The latest addition to the 100th Security Forces Squadron's military working dog pack is 3-year-old Mmoab, a black Belgian Malinois who joined the U.S. Air Force canine team at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England.
The double letter at the beginning of Mmoab's name is intentional. It signifies that he came from the Military Working Dog Breeding and Foster Program at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. He is currently the only 100th Security Forces Squadron dog born, bred and initially trained at the Military Working Dog Center in Texas — and just the fourth specially bred canine at RAF Mildenhall — his predecessors being military working dogs Vvonya, Ootto and Oorion.
Operated by the 341st Training Squadron, the puppy program, as it is commonly called, was established at Joint Base San Antonio in 1998 to allow the military to breed its own dogs, cut costs and produce highly trained military working dogs. The program provides hands-on training from the day the puppy is born, and the Air Force can track the dog's social progression. Their training includes several months of detection and patrol work.
Once a litter is whelped and weaned, the puppies are placed in foster homes in and around San Antonio. The volunteer families must meet specific requirements before being accepted into the program. They provide care until the puppies return to the training program. Foster families receive everything needed to care for the puppies, including dog food, veterinary care equipment, toys and training.
Once a dog is trained and ready to head to its new duty station, a handler travels to Joint Base San Antonio to personally escort the dog to its new home.
Mmoab's handlers said he showed from the start that he was perfect for the job.
"He's insanely fast, very driven and loves to give hugs to his handlers," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Cameron Gilbert, a trainer assigned to the 100th Security Forces Squadron, who was also the first handler paired with Mmoab. The pair recently returned from a five-month deployment to Royal Air Force Fairford in England, where they performed patrol and detection duties.
"I've done his field evaluation from the ground up," Gilbert said. "Everything he's done and where he is now is a result of how I've worked with him, so I'm proud of where he's at right now and when I handed him over to his new handler."
The young Belgian Malinois is now teamed with Air Force Senior Airman Karina Flores, a handler assigned to the 100th Security Forces Squadron. Mmoab is the third K-9 she's worked with during her Air Force career, and she said they are currently in the rapport phase of their partnership.
"He's my first puppy program dog and is focused 24/7; other dogs can often be like, 'Okay, I'm here, so I'll do it,' but he's completely dedicated," she said. "Mmoab is definitely the most energetic dog I've worked with, and I've been spending a lot of time bonding with him and getting him used to me.
Flores said she gives Mmoab simple tasks, and he receives his favorite toy as a reward so he knows he can trust her and sees her as his "mom."
"It's going good so far," Flores said. "Because he's so driven, I know he's going to make me a better handler because of how much he wants to work."
After military working dogs arrive at the base, which will be their home for the duration of their career, the next stage for them is to pass their field evaluation qualification.
"We made sure Mmoab can meet what's asked of us operationally here," Gilbert said. "Once he arrived and settled in, we took him out to the different training areas to make sure he can do the tasks no matter what."
While military working dogs may draw attention when they are out, don't let their appearance fool you. With a top running speed of more than 30 mph, a bite force of more than 200 pounds and a nose 40 times more powerful than a human, they are highly trained psychological deterrents and a vital asset to the Air Force and the War Department.