Last modified Wed., August 09, 2006 - 04:16 PM
Originally created Thursday, August 10, 2006

Handlers receive Kennel of the Quarter Award

By MC2 (AW) Brian Smarr, Staff Writer

NAS Jacksonville's military working dog team members proudly display their newly aquired Naval Region Southeast Kennel of the Quarter trophy. The team recieved this award by proficently maintaining and working their dogs and exceeding training standards. Photos by MC2(AW) Brian Smarr

Naval Air Station Jacksonville's security department's military working dog (MWD) division was recently awarded the kennel of the quarter award. The award, established last year, showcases K-9 units' ability to out perform other units within their respective regions.

Receiving this award demonstrates the kennel's ability to professionally train and maintain their staff of personnel and animals.

The criteria to qualify for the award includes MWD record reviews, highest number of completed training hours, kennel and dog hygiene and health as well as a performance evaluation by a regional team of evaluators.

NAS Jacksonville MWD met these criteria by logging and averaging more than 300 training minutes, 30 utilization (working) minutes and 400 trial minutes per month for each MWD and handler.

''By extensively training the handler as well as the dog and the availability of local base veterinary services we were able to achieve our goal of kennel of the quarter,'' said Security K-9 Trainer, MA 2 Brian Thomas.

MAC Ernest Prevatte, Naval Region Southeast kennel master(left) and CDR. James Thompson Naval Air station Jacksonville Security Officer(right) present MA1 Kimberly Hayslip the Navy Region Southeast kennel of the quarter trophy. The award was created to foster friendly compition between Southeast region kennels.

Extensive training for both handler and dog goes beyond conventional methods.

''If someone on the team dreams up something at night, we try it, if it's too advanced for the dog, we refine it.'' Thomas stated.

When asked how the team feels about their recent accomplishment, Thomas exclaimed, ''I'm ecstatic! It's finally come to us, we've always known we're the best kennel in the region.''