Military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Published May 16, 2024
By Ashley Richards
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

MWD wears protective goggles and ear protection with aircraft behind. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Kkaun, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog, stands at the ready outside of a UH-60 Black Hawk May 1, 2024, on the flightline at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Kkaun participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. The exercise provided realistic disaster response training to sharpen the skills and increase the capabilities of the MWD team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

MWD handler fastens MWD's protective goggles and ear protection. UG-60 Black Hawk behind them on the ground. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, fastens MWD Kkaun’s protective goggles and ear protection prior to flying in a UH-60 Black Hawk May 1, 2024, on the flightline at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Hiler and Kkaun participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. The exercise allowed the MWD team to train various scenarios in a new environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Two uniformed Airmen and MWD handler and MWD walk toward aircrafts on the flightline. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and MWD Kkaun walk to a UH-60 Black Hawk May 1, 2024, on the flightline at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Hiler and Kkaun traveled to participate in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. The exercise worked to improve the capabilities, versatility, and confidence between handler and MWD. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Indiana – Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, quickly fastened MWD Kkaun’s ear protection prior to take off in a UH-60 Black Hawk to begin their one-on-one skills training.

The MWD team flew out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to participate in Guardian Response 24, a homeland emergency response exercise that provides realistic disaster response training to sharpen the skills and increase the capabilities of the participants.

Coordinated by U.S. Army Reserve 78th Training Division, the exercise brings together more than 5,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines from the Active, Guard and Reserve components as well as Department of Defense civil service employees and contractor personnel each year.

The majority of Hiler and Kkaun’s training took place at Camp Atterbury and the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 1-3, 2024.

“Kkaun is trained to detect narcotics, explosives, and other harmful products. Here we are conducting explosive detection training throughout the various staged disasters,” Hiler said. “This has been the most realistic training we’ve experienced together. We have had the opportunity to train on various aircrafts, vehicles, and in low-lit confined spaces allowing me to coach Kkaun how to maneuver in these difficult settings.”

The exercises worked to improve the capabilities, versatility, and confidence between handler and MWD.

MWD handler and K9 stand in underground train station. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, attaches MWD Kkaun’s leash prior to training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 2, 2024. Hiler and Kkaun participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. Multiple explosives were hidden throughout a designated area for the MWD teams to search through and identify explosives within a designated time limit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

MWD handler and K9 inside a rapid transit system. Handler holds flash light. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and MWD Kkaun, search the inside of a rapid transit system at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 2, 2024. Hiler and Kkaun participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. The MWD team practiced low-light detection to increase capabilities in night and loss of power scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Defender on underground train station stairs with K9. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and MWD Kkaun, exit an underground train station while performing explosive detection training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 2, 2024. Hiler and Kkaun participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. The exercise worked to improve the capabilities, versatility, and confidence between handler and MWD. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Staff Sgt. Dailan Gudger, 88th SFS MWD handler and trainer, joined the team at the MUTC to oversee and provide support to both Hiler and Kkaun throughout their training.

“My responsibility here is to ensure operations run smoothly and create conducive, real-world scenarios for the MWD team,” he said. “There are various staged environments at this training center that our teams have never experienced before. Our goal is to make the training as realistic as possible to ensure our teams are prepared for what they may encounter together in the real-world.”

This is the first year a trainer has joined the MWD team to provide insight and guidance throughout the exercise.

“Airman Hiler has only been a MWD handler for about a year, and there are still many things he is learning,” Gudger said. “Being here with the team allows me to provide real-time feedback to the Hiler ensuring him and his dog are training effectively.”

Handler holds leash of MWD while K9 sniffs window of inside a static aircraft. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and MWD Kkaun, perform explosive detection training inside of an aircraft cabin at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 2, 2024. Hiler and Kkaun participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. Explosive detection training ensures MWD handlers are proficient in handling and communicating with their dogs as they identify threats in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

MWD handler and K9 walk alongside a bus outside. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and MWD Kkaun, perform explosive detection training at a bus station at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 2, 2024. Hiler and Kkaun participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. Kkaun is trained to detect narcotics, explosives, and other harmful products to ensure the safety of the base population, at home and deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

MWD handler holds a dog toy and MWD look towards it inside a training facility. — Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, rewards MWD Kkaun with a dog toy after successfully detecting a threat while training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 2, 2024. Hiler and Kkaun participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. The MWD team conducted explosive detection throughout the various staged disaster scenarios within the MUTC. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)

SLIDESHOW | images | Wright-Patt military working dog team unleash skills at Guardian Response 24

The two have been paired as a team for about a year and Hiler spoke to how their relationship has grown throughout the training.

“I am extremely proud of Kkaun. He is an older canine compared to the other dogs at our kennel but has been absolutely crushing each scenario we have put him through,” he said. “This has been a great opportunity for us to strengthen our relationship and continue to build trust in each other.”

MWD with mouth open — Kkaun, 88th Security Forces Squadron military working dog, takes a break from training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, May 2, 2024. Kkaun and his MWD handler participated in Guardian Response 24, a joint service military and multi-component exercise focused on domestic disaster response. Kkaun is trained to detect explosives and firearms to ensure confidence in threat alerts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards)