Page 19 - DATR 2019

101 Military Working Dog Squadron – The Army Reserves
January 2015 saw the creation of the new Reserve Military Working Dog (MWD) Squadron, part of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment based at St George’s Barracks in North Luffenham, Rutland. The Squadron’s creation is directly linked to the success of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment on operations in recent years. Handlers from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps have been involved in every operational deployment abroad since WW1 including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and, most recently, the enduring Operation in Afghanistan.
Throughout these operations the Corps’ most important skills of the handling and training of various MWD capabilities have grown exponentially. Typically, German Shepherd dogs have been used for protection or guarding roles of sensitive MOD sites; however, the Belgian Malinois is being used more and more nowadays within the Corps as this breed becomes more established in the public eye. The Reserves are trained to handle Protection dogs initially before some selected handlers go onto handle the Vehicle Search dog which, as the name implies, is used to search all types of vehicles for explosives, weapons, and ammunition.
The Reserve Squadron is at full strength; however, the Squadron is always recruiting potential soldiers from all across the UK who can commit to a minimum of just 19 days training per year. No previous dog handling experience is required. The Squadron is also actively recruiting Professionally Qualified (PQ) Officers as Veterinary Officers. Potential recruits have to undergo a rigorous medical assessment, and then complete basic military training.
Cpl Mike Kimpton with a Protection dog
This can be either over a series of weekends or a consolidated course. Basic training will teach the soldier to safely handle weapons, learn first aid, map reading, field craft, and all with plenty of physical training involved. Soldiers who graduate can be very proud on their ‘Pass Out Parade’ where families and friends are welcome to come along and support.
The next stage for the trained RAVC Reserve soldier is to complete their 16 day residential dog handling course here at the prestigious Defence Animal Training Regiment, the home of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. On this course handlers will be taught all aspects of kennel management, canine care including first aid for working dogs, grooming,
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