Military working dogs offer free service to Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Ellsworth military working dog section offers a free vehicle search by a working dog to all military personnel that qualify. 

This service is a proactive measure designed to locate any illegal substances that may have been hidden within a recently purchased used or rented vehicle, said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Webb, 28 SFS military working dogs kennel master.
 
It's better to find something using this service than during a random vehicle search, he said. In most cases, Airmen can avoid disciplinary action if they use the service.
 
Ellsworth personnel can utilize this service by contacting the working dog section within 30 days of purchasing a used vehicle; rental vehicles are also included in this service.
 
Once authorization is provided, the working dog section schedules a time to search the vehicle. If any illegal contraband is discovered the working dog section compares the Airman's story with the evidence they find. If everything checks out then no action will be taken.
 
"We're not out to get anyone," said Sergeant Webb. "We're here to use the dog's detection ability to make the base safer." 

Once the handler gives the proper command, the drug-detecting dog starts going through the vehicle. The dog searches for any substance it's been trained to identify. If anything is discovered, the dog is trained to immediately alert the handler. 

"The dogs aren't just trained to find drugs," said Staff Sgt. Curtis Locke, 28 SFS military working dog trainer. "Sometimes they find materials used to make bombs." 

In a demonstration scenario, Marko, 28 SFS military working dog, searched a privately owned vehicle for trace amounts of Potassium Chlorate, a chemical that can be used in the creation of explosives. Once Marko discovered the chemical, he alerted Sergeant Locke. 

The dogs are trained to respond to certain commands and be completely thorough in their searches, said Sergeant Locke. 

Recently, several Airmen have taken advantage of this service, said Sergeant Webb. It's really a good way to keep people from getting into trouble for something they didn't do.
Sergeant Webb said one Airman was able to avoid getting into trouble by utilizing the service after he discovered a marijuana pipe inside a car he'd rented. 

For more information on the program, members can contact the military working dogs section at (605) 385-2497.