Behind the Scenes

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Thomas Diaz, 355th Security Forces Squadron, gives a run-down of the demonstrations that will take place to the Behind the Scenes tour attendees on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 24. Behind the Scenes tours are hosted by the Desert Lightning Team First Six Council and allow Airmen to experience an inside look at the different career fields the Air Force has to offer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook/Released)

Behind the Scenes

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Beaudon, 355th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and his MWD Ceelo perform the proper procedures on an uncooperative “suspect” on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 24. The demonstration was part of the Behind the Scenes tours, a Desert Lightning Team First Six Council-sponsored program that gives interested Airmen inside looks into different Air Force career fields. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook/Released)

Behind the Scenes

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jonathan Brown, 25th Operational Weather Squadron weather forecaster, is pulled down from the gate he was trying to climb by military working dog Ceelo during a demonstration on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 24. Brown was an attendee of the Behind the Scenes tour, a Desert Lightning Team First Six Council-0sponsored program that gives interested Airmen inside looks into different Air Force career fields. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook/Released)

Behind the Scenes tours: K-9 handling

Published Feb. 29, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook
355th fighter Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- When a military member reenlists, one of the options they can exercise is to switch career fields, or cross-train. There are many different fields to choose from in the Air Force, so making a decision may prove difficult. To help members make informed choices, each month the Desert Lightning Team First Six Council hosts a "Behind the Scenes" tour.

"Behind the Scenes" gives interested Airmen an inside look into different career fields. This month's tour involved padded suits, and an up-close demonstration of what a military working dog-handler really does.

"Today we're going to show you some of the commands and actions a dog and his handler execute while on patrol," said Tech Sgt. Tomas Diaz, 355th Security Forces Squadron canine handler.

For the demonstration, Staff Sgt. Robert Beaudon took his military working dog, Ceelo, through a series of scenarios. The duo showed onlookers a situation in which the person approached by Beaudon complied with all requests and force was not needed. Then the opposite scenario was run and Ceelo got to show off his training.

"It's amazing to see how well-trained and obedient the military working dogs are," said Airman 1st Class Jonathan Brown, 25th Operational Weather Squadron weather forecaster.

Brown and two other tour members were allowed to put on the padded suit and help take Ceelo through his paces.

"They are stronger than you think," Brown said after his turn in the suit. "I came out today to see what other careers the military has to offer and I've been really impressed by the demonstrations today."