Working dogs leave legacy

Published Feb. 18, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Christopher Carranza
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Not all members of the military are two legged. Some come in the four-legged form as well.

They have helped out their two-legged companions since 1942 during World War II. Military working dogs search for drugs, explosives and people.

After completing training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, MWDs find themselves at any one of the Department of Defense's military installations where they live, serve and deploy alongside their handlers until retirement.

Two MWDs at Travis have reached the pinnacle of their careers.

Ego and Kim are two of Travis' defenders. Both have deployed multiple times and have done their missions time and time again.

Ego is a 7-year-old German shepherd explosive detector dog with a number of achievements under his collar. Ego deployed three times in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, surviving multiple life-threatening injuries returning to work each time. He attained fame in three different countries.

"He's super friendly and loves to work", Smith said. "Since he has nerve damage in his back, he can't work anymore and has to retire."

Ego's handler, Staff Sgt. Joseph Josey, 60th SFS MWD handler, said he was happy and excited to be taking his partner home to enjoy his retirement.

"He's such a goofball. He's the type of dog that can change a crappy day into a great day just because he wants to run around and play," Josey said. "I've been working with him for the past five months and he loves to work because he wants to, not because he has to."

Kim is a 12- year-old Dutch shepherd, explosive detector dog with her own laundry list of deeds.

She deployed five times in support of OIF and OEF, with a lifetime explosive detection success rate of 99 percent and supported the U.S. Secret Service in protecting the president on 10 occasions.

Kim is a living progenitor within the Department of Defense MWD program, Smith said.

"Kim is the first of many things starting with the DOD puppy program," Smith said. "She was initially bought by the DOD to be a breeding dog, which is the epitome of a dogs worth. She bred two litters, one being the best litter since the inception of the program.

"During her second litter, Kim actually died giving birth, but was resuscitated and was sent off to be trained. She passed through the training in record time and we were very lucky to have her come here."

Kim's litters produced two future breeders and a third generation of certified MWDs, he said. Currently, Kim has two grand-puppies working for the DOD MWD program, being the first and only dog in our country's history to accomplish such feats, he said.

Ego and Kim were retired Jan. 31 after a ceremony and medal presentation.

"It is very rare that MWDs get to retire and that's why we are having a ceremony to recognize them and their accomplishments," Smith said.

Upon completion of their ceremony they were given treats and awaited their new families for adoption.

Josey said that he cannot wait to take Ego home and make him a part of his family.

For more information on the DOD Puppy Program and MWD Adoption Program, visit the website www.jbsa.af.mil and follow the links.

Kim and Ego, both former 60th Security Forces Squadron military working dogs specialized in explosives detection, relax in the shade with their handlers Jan. 31 after their retirement ceremony. Both dogs were adopted by military members to live out the re