10 Jul. 2008
The dog has always been man’s best friend. Mankind has learned how to use the fidelity, smell and intelligence of dogs. This is true in Kosovo. They are trained by the K9 Group of the Veterinary Center of Grosseto (Italy) for military matters.
The Task Force “Ercole” under the command of the LTC Vincenzo Dimitrio has the duty to drill various departments of the MNTF-W in order to reach a high level of mission capability. The drills include K9 units of the Operational Company of the Task Force "Star" that work permanently in Kosovo with 4 binomial (man and dog); or of the Drill Company of the Task Force "Aquila", which come from Grosseto. They all join us here in Kosovo for a month on the job training session; essential for a one year training course to form a binomial.
This kind of training is finalized to the formation of MDD (mines detection dogs) and EDD (explosive detection dogs). The MDDs will be used to force mine fields or to evacuate wounded inside these fields. The smell of the EDDs is used to verify the presence of explosive or booby-traps in buildings and to embank illegal transportation of explosives with controls on cars, trucks, etc.
In order to be rapidly deployment force to various locations the dog units can also be transported by helicopters like as a fusilier team or a patrol of commandos. Just like the others, the dogs and their "handle" (conductors) have this training need. This is the reason why we normally have some special "student" with four legs studying inside our classrooms at the Task Force "Ercole".
Their training course is not very different from the others. A theoretical phase in the classroom is used to illustrate the procedures that they must adopt too. A practical part with a stationary rotor and engine is used for mounting and dismounting manoeuvres.
Finally, before the flight, a final test with the motors at regime level and the rotors in movement. Perhaps this is the most difficult phase. Strong noise prevents the dogs to feel the reassuring words of his/her own conductor. The sound frequency produced by the turbines confuses the sensitive hearing of the dogs and the wind produced by the rotor provokes a new feeling for them. This causes a change in focus for the dogs. This is why it is imperative the dogs experience this change in atmosphere.
The Belgian Molinois Shepherds and the German Shepherds that are selected for the training course are between the ages of 16 months and 3 years. They will remain in operational service to a maximum of 7-8 years. They are intelligent animals and after some minutes of disorientation they immediately understand that flying is beautiful, not only for the conductors and the crews of “Ercole”, but also for them. So proudly and sharp looking, held back by their leash they peep among the pilots. They almost wanted to check the parameters of flight. After their arrival, with their ears whipped by the wind of the helicopter, they show a sense of sadness. For them, the fun has already ended!
(OR-9 Marco Vegni, Task Force “Ercole”, MNTF “West”)
