Page 16 - Chiron Winter 2020

Training Specialist Military
Woking Dogs during the
COVID–19 pandemic
by LCpl Berresford
Training specialist Military Working Dogs (MWD’s) during the COVID 19 Pandemic has been very challenging as one would expect. The external training venues and arenas that we would normally utilise were either closed or only allowing limited access to essential staff.
This has had significant effect on the Detection Training Section, but with imagination, determination, perseverance and a positive attitude, we as a section overcame the difficulties and managed to provide our customers with the dogs required to meet their needs. The ingenuity and team ethos of all trainers at the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) allowed for quality training to continue, whilst still adhering
to the safety protocols laid out by Parliament and in turn Regimental Headquarters (RHQ).
Initial stages of training were conducted at Old Dalby Training Area in Nottingham, with dogs being introduced to new environments such as open stairs, varying floor surfaces and soft furnishings, whilst
concurrently training the dogs in patterns and indication.
As with all training there is a requirement to be exposed to realistic and live areas, as this is an integral element in stopping dogs from becoming conditioned to repeated areas and will further increase the dog’s mental resilience and physical stamina. A significant part of the training was undertaken in and around the DATR, ranging from the soldier’s accommodation, RHQ and Equine facilities. As the restrictions started to ease, a few existing training areas and Venues started to open their doors for business, giving us
the opportunity to expose the dogs to unfamiliar locations.
One of the unforeseen benefits of the pandemic was the acquisition
of new training areas, securing new Training on Private Land (TOPL) agreements, allowing us to venture to a variety of different locations and thus increasing the diversity of training for dogs and handlers alike.
The DATR hosted Commander Land Warfare (CLF) Major General James Timothy Edward Illingworth
OBE during this period, including a visit to Canine Training Squadron (CTS) to showcase our efforts.
The General was given a brief on the equipment used during MWD training, and was keen to get a more hands on approach, asking to work a MWD after a short period
of instruction. He was given an Explosives Detection Dog (EDD)
to work, an experience which he thoroughly enjoyed judging by his conversation with myself, all whilst social distancing of course.
Stay safe every one.
Hong Kong Ex Servicemen’s Event
by LCpl Ka Man Koowetchai EX RAVC HK DASU RAVC
On 10 October 2020,
the Hong Kong Ex- Servicemen’s Association
and the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence jointly organised a military experience event for the Hong Kong World War II Veterans Association and local citizens
at Moreton Terrace, Causeway Bay. This event was conducted
by ex members of the Hong Kong Defence Animal Support Unit (Royal Army Veterinary Corps) and other local ex servicemen. The theme of the event was
“Brotherhood”. Demonstrations included sharing stories about
our duties on the Hong Kong Sino Border, the tasting of Army rations, Search and Rescue dog training and partaking in the famous food of “Shaffi’s curry” from the former Borneo Lines at Sek Kong.
Due to the riots in Hong Kong in 2019, and the global Corona virus pandemic our military occasion had been delayed several times, and owing to local regulations and restrictions, only 20 citizens could participate in this event at a time.
However, those attending were very enthusiastic and were keen to hear about our adventures in the Army as members of the RAVC.
14 / Chiron Calling