U.S. Air Force-Led Military Exercise Vigilant Ace 16 Kicks Off On Sunday For A Week-Long Combat Training
On Sunday, the U.S. Air Force-led military exercise dubbed Vigilant Ace 16 commenced at the Osan Air Base, joined by approximately 16,000 U.S. service members and South Korean forces for a week-long combat training, reported Stars and Stripes on Monday.
An Air Force statement noted that various aircrafts participated in the exercise, including Osan's F-16 and A-10 fighter jets, Air Force cargo planes, the Marine's EA-6B Prowler from Iwakuni, Japan and a number of South Korean aircrafts.
According to DVIDS on Wednesday, a dozen Military Working Dog (MWD) teams were dispersed within the perimeter during the Vigilant Ace 16 military exercise to guard the base from ground attacks
"We're down and out of the way," said Staff Sgt. Michael Caruso, 51st Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog handler. "We'll be able to see someone and before they know what's going on, I can notify base security operations to dispatch responders to handle the potential threat."
Caruso listens and looks out for possible enemies within the vicinity with his MWD Zody, to whom the success of the task depends greatly upon. Handlers and their MWD partners accompany each other during the 12-hour shifts of guarding their posts.
"It's more of a solitary thing, it's me and him, no one else," noted Caruso.
Despite the long and lonesome mission, the handlers use this kind of opportunity to re-establish their bonds with their MWD partners.
"With the short turn over at Osan, you don't really get to spend a long time with the dogs and that can affect the relationship," noted Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Williams, 51st SFS MWD handler. "These dedicated long hours help out a lot."
"You're only here a year but if you work at it, you can build that good rapport between yourself and your dog," Williams added glancing down at his MWD Nnine. "It's a lot of fun because you get that one-on-one time with your partner."
The Vigilant Ace is scheduled regularly in efforts to establish and amp up military familiarity between the U.S. and South Korea as both nations maintain strong military ties following the Korean War armistice of 1953 where around 28,500 U.S. service members were deployed in South Korea.
