JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
In a remote area of Joint Base Andrews, between the flightline and some of the rolling, green hills of The Courses at Andrews, lies the 316th Security Forces Squadron military working dog team.
The unit remains out of plain view not because of some fluke in planning, but due to the necessity of the proximity needed to complete one of their main missions: securing the flightline.
"Our mission is to secure cargo and means of transport by utilizing our military working dogs," said Staff Sgt. Eric Smith, 316 SFS military working dog trainer. "We are their handlers securing the environment in which they operate, providing food, shelter and additional training so that they can detect and apprehend as we need them."
The concept of utilizing canines during times of war dates back to ancient eras and spans empires such as the Persian, Egyptian, Roman and Greek, when dogs were used as couriers, guards, mascots, cargo transporters, search and rescue workers and for combat operations. Dogs were even sent to war with their own specialized armor, trained by the Spanish conquistadors to disembowel South American enemies and trained by the Irish to attack Norman knights on horseback - bringing them to the ground for their waiting handlers.
The use of dogs in warfare has drastically changed since the beginnings of the practice. During World War II, dogs were used by the Soviet Union as suicide bombers, called anti-tank dogs - trained to find food under tanks and then starved until battle when they were released to their deaths. Today, the United States military uses state-of-the-art kennel facilities, personalized nutrition and training regiments to assure that the canines are not only exceptional assets, but well cared for.
"When the bullet leaves the barrel, you can't stop it," said Sergeant Smith. "With a military working dog as your weapon, you can call them off at any moment."
The dogs at Joint Base Andrews are made excellent first by their trainers, who provide them with the discipline necessary to maintain a ready posture to complete their mission. Even the smallest member of the canine team can take down an assailant.
"Obedience is the building block for everything we do," said Sergeant Smith. "The dogs serve as force multipliers and can sometimes serve as a psychological deterrent."
The unit doesn't work alone to secure the installation. Through a collaborative effort, they keep Joint Base Andrews safe.
"We work very well both together and with other units on base to complete the mission," said Sergeant Smith. "Airmen just returning from initial training are incredibly motivated and inspire the rest of the team."
Airmen who arrive at the unit carry a heavy sense of pride as they continue a tradition of honor serving the high-profile base mission.
"This is my first base as a handler, and I feel very privileged to be here," said Senior Airman Joshua Alprete, 316 SFS military working dog handler. "Taking care of the mission we have at this unit is important not only to Joint Team Andrews, but to the nation."