To enlist within the U.S. Marines, necessities resembling being no less than 17 years-old and having two legs have to be met. For some four-legged Marines, their coaching begins shortly after delivery, they usually should excellent their craft for 2 years earlier than they’re assigned to their handler on a navy set up.
Cpl. Ivan Perez, a navy working canine handler, and Jack, a navy working canine, with Provost Marshal’s Workplace, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, are one of many duos on Okinawa that work to maintain Marine Corps Installations Pacific secure. PMO Ok-9 groups are on steady shifts on all bases in Okinawa, skilled and ready for emergencies resembling suspect apprehension, pursuit assaults, constructing searches, discipline scouting, drug and explosives detection.
Collectively, Perez and Jack, a 6-year-old, 80-pound German Shepherd, specializing in explosives detection, have skilled collectively for practically a yr. Jack has had two different handlers earlier than Perez and has been deployed with two Marine Expeditionary Units to offer explosive detection safety.
“Belief and rapport are a very powerful a part of this relationship,” stated Perez. “My life is in Jack’s hand, and his life is in mine. Since Jack had different handlers, it took a number of months for us to construct full rapport with one another. He was cussed to start with, however I took the problem. Our relationship retains rising stronger every single day.”
All MWDs throughout the U.S. navy are skilled to pursuit assaults, suspect apprehension, and constructing searches. The canines are separated into two classes; specializing in explosive detection or drug detection.
“One of many issues {that a} group like Cpl. Perez and Jack are entrusted to do is construct a straight and secure pathway to explosives for responding models.” Workers Sgt. Eduardo Bonilla, kennel grasp with PMO
“As soon as that explosive is situated by the group, responding models like explosive ordnance disposal will are available and deal with the remainder of the job, however it’s crucial that the Ok-9 unit locates that explosive first,” stated Workers Sgt. Eduardo Bonilla, the kennel grasp with PMO.
Bonilla defined that 17 Marines and 16 canines make up the Ok-9 unit, one of many largest within the Marine Corps. He stated that it’s not solely necessary that the canines are skilled, however the handlers are additionally extremely skilled in every thing they might come throughout in coaching eventualities or emergencies.
“In emergency conditions, Jack shouldn’t be solely a bodily deterrent, however a psychological deterrent as nicely,” stated Perez. “A scenario is much much less more likely to escalate when Ok-9s are current because of the intimidation components they carry to the state of affairs.”
Perez defined that every day, the pair conduct various kinds of chunk and odor detection coaching, both independently or with different MWDs and handlers within the unit. Along with this coaching, together with weekends, Perez stated that he ensures that Jack is fed, clear, stretched, well-groomed, and exceeds bodily health requirements.
Sometimes, MWDs can serve for as much as 10 years, primarily based on their breed, bone, and joint well being. After their retirement, the canines are generally adopted by certainly one of their handlers.
“We’ve got roughly 160 MWD handlers within the Marine Corps, which suggests I’m extraordinarily fortunate to be on this neighborhood,” stated Perez. “Each MWD handler has a ardour for what they do every single day. With the ability to construct my relationship with Jack and assist hold MCIPAC secure is the place my ardour lies.”
