JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Military working dogs have been a vital part of our military since the early 1940’s. But how does the Air Force train our K9 partners? The 628th Security Forces Squadron from Joint Base Charleston is hoping to add best practices training to the curriculum going forward.
The 628th SFS held the first ever Green Dog Seminar at the Joint Base Charleston kennels from Oct. 18, 2021 to Oct. 22, 2021. Members from the 628th partnered with local law enforcement as well as nearby bases to attend this training seminar. Airport Police of Charleston as well as Security Forces members from MacDill AFB, Shaw AFB, and Seymour Johnson AFB attended the seminar.
Military working dogs are trained by the 341 Training Squadron military working dog course at Lackland AFB. They are trained for 120 days before being shipped to bases around the world. MWD handlers train for up to 90 days before being certified by the commander to start working. The Green Dog Seminar is meant to add more hands-on training opportunities to share best practices when training Green Military Working Dogs. Leading the training was MSgt Lindsay Thompson, a security forces flight chief from the 628th Security Forces Squadron with over 12 years of experience five of which being an essential trainer at the Military Working Dog Course at Lackland. Sgt. Thompson’s goal for the seminar was to give handlers more tools for their toolbox when it comes to training new MWD’s.
The 628th is hopeful that Joint Base Charleston will become a hub for the Green Dog Seminar in the future. Their goal is to get more bases involved and to do the training quarterly as a refresher. “I hope people read this and get more excited,” said TSgt. Amadio Apilado, 628th SFS Dog Handler. Sgt. Apilado said they had a great turn out with lots of positive feedback. For anyone who wants to learn and gain more military working dog training tools and techniques, reach out to the 628th SFS at 843-963-1311 for more information on the next training opportunity.