By
FLGOFF Jen Harrison
Volume
48, No. 4, March 23, 2006
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Dog
handlers from Air Force, Customs and Queensland Police during
the explosive detector dog course at RAAF Base Amberley.
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Photo
by CPL Jeremy Patten.
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A
new explosive detector dog course is on trail
at RAAF Base Amberley.
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The
three-month program is being run by the Australian
Customs Service and involves the Air Force and
Queensland Police.
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The
dogs are required to acheive a 95 per cent successful
detection rate to become certified as operational
explosive detector canines.
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MILITARY working dogs (MWDs) are set to become “operational
explosive detector canines” thanks to a breakthrough program
on trial at RAAF Base Amberley.
The explosive detector dog course is designed to enhance the current
detection capability of newly-qualified dogs, providing everyday
security such as clearing entry and exit points, incoming mail
and packages, as well as aircraft for explosives and firearms.
The three-month trial, which began on January 16, is being run
by the Australian Customs Service – the leaders in the training
of detector dogs in Australia – with the assistance of two
MWD handlers from Headquarters Combat Support Group (CSG) and
a dog handler from the Queensland Police.
Seven dogs, provided by Customs, are being tested on a range of
explosives and firearms munitions, including plastic explosive.
According to WOFF Dave Towerton, an MWD handler from the CSG Force
Protection section, the dogs were trained to become detector dogs
from pups.
“From the moment they started moving, these pups were taught
to play with a rolled-up towel (or similar item) so they would
become fanatical when chasing and retrieving it,” WOFF Towerton
said.
“In this course, we contaminate that item with an explosive
substance odour, so the dog associates that smell to the item.
“To be a good detector dog, they have to have the motivation
and desire to get in there and search for that smell in any situation.”
He said not all the dogs were expected to finish the course due
to the high level of accuracy required.
The dogs must achieve and maintain a 95 per cent successful detection
rate to become certified, with the top two dogs qualifying as
Air Force operational explosive detector canines.
WGCDR Simon Sauer, Capability Manager for Force Protection at
CSG, said the course provides a great opportunity to work with,
and learn from, other organisations.
“We see this as the start of a new era in cooperation between
Customs, Queensland Police and the Air Force,” he said.
“It is the culmination of a number of years of hard work
that will expand the MWD capability.”
The course will finish on April 12, after which an explosive detector
dog trial will be held at Amberley.
