Page 53 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

4 of their training, i.e. bite wounds. I had sun of Jordan. I provided further morale
the pleasure to watch and observe the by making a bi-monthly newsletter with
work and dedication it took to train these pictures and articles of the exercising
assets. All Military Working Dogs are troops in the Squadron. Once the exercise
trained to be completely obedient to the was coming to an end, I obtained a photo
handler’s commands and movements. This of each person doing what they do best.
was essential in enabling the protection
team to carry out their duties. Protection Morale
Dogs were constantly tested and trained
to be able to tackle a target in a baiting Morale was essential to make sure we
suit to the ground, and on the handler’s enjoyed our time and team ethos was
command, let go. maintained. The Squadron was lucky
enough to have a cultural visit planned
Local Armed Forces and costs offset for them. Most people
picked to see the lost city of Petra and walk
On arrival into theatre, troops were around the ancient ruins. I personally
instructed how to act and dress thought the local spa hotel looked more
appropriately when around the local enticing. After a ride on the banana boat
population. I found the most talked about and the jet skis I found myself more in
subject was how women were viewed in tune with my environment and put my
some parts of Jordanian culture. As about swimming ability to the test. I enjoyed
40% of the audience being briefed was the local cuisine: a nice mixed grill and
female, the discussion lasted for some chips with a side of nachos. Once the day
time. We started our first lesson on how was over, a squad of sun-tanned and tired
to speak Arabic and what gestures not to individuals returned to the exercise ready
use, as politeness was key. The language for more.
barrier was definitely the hardest part
about local interaction, but with a few Endnote
experts around to teach us it was easy
to pick up the basics. The biggest impact Once the exercise had come to an end
the Jordanian Armed Forces made on me we departed Jordan and then I left
and bad days. My personal favourite was was talking about camel racing, and how 105 Squadron and headed for North
watching a demonstration in front of a excited they get whilst watching it. It was Luffenham. Exercise Shamal Storm was
news team as a dog decided to desecrate a essential to build a good relationship with a great learning environment for me. It
patch of ground in the middle of his serial. the Jordanian Armed Forces as their camp has definitely proven to me that the SPS
was located right in front of ours so we can deploy and do their job wherever they
ended up having regular interactions.
Protection Team are. Another place in the world to tick off
and another experience to learn from and
My role remember.
The basic default setting for a dog handler
is protection handling. A dog handler As the only SPS administrator on our
must have shown knowledge and skill in camp, I had the job of accounting for all 5
this classification before moving on to a personnel and sending daily personnel
different one, such as search. Protection reports to the headquarters. I also had the
Dogs were the biggest dogs, ranging pleasure of collecting post and distributing
from German Shepherds to Malinois. it to the impatient exercising troops. The
As you might expect, Protection Dog job which I enjoyed most. All eyes followed
training serials appeared to be the most the Clerk with the big bag of mail: a
physically demanding as the handlers small boost to spirits beneath the hot
often came back with some souvenirs
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