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8 GULF DEFENDER, August U, 19S7Taylor, Bo set Peacekeeper sightsBy Miriam Steward Volunteer staff writerAt Tyndall, he works with intensity that only I emphasizes hisrestrained power. His only reward is praise, a small room and one meal daily. The ideal airman? No. This is “Bo,” one of the six Air Force working dogs assigned to the ...fceai degt iexpend weK to emium of fuettdlixm 9f lalm time to eaw fkeii affection.''325th Security Police Squadron.SSgt. Amos Taylor, 325th SPS dog handler, is also Bo’s handler. He and Bo have been chosen as one of the top three dog teams in the Tactical Air Command competition. They will travel to Nellis AFB,Nev., Sept. 3, and compete for the best team in TAC.If Sergeant Taylor and Bo win at Nellis, they will represent TAC in theWorldwide Peacekeeper Challenge later in the year.Sergeant Taylor and other dog handlers train their dogs to control individuals, detect drugs and explosives and search for lost or suspect individuals. Sergeant Taylor treats Bo with respect that tells watchers that this is not a pet, but a highly trained expert, which happens to be an animal.VI ery few dogs respond well to overtures offriendliness from unknown people. It takes time to earn their affection,” said TSgt. James R. Vickers, training NCO.From Lackland AFB, Texas, “recruiters” may go countrywide to find candidates to be military working dogs. They are looking for certain traits, just as certain requirements are laid down for human military inductees. Dogs may either be male or female, and they need not be''...toe K-9 cairn field to Mb exciting and ckalteKgtouj . su* diive tobe ike bed taw enfoicemetd tame kandtm in fke Ai* Hite. German Shepherds or Alsatians, although most of them are.11Smailer breeds are frequently used for work other thanguards and attack work,” TSgt. Michael Myers, NCOIC of the working dog section, said. “We use the larger ones because their size tends to intimidate people. If the dogs are shepherds, they must be at least 23 inches at the shoulders, aggressive but receptive, so their aggressiveness can be controlled and directed.”The average age of a selected dog is 18 months. They may be purchased or accepted as gifts from their owners. As with allAir Force inductees, transportation to Lackland is arranged, and training begins. At Lackland, dog and handler training is done for all military services, Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines.Tyndall’s six dogs have had the basic nine-week patrol course, plus further training to make them either narcotic or explosive detectors. Although the handlers rotate on change of stations, the dogs will remain at Tyndall.Pproficiency training ‘ is conducted frequently,”Sergeant Vickers said, “and may occur as often as four times a week, depending largely on the dog’s capabilities. Sometimes this is given in pre-arranged locations, to assure that the dog can work in unfamiliar surroundings. An actual packet of explosives or narcotics will be planted in a building and the dog is broueht to search for it.The two dogs trained in explosive detection may be called into action if a bomb threat exists, or if a suspicious abandoned package has been found, or a suspect vehicle has been stopped. They have been trained to recognize a variety of different types of explosives.ost handlers agree the K-9 career field is both exciting and challenging.IDe m Ike taige* turn aggmme buf iecepiwe so fkeii aggmsumm eon be cutbwlted and diteetedThey have the opportunity to rub elbows with the president or vice-president during explosive support, or try their hand at a little “Miami Vice” when conducting narcotic searches. Our personnel strive to be the best law enforcement canine handlers in the Air Force,” Sergeant Vickers concluded.
Newspaper Details
Panama City Gulf Defender
Panama City, Florida, US
Fri, Aug 14, 1987
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Camille C.
USA 08 Jun 2025
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