<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><html  lang="en-US">
<head id="Head"><meta id="MetaDescription" name="DESCRIPTION" /><meta id="MetaKeywords" name="KEYWORDS" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" /><title>
	JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky
</title><link id="css3605" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/module.css" /><link id="css4619" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/desktopmodules/ArticleCS/styles/DOD2/style.css" /></head>
<body>
    <main>
    <div>
    <div class="aprint news">
    <div class="header">
        <img height="100" class="print-logo" alt="Site Logo" src="/Portals/7/Images/SOUTHCOM_logo_thumb.jpg?ver=SIvIeRRofyrg5ZHPpvvh6Q%3d%3d" />

        <h1 class="title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</h1>
    </div>
    
<div id="adetail-slick-gallery" class="gallery">
    
    <div class="item">
        
        <div class="image">
            
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/18/2001608940/1920/1080/0/160815-F-JB386-197.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="U.S. Army Spc. Mariah Ridge, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and her MWD, Jaska, ride a hoist to a UH-60L Black Hawk during training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Ridge was one of three MWD handlers who trained on hoist operations for the first time with their dogs."
                 itemprop="image" />
        </div>
        
        
        
        
        
        <div class="slide-info-hidden">
            <div class="slide-info-inner">
            
            <div class="image-title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Spc. Mariah Ridge, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and her MWD, Jaska, ride a hoist to a UH-60L Black Hawk during training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Ridge was one of three MWD handlers who trained on hoist operations for the first time with their dogs.</div>
        </div>
    </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="item">
        
        <div class="image">
            
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/18/2001608942/1920/1080/0/160815-F-JB386-236.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="U.S. Army Spc. Mariah Ridge, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, laughs at her MWD, Jaska, during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Although the MWDs and their handlers were training in 90 degree, 100 percent humidity weather, they managed to stay in good spirits."
                 itemprop="image" />
        </div>
        
        
        
        
        
        <div class="slide-info-hidden">
            <div class="slide-info-inner">
            
            <div class="image-title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Spc. Mariah Ridge, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, laughs at her MWD, Jaska, during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Although the MWDs and their handlers were training in 90 degree, 100 percent humidity weather, they managed to stay in good spirits.</div>
        </div>
    </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="item">
        
        <div class="image">
            
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/18/2001608944/1920/1080/0/160815-F-JB386-076.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="U.S. Army Spc. Harley Reno, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and his MWD, Kyra, are secured to a hoist during training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. The MWD handlers and their dogs first were attached to the hoist while the aircraft was off and on the ground, before moving out to the field for the live portion of training."
                 itemprop="image" />
        </div>
        
        
        
        
        
        <div class="slide-info-hidden">
            <div class="slide-info-inner">
            
            <div class="image-title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Spc. Harley Reno, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and his MWD, Kyra, are secured to a hoist during training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. The MWD handlers and their dogs first were attached to the hoist while the aircraft was off and on the ground, before moving out to the field for the live portion of training.</div>
        </div>
    </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="item">
        
        <div class="image">
            
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/18/2001608943/1920/1080/0/160815-F-JB386-033.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="U.S. Army Spc. Mariah Ridge, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and her MWD, Jaska, walk toward a UH-60L Black Hawk during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. To get the dogs familiarized with the aircraft, their handlers brought them around the helicopter and sat with them inside while the blades were turning."
                 itemprop="image" />
        </div>
        
        
        
        
        
        <div class="slide-info-hidden">
            <div class="slide-info-inner">
            
            <div class="image-title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Spc. Mariah Ridge, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and her MWD, Jaska, walk toward a UH-60L Black Hawk during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. To get the dogs familiarized with the aircraft, their handlers brought them around the helicopter and sat with them inside while the blades were turning.</div>
        </div>
    </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="item">
        
        <div class="image">
            
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/18/2001608937/1920/1080/0/160815-F-JB386-161.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jun Ma, a flight paramedic assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, helps U.S. Army Spc. Courtney Moreland, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, secure herself to her MWD, Puma, during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Moreland and Puma were one of three JSF MWD teams to be hoisted, one-by-one, 30 feet into the air."
                 itemprop="image" />
        </div>
        
        
        
        
        
        <div class="slide-info-hidden">
            <div class="slide-info-inner">
            
            <div class="image-title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jun Ma, a flight paramedic assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, helps U.S. Army Spc. Courtney Moreland, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, secure herself to her MWD, Puma, during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Moreland and Puma were one of three JSF MWD teams to be hoisted, one-by-one, 30 feet into the air.</div>
        </div>
    </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="item">
        
