Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan --
In
the back of the Camp Courtney Theater stands the kennel master for the Provost
Marshal’s Office with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps
Installations-Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, watching intently
as duos of Marines and dogs take turns probing through the rows and rooms of
the theater, in search of mock improvised explosive devices. He smirks and nods
in approval as each duo finds the fake explosive.
“These
are the days I love,” said the kennel master, Staff Sgt. Daniel Andrzejewski.
“It’s the days I get out of the office and actually get to see the dogs do what
they do that reminds me why I joined.”
Andrzejewski
first discovered his passion for the K-9 field in 2007. After spending two
years as a regular military policeman, guarding gates and roads on Camp
Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina, he was given the option to choose a
secondary school.
“At
first I chose K-9 mainly because I had friends who I worked the roads with, who
went K-9 before me. So I figured, I’d just follow them,” said Andrzejewski. “But
after awhile, I started to think, ‘Hey, this is actually pretty (interesting).’”
After
completing K-9 School, Andrzejewski returned to Camp Lejeune as a dog handler. It
was there he met his first dog, Gordon. Gordon was a K-9 veteran, with four
combat deployments under his collar, making him the ideal partner to accompany
Andrzejewski on his first deployment.
“Garrison
K-9 and field K-9 are two completely different beasts,” said Andrzejewski. “(Field
K-9) is almost impossible to fully prepare for, but the fact that (Gordon) had
already been through it four times really helped me get ready. I learned a lot
from working with Gordon.”
While
deployed in Iraq, he and Gordon worked with numerous units, safe-guarding
U.S. and allied assets
installations while also providing bomb
detection services for the 2009 Iraqi elections.
It
wasn’t until Andrzejewski’s deployment to Afghanistan, later in his career,
that he discovered the importance of the relationship between a handler and
their dog.
According
to Andrzejewski, due to constant reassignments, it was a challenge to form lasting
friendships with his fellow Marines. However, no matter where he went, he knew
he would always have at least one buddy.
“You
get attached to different units, so a lot of the time, your dog is your only
friend,” said Andrzejewski. “You eat together. You sleep together. You play
together. Wherever you go, the dog goes.”
Their
partnership was put to the ultimate test on one eventful patrol, according to
Andrzejewski.
While
patrolling through a village just outside of his patrol base’s gate on a
scorching summer day, Andrzejewski noticed that Dano, his new K-9 partner, became
extremely alert and began to sniff the air vigorously.
“As
a handler, you need to know the ins and outs of your dog,” said Andrzejewski.
“You have to be able to pick up on the little hints a dog will give once
they’ve found something.”
The
scent Dano detected was a sulfuric-based improvised explosive device. Insurgents
planted the bomb on a path Andrzejewski’s patrol team had used the day prior
but thanks to Dano, the Marines were able to uncover and safely dispose of the
explosive.
“Out
in the field, the entire patrol relies on the dog to find potential hazards and
keep us alive,” said Andrzejewski. “That day (Dano) saved all of our lives.”
After
working in the field for two tours, Andrzejewski was able to return to the
garrison side of K-9, this time working as the kennel master for Camp Butler PMO.
As the kennel master, Andrzejewski no longer has a partner. Instead his job is
to focus on the administrative aspects of the kennel.
“I
really enjoy my job now,” said Andrzejewski. “But some days I get bogged down
with paper work. I love the days I get a chance to watch the new guys; train
and teach them a few things.”
When
not in his office, Andrzejewski spends his time challenging the handlers to
better themselves. He accomplishes this by setting up complicated training events
that compel the handlers to focus more on their own investigative skills.
“I
like to set up scenarios that are different from what they are use too,” said
Andrzejewski. “I like to put the training aids somewhere the dog may be able to
catch the scent of the aid but can’t reach it. This kind of forces the handler
to be more (attentive).”
According
to Cpl. Justin A. Wagman, a military working dog handler for PMO, these scenarios
force the handlers to work more intently with the dogs and helps forge a long
lasting and fruitful partnership.
“I
love being able to help out the younger handlers,” said Andrzejewski. “I may
not get a chance to work with the dogs first-hand anymore but getting the
opportunity to train the next group of (dog handlers) is just as satisfying.”
According
to Andrzejewski, when not completing formal training, the dog spend their days
playing fetch with their handlers or simply hanging out around the office while
the Marines works.
“I
love (seeing) that because it shows me these guys really do love and care for
the dogs,” said Andrzejewski. “It’s the simple things that go a long way into
building a great relationship between a handler and their dog.”