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MWD and EOD collaborate in joint operations at ASAB

dog poses for photo

A military working dog from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog kennel poses for a photo at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight and the 386th ESFS MWD kennels conducted joint training to analyze and assess simulated threats around base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman JaNae Capuno)

MWD handlers walk away after planting simulated IEDs

Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog section walk away after deploying training aids during a joint exercise with local explosive ordnance disposal teams at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. The exercise allowed 386th ESFS MWD’s and 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight to conduct proficiency training in the detection and deterrence of simulated improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)

airmen prepare to search for IEDs

Airmen assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight set up a shock tube next to a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. Airmen from the 386th ECES/EOD flight and the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog kennels conducted joint training to analyze and assess simulated threats around the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman JaNae Capuno)

dogs plays with toy between training

Nero, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog, chews on a rubber toy and waits for his next training session task at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight and the 386th ESFS MWD kennels conducted joint training to analyze and assess simulated threats around the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman JaNae Capuno)

Dog searches for IEDs

Staff Sgt. Dennis Kim, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog handler and his canine, Nero, search for simulated improvised explosive devices during a joint explosive ordnance disposal and MWD training exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. The exercise allowed 386th ESFS MWD’s and 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight to conduct proficiency training in the detection and deterrence of simulated improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)

EOD Airmen adjusts his night vision goggles

An explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron adjusts his night-vision goggles during a late-night training exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. The exercise allowed 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dogs and 386th ECES EOD technicians to conduct proficiency training in the detection and deterrence of simulated improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)

EOD airman controls robot

An Airman assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight controls a robot from a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. Airmen from the 386th ECES EOD flight and the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog kennels conducted joint training to analyze and assess simulated threats around base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman JaNae Capuno)

dog searches for IEDs

Staff Sgt. Dennis Kim, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog handler and his canine, Nero, search for simulated improvised explosive devices during a joint explosive ordnance disposal and MWD training exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. The exercise allowed 386th ESFS MWD’s and 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight to conduct proficiency training in the detection and deterrence of simulated improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)

MWD handlers discuss training exercise

From left: Staff Sgt. Dennis Kim and Staff Sgt. Robert Ford, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog handlers, prepare to run an improvised explosive device training course at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight and the 386th ESFS MWD kennels conducted joint training to analyze and assess simulated threats around the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman JaNae Capuno)

MWD handler and canine patrol perimeter fence
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A military working dog handler assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and her canine companion patrol a perimeter fence during a joint exercise with local explosive ordnance disposal and MWD training exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. The exercise allowed 386th ESFS MWD’s and 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight to conduct proficiency training in the detection and deterrence of simulated improvised explosive devices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)

MWD locates IED threat location
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Nero, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog, shows the location of a simulated threat to Staff Sgt. Dennis Kim, 386th ESFS MWD handler, at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 18, 2020. Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight and the 386th ESFS MWD kennels conducted joint training to analyze and assess simulated threats around the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman JaNae Capuno)

ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE, Kuwait --

Job proficiency is key to staying on top of your game. Even while deployed, military working dogs and their trainers get top-notch experience with explosive ordnance Airmen.

Day and night, Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog flight team up with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Airmen to complete response training locally.

“The joint-training we conduct with EOD is critical to us. It sets up realistic training scenarios that the MWDT’s (military working dog teams) could possibly encounter day to day,” said Tech. Sgt. Dominic LaForest, 386th ESFS kennel master. “We all learn from each other, which in turn gives us better knowledge when it comes to working together.”

This type of training helps MWD’s train on new tactics to keep themselves and their teammates safe ultimately, protecting the installation and its assets.

“When working with EOD, we need to make sure our TTPs and comms are parallel with each other," LaForest said. “The only way to get that is training together. At the end of the day we get together, debrief and talk about ways to streamline our operations to accomplish the mission as quickly and safe as possible.”

These Airmen are able to make the most of their training environment on a daily basis. Collaborating between each organization and providing valuable tools to bring back to their home stations are what deployments are all about.

“We train for the threat at hand,” LaForest said. “It all correlates together as explosive devices will be similar in theory. You can say the environment is what is the biggest difference, depending on where you are stationed. But we always try to link up wherever we are and get joint training accomplished.”

While some pandemic precautions have hindered some of these Airmen from returning to their teams and families back home, they still find a way to make the best for defending and protecting installations worldwide.

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