Marine Corps Dog Handler

Marines who are selected to become dog handlers will attend the military working dog basic handler course located at lackland air force base in san antonio texas for a six week course that will qualify the marine as a basically trained handler.

Marine corps dog handler. Leavey enlisted in the marines in 2003 and was stationed at camp pendleton california where she was paired with military working dog rex e168. It s usually a secondary or additional mos i hear it s the 5812 admos you have to already be a 5811 to qualify to go to the dog training school. This is the life of a marine corps military working dog handler mwd also known as mos 5812. Marine corps base quantico va.

I went into the marine corps in 1942 and signed up for a four year hitch. In the late summer of 1942 the marine corps decided to experiment with the use of dogs in war which may have been a new departure for the corps but not a new idea in warfare. The four year old german shepherd complies looks to his handler for approval and awaits the next set of directions marine corps recruiting command news. I was 17 years old when i went in and stationed in jacksonville florida a long way from elmira new york.

Usually they give the se. Each mos is a cog working with and relying on each other to keep the. It is a secondary mos to military police mos 5811. The military working dog handlers are one such military occupational specialties are the foundation of the marine corps.

Selection for usmc dog handler is a strict process and the positions are few and highly sought after. A marine looks down at his dog and confidently commands him to sit. Previous experience as a dog handler was not a prerequisite but men who had associated. They were first deployed to fallujah in 2005 and then to ramadi in 2006 where they.

A2a as jim says 5811 pmos is where most marine dog handlers are employed. Those interested in training as a usmc dog handler will face competition for the limited spots and scores in physical fitness exams and shooting are taken into account as well as class performance. The marine corps grooms marines before they leave to the school house to ensure they re. Five military dogs earned the award in 2018 including summer who served as an explosives specialized search dog with the marine corps in afghanistan and taker who uncovered lethal improvised.

Becoming a marine working dog handler. Megan leavey born october 28 1983 is a us marine corporal veteran who served as a military police k9 handler. The pair served two deployments in iraq together.