Every dog has its day: Military Working Dogs bolster protection in Afghanistan

UK Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced that a further GBP67 million (USD101 million) is to be allocated to British Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) teams.

This includes over GBP40 million for more protected vehicles for use by C-IED teams in Afghanistan and approximately GBP5 million for remotely controlled vehicles. The remaining funds will be used to enhance other critical capabilities in the C-IED campaign, including the military's working dog capability.

A surge in operational demand for Military Working Dogs (MWDs) in Afghanistan led the British Army to create the 1st MWD Regiment on 26 March 2010. The primary operational role of the regiment is to support the lead brigade in Afghanistan, providing support for counterinsurgency (COIN) operations and IED detection.

Over the past four years there has been a push within UK forces to expand the number of dogs and dog units. According to the new Commanding Officer of 1 MWD Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel David Thorpe: "IEDs have become a greater weapon of choice for our current enemies ... . All the time you are dealing with IEDs you are not dealing with the reason you are there, [which] is to try and counter the insurgency."

The regiment currently comprises 284 soldiers and officers as well as around 200 dogs. There are a total of five Squadrons (three in Germany and two in the UK) and they have been supporting operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan from their respective bases in Aldershot (101 Squadron), North Luffenham (104) and Sennelager (102, 103 and 105).