Page 469 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Regiment has developed a Military Working Dog (MWD) Training Team set within the Regimental Training Wing. At the beginning of November 2020, the newly formed MWD Training Team planned and executed a month-long training programme, focusing on the foundations of training MWDs.
The training was delivered through theory and practical lessons focusing on Protection, Vehicle Search and Arms and Explosives Search. One of the main aims of the training period was to give all levels of Service personnel a good understanding on how MWDs are trained at the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) and provide them with a problem-solving workshop – giving them the tools to rectify minor training issues before they escalate. This in turn makes maintaining any MWDs an easier process and allows them to build on the foundations on which the dogs’ future development is based.
For all classifications, week one started with lessons. Both detection and protection learnt about the procurement and foundation training that occurs at the DATR. Detection then branched off into relevant sections for lessons on pattern training, the importance of the scent wall and demonstra- tions of the clicker/mark. Protection focused on the importance of canine communication (visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory) and the different types of drives present in their dogs – the good and bad and how to utilise them in training.
Each Squadron’s/Section’s dogs also underwent assessments from the training team to highlight any potential training issues for the problem-solving workshop in week three.
In week two, Detection Section moved onto an indication workshop, run by Cpl David Berresford, Cpl Anthony Wood and LCpl Bethan Pritchard. An allocated time was spent showing handlers how to fix generic problems within their dogs, such as migrating or becoming proactive on hides. This was highlighted to be one of the most valuable lessons for the handlers as the main source of problems in their MWDs were the indications. Scent recognition lessons were taught, making sure that each MWD was able to locate the presence of a small piece of Kong during a search as Kong is used as a pairing scent for the MWDs.
During the same period, Protection focused on the decoy’s overall skill set, using the canine communi- cation knowledge gained in week one. Decoys were taught dry drill mechanics (muscle memory) in the suit, the importance of movement – both MWD and decoy. The implementation of tie-backs; how to set up and how to use them to test or develop the MWD, an equally valuable lesson for all handlers involved. Plus, all-round
bite development for the dogs, and for handlers, the importance of using ‘drives’ to form the balanced drive triangle (Fight Drive).
Week three consisted of a problem-solving workshop for all sections. VS Section concentrated on pattern training on the trailer park at St George’s Barracks, starting off with the initial stages of searching a vehicle. Meanwhile, the AES Section moved to Rogue Sail Training Area within RAF Wittering to work on duration and adaptability of search.
Protection section used this time to consolidate work on the various drives in canines and their uses for training to develop confidence. Utilising St George’s Barracks Airfield, Protection teams then progressed onto pick-up and indication – arguably the most valuable skill a Protection team holds, and often the least focused on.
We spent the final week consolidating all that had been learnt by all sections. Control of the sessions was handed back over to the handlers for the training team to assess how they had progressed over the past month and a discussion was conducted on ways to improve the foundation training for future periods. After a consol- idated period, the Training team revisited each Sqn in turn, to ensure that the training had been understood and implemented where required and disseminated to new Sqn members.
In addition to embedding to each sqn for foundation periods, the MWD Training Team also aids with the In Service Acceptance Check (ISAC) of MWDs from the DATR to 1 MWD Regt. This allows the trainer the opportunity to see the MWD and allow them to plan a team period before the MWD joins its new Sqn. The training team also provides assistance should any Sqn require a MWD Class One (Dog Handler). The training wing can provide relevant cover to support, whether that’s with an individual Sqn or to help cover on a course run by the military side of the training wing.
Overall, the training team has had an immediate effect on MWD teams within the Regiment and the future is looking very promising.
Training on the high seas is not exactly what you would anticipate as a MWD handler – with all four paws and two feet usually, very firmly, on the ground. However, Pte Lisa McCririe-Hallman Cyp MWD Tp and several colleagues, joined members of 1 MWD Regt for an unmissable opportunity work alongside the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) in 2021:
Search Training with the UK Carrier Strike Group
On 29th June 2021, four handlers from Cyprus MWD Troop and two Vehicle Search (VS) handlers from 1 MWD Regt, had the rare opportunity to conduct contin- uation training on board the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Fort Victoria. This was a large stores ship
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