a contractor in Afghanistan, and to this day, he continues to work in the Canine Community.
In this episode, we discuss his time in the Marine Corps, Dogs, Training, and exiting the Military into the civilian sector.
If you would like to support this show, click the link below!
Thank you for your support!
Follow the Instagram and Facebook page @thedogsofwarpodcast
www.thedogsofwarpodcast.com
In Canis Confiderus!
------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER: The host and guests on this Podcast share their personal experiences and do not represent the views of their affiliated organizations or the Department of Defense.
------------------------------------