BUCKLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE | One of the newest facilities at Buckley Air Force Base is going to the dogs — and that’s just the way Air Force officials planned it.
Early this year, base officials unveiled a new kennel facility on the sprawling base along Aurora’s eastern edge. The facility is home to dog handlers and six dogs from the 460th Security Forces.
While the dogs at the facility are trained to find drugs and patrol, Tech Sgt. Justin Baker, the kennel master, said the main focus for modern Air Force dogs is sniffing out bombs.
“The mission for us in this day and age is explosive detection,” Baker said.
That goes for when the dogs are working here or overseas, and Baker said it requires substantial training. For the eight dog handlers assigned to the 460th security forces, training the dogs to sniff out explosives or drugs or subdue bad guys requires a lot of patience.
“Patience is a big deal,” said Staff Sgt. Marque Daniels.
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Daniels’ yellow Labrador, Pierre, is one of only a few Labradors in the Air Force. Most of the dogs are German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois. But, the airmen say, the job also gives them a chance to form a close bond with the dogs.
Staff Sgt. Rick Laird said he enjoys the job more than he thought he would.
“I get to be by myself most of the day, just me and the dog,” he said. His dog, a 6-year-old German Shepherd named Nina, specializes in drug detection.
Baker said that bond is part of the reason working with K-9s is such a popular assignment. When he started with a K-9 unit 15 years ago, Baker said he was one of just 8 airmen from 90 applicants selected for the assignment. In all, there are only between 400 and 500 airmen assigned to a K-9 unit in the Air Force, he said.
“It’s a very small, tight-knit community with us,” he said.
At 31,000 square feet, the new facility is about twice the size of the base’s old kennel facility, Baker said. The inside includes a 4,800 square-foot kennel, and is complete with living quarters for the airmen, a veterinarian’s room and full kitchen.
With six dogs and 10 kennels, there is some extra space at the facility. Baker said the extra few kennels can be used by other agencies such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security if they need a place to store their dogs.
The 148-foot by 220-foot outdoor play area is just a patch of dirt now, but Baker said the plan is to add Astroturf and permanent obstacles for the dogs in the coming months.
