KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea — Each March we celebrate Women’s History Month. This is the first story in a series of women serving here at the Wolf Pack.
Many walls and barriers have been torn down since 1948, when President Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which authorized women to serve permanently in all military branches.
“I love being in an environment where gender doesn’t matter,” said Staff Sgt. Amelia Ruiz, 8th Security Forces Squadron MWD handler. “You have to put in the work to get the results that you want.”
The MWD program, located at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, is where Airmen go to become handlers.
“You have to prove you have the dedication and motivation to be a dog handler, and that includes the dirty tasks like [picking up after them] and cleaning the kennels,” Ruiz said. “Once proved, you’ll be signed off by the kennel master.”
While handlers learn the basics of obedience, corrections, patrol work and more during their initial training, there is much to be learned from those with experience in the field.
(*This article includes 4 pictures)
