04 March 2010

Wetnose Bravery Awards for RAF Police Dogs

Last night at a ceremony in the House of Lords, Royal Air Force Police dogs received a special 'Dogs In Action' bravery award for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Presented by the charity Wetnose Animal Aid, the team of 5 personnel and 3 dogs were the only military or police unit to be recognised.

Flight Sergeant Arthur Sargeant holds the post of Provost Marshals Dog Inspectorate, responsible for the welfare, training, standards and licencing of all Military Working Dogs (MWDs). "We are the only Service Police force to operate military working dogs. The work undertaken by RAF Police dogs in theatre is invaluable, and they are considered a key asset for the Commander. Providing specialist arms explosive search capability and Force Protection, they act as a Force Multiplier, allowing the Commander greater flexibility with their personnel, whilst delivering maximum effect on the ground. In some situations the MWD team can do the same amount of work as ten personnel."

Accepting the award on behalf of the team was Corporal Heather Lacey, from RAF Halton, who has herself just returned from Afghanistan. She has just been reunited with Vehicle Search Dog Duke, a collie cross spaniel, who was her constant companion during a tour in Iraq. "We made several trips to the border as well as checking vehicles entering Basrah Air Station, searching everything from sand trucks to personnel cars and water trucks. We spent 3 weeks with the Household Cavalry in the desert, carrying out snap Vehicle Check Points around the out skirts of the marsh land. We lived under cam netting and in the vehicles, where I would dig down into the sand to find a cool layer under the vehicles to keep Duke out of the sun. Duke and I were together 24 hours a day for most of the deployment, with him sleeping next to me or on the bottom of my sleeping bag."

Alongside Duke were canine colleagues Kubo, and the youngest member of the team Arms Explosives Search Dog Billy. Billy's handler is Corporal Cliff Cullen, from RAF Northolt. "Billy is a two and half year old liver and white English Springer Spaniel, and I have worked with him since September 2009, when he came out of training. The last 4 months I have been training him in all disciplines of arms explosives searching in order for him to get licensed and become employed here at RAF Northolt." Billy was a big hit with the guests at the event, who queued up to meet him. "Billy is a gentle loving dog who is very keen to work", Cliff continued. "He is a cheeky little boy who will always do something that will either make you laugh or cry, but he always produces the goods when asked to."

RAF Police Dogs provide an essential Force Protection component to military operations worldwide. Since 1945, RAF Police Dogs have been employed in the protection of RAF Airfields and Military assets, the recovery of evidence, public order, used in the detection of drugs and on anti terrorist operations. On an operational front, RAF Police dogs have served or are currently serving in: Ghan, Misera, Singapore, Aden, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Kosovo, Diego Garcia, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Elements of the RAF Police can normally be found wherever the RAF is operating - for example, in Afghanistan, they provide policing and Force Protection support to the main operating bases, and they are also involved in Afghan National Police mentoring, close protection duties and the Counter Improvised Explosives Device Task Force.

Editor: Lesley Woods

Photographer: Corporal Jennie Blunden, SAC Neil Chapman

RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2010.

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