A Marine’s Best Friend
by U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alex Fairchild June
24,
2022
To enlist in the U.S. Marines, requirements
such as being at least 17 years-old and having two legs must be met.
For some four-legged Marines, their
training begins shortly after birth, and they must perfect their
craft for two years before they are assigned to their handler on a
military installation.
Cpl. Ivan Perez, a military working dog
handler, and Jack, a military working dog, with Provost Marshal's
Office, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, are one of the
duos on Okinawa that work to keep Marine Corps Installations Pacific
safe. PMO K-9 teams are on continuous shifts on all bases in
Okinawa, trained and prepared for emergencies such as suspect
apprehension, pursuit attacks, building searches, field scouting,
drug and explosives detection.
May 26, 2022 - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ivan Perez, a military working dog handler,
holds his partner, Jack, a military working dog with Provost Marshal's Office, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. Perez and Jack, an 80-pound German Shepherd, specializing in explosives detection, have trained together for nearly a year. PMO K-9 teams are on continuous shifts on all bases in Okinawa, trained and prepared for emergencies such as suspect apprehension, pursuit attacks, building searches, field scouting, drug and explosives detection. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild)
|
Together, Perez and Jack, a 6-year-old,
80-pound German Shepherd, specializing in explosives detection, have
trained together for nearly a year. Jack has had two other handlers
before Perez and has been deployed with two Marine Expeditionary
Units to provide explosive detection security.
“Trust and
rapport are the most important part of this relationship,” said
Perez. “My life is in Jack’s hand, and his life is in mine. Since
Jack had other handlers, it took a few months for us to build
complete rapport with each other. He was stubborn in the beginning,
but I took the challenge. Our relationship keeps growing stronger
every day.”
All MWDs across the U.S. military are trained to
pursuit attacks, suspect apprehension, and building searches.
The dogs are separated into two categories;
specializing in explosive detection or drug detection.
“One
of the things that a team like Cpl. Perez and Jack are entrusted to
do is build a straight and safe pathway to explosives for responding
units,” said Staff Sgt. Eduardo Bonilla, the kennel master with PMO.
“Once that explosive is located by the team, responding units like
explosive ordnance disposal will come in and handle the rest of the
job, but it is critical that the K-9 unit locates that explosive
first.”
Bonilla explained that 17 Marines and 16 dogs make
up the K-9 unit, one of the largest in the Marine Corps. He said
that it’s not only important that the dogs are trained, but the
handlers are also highly trained in everything they may come across
in training scenarios or emergencies.
“In emergency
situations, Jack is not only a physical deterrent, but a
psychological deterrent as well,” said Perez. “A situation is far
less likely to escalate when K-9s are present due to the
intimidation factors they bring to the scenario.”
Perez
explained that each day, the pair conduct different types of bite
and odor detection training, either independently or with other MWDs
and handlers in the unit. In addition to this training, including
weekends, Perez said that he ensures that Jack is fed, cleaned,
stretched, well-groomed, and exceeds physical fitness standards.
May 25, 2022 - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua Conley, left, a military working dog handler, Cpl. Ivan Perez, a military working dog handler, and his partner, Jack, a military working dog, with Provost Marshal's Office, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, conduct training on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. PMO K-9 teams are on continuous shifts on all bases in Okinawa, trained and prepared for emergencies such as suspect apprehension, pursuit attacks, building searches, field scouting, drug, and explosives detection. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild)
|
Typically, MWDs can serve for up to 10
years, based on their breed, bone, and joint health. After their
retirement, the dogs are commonly adopted by one of their handlers.
“We have roughly 160 MWD handlers in the Marine Corps, which
means I’m extremely lucky to be in this community,” said Perez.
“Every MWD handler has a passion for what they do every day. Being
able to build my relationship with Jack and help keep MCIPAC safe is
where my passion lies.”
The U.S. Marines |
Marines - The Few, The Proud |
Our Valiant Troops |
I Am The One |
Veterans |
Citizens Like Us
U.S. Marines Gifts |
U.S. Marine Corps |
U.S.
Department of Defense
|
|