The last Army dog field manual
(FM) was published in 1977. It reflected military working dog (MWD)
doctrine developed during the Vietnam era. Although useful at that time,
much of the information has since become obsolete. Today, MWD teams are
employed in dynamic ways never before imagined. Today's MWD team is a
highly deployable capability that commanders have used around the world
from Afghanistan to Africa and from the Balkans to Iraq. These
specialized teams aid commanders in stability and support operations as
well as in warfighting. Being modular and mobile makes these teams very
agile. As situations dictate, MWD teams are quick to arrive and able to
conduct various operations. Their versatility allows for effective
transformation at all echelons among readiness for deployment and
operations on the ground, through redeployment and back to readiness.
The highly aggressive dog tactics of the 1960s and 1970s are long gone.
Today's MWD program effectively employs expertly trained and motivated
handlers coupled with highly intelligent breeds of dogs. These teams are
continuously rotating between their assigned duties and deployments
worldwide to perform joint operations, multi-echelon tasks, and
interagency missions. This FM addresses the current capabilities of the
Military Police Working Dog Program as well as the potential for future
applications. As technology and world situations change, the MWD team
will continue the transformation process and give commanders the
full-spectrum capabilities needed to be combat multipliers on the
battlefield as well as persuasive force protection and antiterrorism
assets.
