Page 225 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
a health booklet – forty-three thousand dogs were registered, but not one was neutered.
A deployment to Kosovo was considered by many RAVC personnel to be, in terms of work, intense and hazardous. There were multiple dangers, especially the weather – the atrocious winters in the mountains and hot humid summers accompanied by the ubiquitous ‘midges’. The treacherous condition of the roads and, at times, the open hostility of the local population not to mention being shot at by all factions, made Kosovo a dangerous destination. Many lessons were learned and in many ways the comment made by LCpl Chrissie Fox – who conducted her tour with dog “Sadie” working alongside elements of the Finnish Army – likely sums-up the deployment for many: “...even though you worked long and unsociable hours there were opportunities to work with many regiments of the British Army and with other nations made it all worthwhile.”24
Within Kosovo25 it was an opportunity taken by the following RAVC personnel: one RAVC Sgt, seventeen Patrol dog handlers (rank ranged Pte – Cpl), two Vehicle Search dog handlers (rank ranged Cpl – LCpl) and four LCpl to Cpl AES handlers.
During June 2002,26 the Bde Dog Section was classified, understandably, as a Minor Unit and fell under the administrative control of the Signal Squadron and operational control of the Multi National Bde (Central). Nine RAVC personnel consisting of seven RAVC dog trainers, one Veterinary Technician and one Veterinary Officer were deployed at this time on Op AGRICOLA. Four others handled the four AES dogs and the one Drug Detection dog. At this time, the Unit also had two Vehicle Search dog teams and fourteen E2 dog handlers. It was the first time that the British Army had deployed the Malinois breed as Protection dogs, a move that required a totally new concept with regard to learning styles and training. It was nothing like the training completed previously with GSDs from the UK. And, although the VO was not involved in the chain of command for the Brigade Dog Section27 they did provide assistance and advice as required in this new venture.
It was not only a new breed of dog that was trialled at this time. Due to the RAVC experiencing ongoing manning difficulties, one dog trainer was regarded as the ‘OC’ of the Bde Dog Unit, although the rank varied from Sgt to WO2 depending on
24 ‘All to get the T-shirt’ by LCpl Chrissie Fox RAVC Chiron Calling Summer 2001.
25 DAC/G3/10/4 dated January 2002.
26 HQ BRITFOR Pan-Balkans Post Tour Report dated 5th June 2002.
27 Med 30030 dated 5th August 2002, produced by Major Mary F Logan RAVC.
28 Chiron Calling Winter 1999/2000 Captain Steve S Butterton RAVC.
suitability and availability. Whoever held this ‘senior’ role was expected to provide operational advice on dog employment, the continuation training of all dog teams and was also solely responsible for the validation and licensing of dogs within theatre. He also had responsibility for the administrative and Q functions of the Dog Unit consisting of RAVC and E2 handlers. As the E2 handlers came from a similar make-up to the Army Dog Unit Northern Ireland (ADU NI) – including TA and Reservists – the qualities and uniqueness of the Unit were obvious.
The RAVC VSET (Veterinary Services Evaluation Team) from Aldershot also viewed teams at regular intervals – usually six-monthly ensuring that the deployed MWD teams were operationally effective and met the required standards. The VSET inspection also assisted and benefitted the teams by adding support to demands for equipment and infrastructure requirements. At this time, in 2002, the Unit was situated in Camp Slim Lines, with a new dog section constructed at the Buckley Ammunition Depot. Initially this section used the existing modified ISO Dog Kennelling System but as the dogs became an established part of operations in Kosovo it became easier to apply for Urgent Operational Requirement and get the proper kennel facilities that the Corps MWDs deserved.
During August 2002 the scheduled rebuild of the Bde Dog Section was complete and so all the dog teams from Harden, Gundolph and Murphy Lines were brought together and centrally located within Slim Lines with the facilities at the Buckley Ammunition depot to be used for training. The change also meant a drop in the number of E2 handlers from fourteen to twelve. However, in the autumn of 2002 Reservist dog handlers successfully completing the Vehicle Search course at the DAC took up the positions in September 2002 and March 2003 respectively. Vehicle Search tasking consisted of the searching of vehicles at both Permanent and Snap Vehicle Check Points (VCPs). This proved very successful as did AES dog team Operations in Kosovo with numerous finds being recorded. Their success rate established the routine deployment of AES and Drug dog teams on Cordon and Search Operations and they also assisted planned operations against local criminal activities with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.
Lessons the RAVC28 was able to share with
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