Doggone helicopters! 6th SFS MWDs receive unique helicopter training

  • Published
  • By Airman Adam R. Shanks
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
CLEARWATER, Fla. --  The 6th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) military working dog (MWD) section collaborated with the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Clearwater, Florida to condition two MWDs to flying in a helicopter, May 23, 2016.

The training exercise granted the opportunity for MWD handlers to gauge how well their K-9s deal with loud noises and high altitudes.

"Due to our operations overseas, a majority of the dog teams that get deployed are attached to Army units that use helicopters," said Tech. Sgt. Dmitriy Sklyar, a MWD trainer supervisor with the 6th SFS. "This training lets the handler know how the dog will behave when exposed to helicopters."

During the exercise, the MWDs and their handlers practiced boarding and exiting a helicopter, as well as keeping calm during air maneuvers.

"Every dog handles stress differently, but this training helps to ensure that both the handler and the dog can rely on each other in a deployed environment," said Staff Sgt. Corey Ray Alpago, a MWD handler with the 6th SFS.

As a result of the training, the 6th SFS is interested in increasing the frequency of these exercises.

"The 6th SFS plans on flying with the Coast Guard on a bi-monthly basis to get all 12 of our dogs familiarized," said Sklyar.