Page 295 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Cell, based at Melton. The Veterinary Division was also responsible for MOD dog training require- ments worldwide.
It was a landmark moment, not just for the RAVC alone, this was a moment in history for all those connected with any aspect of military working animals. This was reflected in an article in the June 1991 issue of Chiron Calling in which Lt Col Peter A Roffey RAVC, wrote:
“With the unfortunate animosity of the past put behind us, the Army and RAF have now shown their determination to make the DAC the Centre of Excellence in animal training matters. An enthusi- astic and working relationship developed rapidly as minds concentrated on the fundamental issues for which the Centre was established, that being to achieve best practices with resulting economies of scale and effort to leading to maximum cost efficiency while maintaining the required performance standards was the goal.
April 1st, 1991, was indeed an historic date for the RAVC, and many may have mourned the apparent loss of Unit identity. We live in changing times, however, so to survive some change of emphasis must be accepted. The DAC was positively under the Army RAVC command, which ensured a future for the Corps, and that in its self must prove of historic significance.”21
DAC – Reputation for Excellence
The DAC had a reputation for excellence throughout the world and students from overseas coveted training opportunities just as keenly as home-grown students. Many foreign countries undertake the course. In forming a Public Private Partnership – Realm DAC Ltd – the Centre created opportunities for attracting and extending new business. The proposed rebuild of the HQ and accommodation facilities were to secure the long-term future of the DAC. As explored later in this chapter, the new phase of building was designed to be attractive to students as well as staff, and not just by including en-suite bathrooms, but also comprehensive sports, catering and conference facilities too.
The Canine Training Division at the DAC, as said previously, became responsible for the training of all dogs and handlers for employment within the MOD at home and abroad. This entailed training dogs, and handlers, specifically for use by HM Customs and Excise, HM Immigration Service and other Government and Overseas Agencies. When it came to the handlers, their training
courses ranged in length from five days to up to three-months for the more specialist handlers. The Centre could also provide a full support service to customers from the initial survey, through to post-course training supervision.
Most MWDs are gifted to the DAC. Typically, over two thousand dogs are assessed in order to successfully train three hundred and twenty. It’s down to the law of averages that not all dogs complete their training and are returned to their original owners, or nowadays (as of 2020), the DAC takes responsibility for their re-homing. From its inception, the DAC had a continuing requirement for potential MWA in all required disciplines. The German Shepherd type and Gun Dog breeds aged one to three years old are preferred and many members of the public who donate dogs for Service take pride in the role that their dog will play in preventing crime or in the defence of the realm. Importantly, the dogs are guaranteed an active and fulfilling life, but it is fair to say that in many cases, where dogs that have been trained to Guard and Patrol, they can sometimes prove too boisterous or aggressive to transfer over to being fireside pets. In these instances, unless the handler is able to take them home, it is fair and safe to re-home the dog into a new role and environment that better suits them.
The majority of the dogs trained at the DAC, graduate in Patrol and Police work or in searching for drugs, or arms and explosives. The dogs trained to protect and search during the Sydney Olympics (in 2000) were trained at the DAC. Not connected, but equally notable that year, was the statistic, that in one three-month period, animals trained by the DAC recovered over £9 million worth of drugs. It is a combination of research and experience that has proven the effectiveness of dogs for Police and security work. Employing dogs on security duty is, time and time again, a very effective method of detecting unauthorised personnel. Given that dogs are able to detect scent in minute quantities, they regularly and consistently outclass even the most high-tech machinery.
Military Working Dogs’ skills are impressive, but they cannot complete their duties alone, so once a dog has been trained it is teamed up with a handler. If the handler is already qualified, then they will embark on a short course called a ‘reteam’. New handlers are given a trained dog, which is then used for the duration of the course. This method of training has proven to be cost effective and produces the high-quality working team that customers require – and of the excellence the DAC
21 Chiron Calling dated June 1991 ‘The Defence Animal Centre’ by Lieutenant Colonel Peter A Roffey RAVC.
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