Military Working Dogs

Senior Airman Myron McIntosh, Military Working Dog handler, volunteers to perform a MWD demonstration on Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., April 21, 2016. Handlers perform training for all their MWD’s to keep them proficient in their specialty. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tammie Ramsouer)

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Military Working Dogs

Two Military Working Dog handlers train with a MWD during a demonstration on Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., April 21, 2016. The purpose of the demonstration was to show how proficient the MWD’s are in their profession. This demonstration shows how fast a MWD will come after an assailant if the handler is pushed or harmed in any way. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tammie Ramsouer)

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Military Working Dogs

Senior Airman Myron McIntosh and Staff Sgt. Sansha Richard, Military Working Dog handlers, demonstrate how focused a MWD is while assisting their handlers in a hostile situation, April 21, 2016. Military Working Dogs are uses for a wide variety of jobs including bomb detection and search and rescue. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tammie Ramsouer)

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Military Working Dogs

Military Working Dog handlers pose for a photo with the donations they received from the Military Working Dog Team Support Association, April 21, 2016. Coffee, hats, shirts and coffee mugs were donated to the handlers, while the MWDs received food, toys and Air Force themed bandanas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tammie Ramsouer)

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Association donates supplies and supports MWD

Published April 28, 2016
By By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert
42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Members from the Military Working Dog Team Support Association visited the 42nd Security Force Squadron Military Working Dogs unit April 22, here at Maxwell.

The MWDTSA, a group of volunteers who support MWD and war dog events and memorials, as well as send care packages for dogs and their handlers while deployed. The association also serves by visiting MWD units and donating an array of supplies.

The association had never visited Maxwell before and had long been planning a visit to meet the dogs and their handlers. During the visit, The Maxwell handlers showed off the dog's capabilities to the association with a MWD team, control and detection demonstration and a tour of the facility.

The supplies included coffee, hats, shirts and coffee mugs for the handlers. The dogs received food, toys and Air Force themed bandanas.

Another reason for making their way to Maxwell was to pay a visit to an Airman that they had met in the past and had supported during a deployment.

SSgt. Adam Bearden, 42nd SFS MWD handler, said he met the MWDTSA while he was stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and kept in touch with them once he was stationed here at Maxwell. While he was here, he and his dog, Sam, where deployed to Qatar for six months and received several care packages from the association.

"It feels pretty neat anytime you get one of their care packages, just like getting your first letter in basic military training and you know the dog is going to have something in there, so when they find a toy or food it's a treat for them and anytime that you see that your dog is happy, you're happy," Bearden said.

Bearden hopes that the visit will educate the unit's new handlers of the organizations that are willing to support them during deployments and provide them with supplies they may normally not receive.

MWDTSA member Jerry Whitman said the association tries to help any way they can and fill the gaps where needed while also giving the dogs an extra job-well-done.