PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — There’s nothing moving in morning dark, only a stillness that’s interrupted by the odd buzz from the bugs under street lamps at the Military Working Dog Kennels. The silence is soon shattered as Staff Sgt. Kyle Pethtel, 45th Security Force Squadron MWD handler, whips into the parking lot and slams on his brakes under a street lamp. As he steps out of his car and into the brisk winter breeze, not even the crickets have woken up yet.
“The best part of my day is walking into the kennel first thing to see my dog,” said Pethtel. “He’sgot a big personality, so when he sees dad you can tell that he has a twinkle in his eye.”
Throughout the duty day there is a tangible father-son bond between the two defenders. It’s this daily connection and trust that they have in each other that allows them to execute the mission, and it starts as soon as Pethtel walks through the kennel door.
Walking into the kennels, all of the dogs erupt into thunderous barking. Pieter, 45th SFS military working dog and Pethtel’s partner, sees him and he immediately perks up. He is pressed as far as he can be up against the entrance to his kennel and tilts his head to the side to make sure it’s Pethtel. Once Pethtel enters the kennel, Pieter playfully rushes him. But it’s time to go to work.