        <div class="image">
            
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/18/2001608939/1920/1080/0/160815-F-JB386-192.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jun Ma, a flight paramedic assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, signals to U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Briones, 1-228th AVN crew chief, to raise a hoist attached to U.S. Army Spc. Courtney Moreland, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and her MWD, Puma, during training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Although this was the first time for these three particular JSF MWD teams to be hoisted together, the 1-228th AVN regularly conducts hoist operations."
                 itemprop="image" />
        </div>
        
        
        
        
        
        <div class="slide-info-hidden">
            <div class="slide-info-inner">
            
            <div class="image-title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jun Ma, a flight paramedic assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, signals to U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Briones, 1-228th AVN crew chief, to raise a hoist attached to U.S. Army Spc. Courtney Moreland, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and her MWD, Puma, during training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Although this was the first time for these three particular JSF MWD teams to be hoisted together, the 1-228th AVN regularly conducts hoist operations.</div>
        </div>
    </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="item">
        
        <div class="image">
            
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/18/2001608945/1920/1080/0/160815-F-JB386-121.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="U.S. Army Spc. Harley Reno, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and his MWD, walk toward a UH-60L Black Hawk during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. The MWDs and their handlers undergo the hoist training so their first experience with a helicopter won’t come during a real-world operation."
                 itemprop="image" />
        </div>
        
        
        
        
        
        <div class="slide-info-hidden">
            <div class="slide-info-inner">
            
            <div class="image-title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Spc. Harley Reno, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, and his MWD, walk toward a UH-60L Black Hawk during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. The MWDs and their handlers undergo the hoist training so their first experience with a helicopter won’t come during a real-world operation.</div>
        </div>
    </div>
    </div>

    
    <div class="item">
        
        <div class="image">
            
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/18/2001608941/1920/1080/0/160815-F-JB386-219.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="U.S. Army Spcs. Courtney Moreland and Harley Reno, both military working dog handlers assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, look at the face of Reno’s MWD, Kyra, during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. MWD handlers are responsible for the care and training of their service dog, which contributes to a variety of operations abroad and installation security at home station."
                 itemprop="image" />
        </div>
        
        
        
        
        
        <div class="slide-info-hidden">
            <div class="slide-info-inner">
            
            <div class="image-title">JTF-Bravo K9s take to the sky</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Spcs. Courtney Moreland and Harley Reno, both military working dog handlers assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, look at the face of Reno’s MWD, Kyra, during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. MWD handlers are responsible for the care and training of their service dog, which contributes to a variety of operations abroad and installation security at home station.</div>
        </div>
    </div>
    </div>

    
</div>
<div class="slide-info"></div>





    <div><b>By Capt. David Liapis</b> <span class="date">/ Published Aug. 18, 2016</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras, </span>
    <p>Joint Task Force-Bravo has been a consistent presence in the Central American region since 1984, and is known by many for its helicopter support for humanitarian aid, disaster relief and counter-transnational organized crime operations and its medical readiness exercises; however, the scope of capabilities here go well beyond those primary missions.</p>
<p>One example of this is the Joint Security Forces’ Military Working Dogs and handlers.</p>
<p>The MWDs are used by JSF on base for narcotics and explosive detection as well as patrol, explained U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Isaac Trevino, JSF MWD senior handler.</p>
<p>As with many military duties, there are risks involved that in a worst-case-scenario might require rapid medical evacuation, a capability provided here by the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment’s U.S. Air Ambulance Detachment Honduras.</p>
<p>A number of steps are taken by the aircrew and MWD handlers to be prepared to conduct MEDEVAC operations at a moment’s notice, one step being to introduce the MWDs to rotary wing transportation including loading and unloading both with the helicopter on the ground and in the air.</p>
<p>Aircrew from the 1-228 AVN provided hoist training for Kyra, Jaska and Puma, three JSF MWDs, and their handlers, U.S. Army Spcs. Mariah Ridge, Courtney Moreland and Harley Reno, August 15, here.</p>
<p>The training, accomplished using a UH-60L Black Hawk, was conducted in phases in order to allow the MWDs to become familiar with the noise and rotor wash, sitting in the aircraft, the feeling of being wrapped in the harness and, finally, being lifted 30-feet into the hovering aircraft.</p>
<p>Though K9 hoist training is routine, it presents a unique opportunity for MWD handlers who are deployed to Soto Cano AB.</p>
<p>“It really benefits the younger handlers as they don’t get a lot of training like this in the U.S.,” explained Trevino. “It was the first time for the three handlers who received the hoist training this week.”</p>
<p>JSF conducts Law Enforcement and Security Operations for JTF-Bravo personnel and equipment anywhere within the CENTAM AOR. JSF is composed of joint personnel who patrol the base and provide expeditionary force protection in support of JTF-Bravo operations such as MEDRETEs and humanitarian aid events.</p><br />
</div>

    </div>
    </main>
</body>
</html>