From Crufts to Camp Bastion
15 Mar 10
It's all in a day's work for the air dogs of the Royal Air Force Police; more used to the harsh environments of Iraq or Afghanistan, they have, for the first time, brought their operational experience to Crufts.
Royal Air Force air dogs and their handlers demonstrate their operational experience at Crufts 2010
[Picture: Senior Aircraftman Neil Chapman, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
For 20 minutes the arena of the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham became the scene of a military patrol out in the Middle East, as over 20 RAF Police personnel and four air dogs ran through a typical day's work for a team deployed on operations.
Flight Sergeant Arthur Sargeant, RAF Police Dog Inspector, responsible for the welfare, training, standards and licensing of all air dogs, said:
"Our capability demonstration started with an RAF military working dog (MWD) team helping to provide a safe working environment for both the military and civilian population in an operational theatre.
"The three main roles of the team were shown as a patrol called them in to clear an area, search suspect vehicles and to restore public order in a potentially violent situation."
Flt Sgt Sargeant explained the role of air dogs in Afghanistan, where several are currently serving:
"The work undertaken by RAF Police dogs in theatre is invaluable, and they are considered a key asset for the commander on the ground.
"They provide a specialist arms explosive search capability as well as force protection, and in some situations the MWD team can do the same amount of work as ten personnel."
"Being able to demonstrate the capabilities of our military working dogs [at Crufts], alongside the best of the best, has been an honour."
Corporal Jimmy Thomas RAF
RAF Policeman Corporal Damien 'Damo' Heartford, from RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, will be heading straight from Crufts to Afghanistan, as part of the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force:
"My role out there will be to investigate the scene of IEDs and gather intelligence - I hope I can play a part in helping to save lives against this threat," he said.
His six-month deployment will mean leaving at home his canine colleague, air dog Kubo, a five-year-old, 40kg, long-haired German Shepherd:
"Kubo joined the RAF when he was two. I am his first handler in his career," Cpl Heartford continued.
"He has adapted very well to Service life, and has already flown on a Merlin helicopter and in a Hercules. Kubo is absolutely fantastic to work with; he is the top dog in his specialisation, winning the RAF Police Dog Championships for the last two years.
"As a police dog, he does the biting aspects of the job - bite, chase, detain, and the stand-off, which we demonstrated at Crufts, where he will jump and bark at the suspect to keep him standing still for the handler to make an arrest.
RAF dog handler Corporal Cahill and arms explosive search dog Skeet meet the public at Crufts 2010
[Picture: Senior Aircraftman Neil Chapman, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
"He also does building searching, article searching and tracking work - Kubo really is a dog of many trades."
Commentating for the team was Corporal Jimmy Thomas, from RAF Odiham:
"I was a bit nervous of talking to a crowd of up to 4,500 dog lovers," he said.
"Crufts is the biggest dog show in the world - so being able to demonstrate the capabilities of our military working dogs here, alongside the best of the best, has been an honour."
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 Explosive Device Task Force.
Their work was recently recognised with a a special 'Dogs in Action' bravery award for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan - see Related News.