Fort Bliss Monitor

MPs work alonside
K-9 partners

Wilson Rivera

Staff Sgt. Russel A. Minto is attacked by Sgt. Basco while conducting training of a fleeing suspect in detainee operations.

Wilson Rivera
Monitor Staff

From early hours in the morning conducting searches for contraband – known as health and welfares – until the late hours of the evening when it’s feeding time, the Military Police K-9 section works as team to secure the entry points of Fort Bliss.

The MP K-9 section patrols the installation on a regular basis doing many of the unit’s requests for inspections of facilities including Soldiers’ barracks. The dogs can detect either narcotics or materials used for explosives. They are called out to check bomb threats, suspicious packages and to assist with Secret Service missions when important government officials visit, such as the Secretary of the Army and the President.

Within the section, each handler is assigned their own working dog just as if they were signing out a piece of equipment. When a handler is assigned a dog, an effort to match their personalities is made, especially with new handlers. Each year, the dog and its handler must certify together and pass command and odor identity tests, which show their compliance with one another, according to Staff Sgt. Russel A. Minto, currently the kennel master.

“You have to be brave to want to handle a dog because they’re animals. They’re a piece of equipment to the Army but they are alive. They think on their own and react on their own, which at some times can be painful, yet [I think I have] one of the most beneficial jobs, on the other hand. These dogs will always love you as a companion,” said Minto.

Each individual in the K-9 section has one of the most responsible jobs in the MP Corps. Precise and well maintained records of a dog’s eating habits and training must be kept daily and checked weekly by the kennel master.

“We’re a tight knit group,” said Sgt. William Taylor, dog training noncommissioned officer.

The dogs are given, a rank one grade above their handler. The dogs outrank their handlers because if they are ever abused, the handler could face legal action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

In order to become a handler, a Soldier must be an MP and obtain a request with a letter from the kennel master. Before, it was simple to become a handler because of the insufficient personnel but that’s not the case anymore, according to Minto.

“You don’t do anything without your dog until you PCS (permanent change of station),” said Minto.
The teams work together, fly together and at times sleep together, just as Minto and his dog Sgt. 1st Class Argo did when deployed to Iraq in May 2005.

The dogs do physical training in the mornings with the section in order to stay fit and healthy. Veterinary visits are done to keep up with the dogs’ treatment and care. The Army is the only service branch that does this. Within the kennel facility is a veterinarian office for temporary care. Other features of the kennel are quarters for the dogs and a break area where they can roam and play. Obstacle courses and equipment, like truck trailers, tactical and non-tactical vehicles, are used for training in searching of narcotics, explosives and individuals. The kennel is jointly located with the Border Patrol’s dog training facility.

“The dog thinks it’s all a game and he does things in order to be rewarded with a toy or treat, but when an individual hits them, they bite harder knowing that their life is being threatened,” said Minto during a demonstration of detaining personnel.

The dogs have an average career of 10 to 15 years. After being trained at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, the dogs are sent here even if they don’t have a handler. Due to the climate here, retirement can begin once they’re 9 years old. Often, the dogs can be adopted after an aggression test is passed but if not, the dogs are sent back to Lackland where they live out the remainder of their lives on a pasture. Hundreds of dogs are kept their and are still used to train with new handlers going through the school there, which is better than putting them to sleep, according to Minto.

“They’re not only a valuable tool, but they’re our best friend,” said Minto.

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth feature in a series of stories about Fort Bliss’ Military Police force and their duties.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 26, 2006

	MPs work alonside K-9 partners Wilson Rivera Staff Sgt. Russel A. Minto is attacked by Sgt. Basco while conducting training of a fleeing suspect in detainee operations. Wilson Rivera Monitor Staff From early hours in the morning conducting searches for contraband – known as health and welfares – until the late hours of the evening when it’s feeding time, the Military Police K-9 section works as team to secure the entry points of Fort Bliss. The MP K-9 section patrols the installation on a regular basis doing many of the unit’s requests for inspections of facilities including Soldiers’ barracks. The dogs can detect either narcotics or materials used for explosives. They are called out to check bomb threats, suspicious packages and to assist with Secret Service missions when important government officials visit, such as the Secretary of the Army and the President. Within the section, each handler is assigned their own working dog just as if they were signing out a piece of equipment. When a handler is assigned a dog, an effort to match their personalities is made, especially with new handlers. Each year, the dog and its handler must certify together and pass command and odor identity tests, which show their compliance with one another, according to Staff Sgt. Russel A. Minto, currently the kennel master. “You have to be brave to want to handle a dog because they’re animals. They’re a piece of equipment to the Army but they are alive. They think on their own and react on their own, which at some times can be painful, yet [I think I have] one of the most beneficial jobs, on the other hand. These dogs will always love you as a companion,” said Minto. Each individual in the K-9 section has one of the most responsible jobs in the MP Corps. Precise and well maintained records of a dog’s eating habits and training must be kept daily and checked weekly by the kennel master. “We’re a tight knit group,” said Sgt. William Taylor, dog training noncommissioned officer. The dogs are given, a rank one grade above their handler. The dogs outrank their handlers because if they are ever abused, the handler could face legal action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In order to become a handler, a Soldier must be an MP and obtain a request with a letter from the kennel master. Before, it was simple to become a handler because of the insufficient personnel but that’s not the case anymore, according to Minto. “You don’t do anything without your dog until you PCS (permanent change of station),” said Minto. The teams work together, fly together and at times sleep together, just as Minto and his dog Sgt. 1st Class Argo did when deployed to Iraq in May 2005. The dogs do physical training in the mornings with the section in order to stay fit and healthy. Veterinary visits are done to keep up with the dogs’ treatment and care. The Army is the only service branch that does this. Within the kennel facility is a veterinarian office for temporary care. Other features of the kennel are quarters for the dogs and a break area where they can roam and play. Obstacle courses and equipment, like truck trailers, tactical and non-tactical vehicles, are used for training in searching of narcotics, explosives and individuals. The kennel is jointly located with the Border Patrol’s dog training facility. “The dog thinks it’s all a game and he does things in order to be rewarded with a toy or treat, but when an individual hits them, they bite harder knowing that their life is being threatened,” said Minto during a demonstration of detaining personnel. The dogs have an average career of 10 to 15 years. After being trained at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, the dogs are sent here even if they don’t have a handler. Due to the climate here, retirement can begin once they’re 9 years old. Often, the dogs can be adopted after an aggression test is passed but if not, the dogs are sent back to Lackland where they live out the remainder of their lives on a pasture. Hundreds of dogs are kept their and are still used to train with new handlers going through the school there, which is better than putting them to sleep, according to Minto. “They’re not only a valuable tool, but they’re our best friend,” said Minto. Editor’s Note: This is the fourth feature in a series of stories about Fort Bliss’ Military Police force and their duties.