Marine Corps News Room

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/112805/iraq.html

By JOHN BOYCE
News Staff Writer

Although the national media provides everyone with up-to-the-minute news of all the attacks, bombings, and other horrors of combat in Iraq and in Afghanistan, there are other facets of the effort to help the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as of the support provided to our troops in combat, which don’t get the coverage they deserve. That is the purpose of this column, in which information from various other sources will be presented.

Today’s column presents a slightly edited version of an October story by USMC Lance Cpl. James B. Hoke at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

From the deserts of Iraq to the grassy slopes of Afghanistan, there has always been an impending threat of disaster. However, with the help of one of man’s best friends, Kwinto, this threat has been slightly reduced.

Kwinto, a military working dog on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, is an 8-year-old Belgium Malinois whose area of expertise is patrolling for and detecting explosives.
Kwinto, a military working dog with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, sits beside his issued protective gear, which includes a flak jacket, safety goggles and booties made for canines. (Photo by Cpl. Sarah A. Beavers)

“Kwinto was accepted for training in September of 1999,” said Cpl. Leroy J. Becker, military working dog handler, Provost Marshal’s Office. “He’s been in the Marine Corps for six years and has deployed four times.”

The deadly but lovable canine has deployed twice to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq in a span of only four years.

“During the Afghanistan deployment, he was mainly used for base security,” Becker said. “He was also used for the ambassador and would clear buildings before the ambassador would go into them.”

With more than 21 months of total deployed time, Kwinto helped discover explosives in Iraq that otherwise may have been overlooked.

“His actual finds in Iraq were weapons caches, weapons payloads, improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenade rounds,” Becker said. “He found a 125 mm propellant charge, three RPG heads, four 60-pound bags of FE-4 [explosives used in IEDs], and several anti-aircraft rounds that which were found buried three feet under ground.”

When Kwinto isn’t on the job, he is often found taking up his “liberty” time chewing on his favorite chew toy — his bit tugs.

“He loves playing with his bit tugs,” said Sgt. Ken Porras, chief trainer, military working dog section. “His favorite game with them is tug-o-war. He also loves to fetch. He’s just a big love hound.”

Ever since dogs were brought into the military during World War II, they have performed tasks that have saved the lives of many service members.

“Military working dogs are a huge tool in finding explosives, explosive caches, weapons and IEDs,” Porras said. “They’re also a psychological deterrent. If someone sees the dog at the gate, they will think twice before approaching.”

However, the effects of time do wear on military working dogs and cause some to lose their drive to work.

“German shepherds, because of their hip dysplasia, will last between seven and 10 years on the job,” Becker said. “A Belgium Malinois can last 12 years. It all depends on the dog’s health and drive to work, as well as its control capabilities.”

Although all dogs will eventually reach the end of their service, Kwinto’s career is far from over.

“Kwinto is the perfect military working dog because he can bite when it’s time to,” Porras said. “He’s an awesome detection dog. He’s just a big loving goofball when he’s not working. He knows when it’s time to work and when it’s time to play. That’s what I think makes him such a great dog.”