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Navy earns Top Dog honors

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  The 2012 Department of Defense Military Working Dog Trials came to a close May 5 after a top dog was selected following a grueling three-day competition.

Forty-three teams came together from across the DoD to test their skills in patrol, and explosives and drug detection scenarios in simulated deployed environments and home station locations. There was also an Iron Dog competition that tested each team's endurance and ability to work as one.

"The event was outstanding from start to finish," said U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jessy Eslick, DoD MWD Research and Development Section senior NCO in charge. "The event planning started in December 2011 and so many individuals came together as part of a team to put on a great event."

The competition followed several days of joint training and instruction at the Air Force-led DoD Military Working Dog schoolhouse at Lackland. The final round of competition was the Iron Dog event - a six mile course with the handler wearing full combat gear, including a ruck sack laden with a 35-pound sandbag. The hike covered terrain that required handlers to carry their canine counterparts, low crawl with simulated gunfire overhead, and retrieve an unconscious victim from a danger area.

Eslick said he was most excited to see the different types of training being conducted at different locations and was anxious to see them on display during the competition.

"With that being said, we have some work to do to improve everyday and learn from the handlers and trainers before us," Eslick said. "The dog world is changing every day and we need to stay on top of the new technology and training techniques."

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ekali Brooks, 341st Training Squadron, also expressed the importance of getting the different branches of service together for the same cause.

"It's important to get all of the branches together for one major competition," Brooks said. "Even though each branch may do something a little different, this allows us to get on the same page and helps us when we go down range."

Although the event was a good learning experience for all who participated, it was also a difficult one.

"The competition was great but extremely challenging," Brooks said. "It allowed us to deal with scenarios that we would actually come across here or while deployed. It was difficult but was more than a competition. The entire time we were able to help each other to point out good or bad things someone else may see, which in the end makes us a better handler."

While the best-of-the-best were on hand to display their skills, only one was named the Top Dog at the end of the competition.

With a smile on his face and swagger in his voice, Brooks said, "It was a beautiful thing winning two categories and being named Top Dog in front of the canine community. There are some great handlers here so I am on cloud nine." At 37 years old, Brooks was one of the oldest competitors in the challenge. He's also an instructor at the MWD schoolhouse.

Top Dog or not, the handlers appreciated the opportunity to get together and better their overall profession.

"Looking back and thinking, what was my favorite moment, I would have to say the pride of being part of such a special group of individuals," Eslick said. "Individuals who are dedicated to improving every day so when the time comes and you're asked to go on the front lines, you know that you and your dog are there to save lives. You can't ask for a greater responsibility than being a dog handler."

Competition Winners:

Patrol - 3rd place, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Brian Dorsey; 2nd place, U.S. Army Sgt. Alfredo Guajardo; 1st place, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ekali Brooks;

Explosive Detection - 3rd place, U.S. Army Sgt. Jarred Palmer; 2nd place, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Larry Brown; 1st place, Brooks;

Drug Detection - 3rd place, U.S. Army Spc. Cesar Ventura; 2nd place, U.S. Army Spc. David Cartwright; 1st place, U.S. Army Sgt. Paul Helm;

Iron Dog - 3rd place, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Handy; 2nd place, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Justin Kitts; 1st place, Guajardo;

TOP DOG - Brooks.