Sniffing his way into his job

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Callahan
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The youngest Warrior of the North is not quite the Airman you think he may be. At 2-and-a-half-years-old, Rex, a Belgium malinois, has arrived as the Grand Forks Air Force Base drug dog.

"Typically, Air Force bases have one drug dog," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Goligowski, 319th Security Forces Squadron.

"With the success of the urine analysis program, the need for drug dogs has reduced," added Mr. Jeff Cariveau, 319 SFS. "They're still a great tool for psychological deterrent, though."

"Sexy Rexy," as he's lovingly called by the handlers, has been through 61 days of training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. His training was the same as bomb dogs.

The only difference is what they find, said Mr. Cariveau.

Sergeant Goligowski described Rex as a 3-level dog, not unlike a new Airman showing up to his first duty assignment.

"He's not ready to work quite yet," he said. "We're working on getting him trained, as well as building our rapport with him."

During this two-month training phase, Rex's day starts with a one-and-a-half to two-mile walk, followed by a two-hour rest period, lunch and training.

After he's been "upgraded to 5-level," Rex will basically work as one of the handler's partner during a regular duty day. His duties will include searching buildings and vehicles that are predetermined by the commander.

"We call it the ride-a-while, walk-a-while program," said Sergeant Goligowski. "We'll drive around on patrol, do some searches, then we'll park and do foot patrol so we both get a break from being in the truck."

Typically, the dogs are paired with a handler of a similar personality, said Mr. Cariveau. "The more energetic dogs will be paired with a handler with more energy."

Rex doesn't seem to be lacking any energy.

"He's high-strung, and he's still a puppy," said Sergeant Goligowski. "He's hyper, but he's a really good dog."

The K-9 unit now has eight dogs, with one deployed. Soon, four will be deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Rex will deploy, according to Mr. Cariveau, but not as often as a bomb dog.

And if his tail is any indication of how he feels about that, he's ready to go when called.