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IP dog handlers begin training
Monday, 30 March 2009
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Four Iraqi policemen took their next step to becoming dog handlers March 25 on FOB Delta.
The team will be the first in Iraq once their dogs arrive from the United States.
Once the Iraqis can master leash control before the dogs arrive, they’ll be several steps ahead of other students when they begin training at a school in Baghdad run by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Oliver, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the FOB Delta military working dog team.
The team started their training by leading buckets on leashes practice commands and praise. After the Iraqis were accustomed to commanding their buckets, the American dog handlers demonstrated the bite-wrap and attack suit.
This early training has given the IP’s an opportunity to adjust to working in English, which is important since the dogs come from the U.S. The school in Baghdad will be able to accommodate this training also, as it has several American instructors on staff, said Oliver, who’s assigned to 209th MP Detachment at Fort Benning, Ga.
Five dog handlers were chosen from 27 policemen who volunteered.
“I love it! I love dogs,” said Sgt. Sarug Sa’ad Hamed, one of the handler volunteers. Hamed, who has been a policeman for four years and was the first volunteer to wear the attack suit.
The class on FOB Delta is planned for Mondays and Wednesdays until the Iraqi dog handlers begin their training in Baghdad.
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