Until now, we have trained ourselves to search for missing persons in hard-to-access areas and rubble. Now we're starting combat tracking training. This requires a redesign of our actions and another preparation of the dog. The basic difference is that we must act unnoticed, and thus in complete silence – says Fr Monika Krasińska-Ligejka from the 13th Silesian Territorial Defence Brigade.
Pioneering combat tracking training was organized by the Military Specialised Training Centre of the Search and Ratovian Groups. The unit has been operating in the Forge of Raciborska since the mediate of this year and is formally under the command of the 13th Silesian Territorial Defence Brigade. It was the Silesian territorials who first introduced a search and rescue group operating with dogs in WOT.
– The service of dogs in the WOT and search and rescue groups from the very beginning we created according to the conceptThat assumes that the dog is trained to search for people alternatively than to fight. Our dogs are so prepared to find missing persons in various areas, including those hard to reach. They besides learn to look for people trapped in rubble," he explains. Mr Monika Krasińska-Ligejka, Head of the Training Section of the Centre in Forge Raciborska. – Now we go a step further and start training on time “W”. We request to teach dogs and soldiers to hunt the forces of the enemy and to decision in the area controlled by the enemy," he adds.
A twelve soldiers from 13 BOT and a centre from Forge Raciborska took part in the pioneering training and 2 dogs: Belgian Shepherd Ares and Border collie Figa. The training was conducted by Christoph Rosenberger from the Georgia K9 training centre (GAK9). The facility was established in the US, but works with guides and dogs around the world. GAK9 instructors train dogs serving in the American army and police and another uniformed formations. In Europe, according to the GAK9 methodology, military dogs in Slovenia work, among others. Rosenberger – who, as coach of the K9 (service dogs) worked with, among others, American peculiar forces, Marine troops, Slovenian army and police of many European countries – emphasizes that combat tracking has a long-standing tradition. He mentions, among others, the experiences of American soldiers from the 1960s in Vietnam, where US troops utilized tracking dogs to search for their opponent in the jungle.
– Now we're back to that idea. In the early 21st century, Jeff Schettler, then a police guide to the service dog, began working with retired guides from the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. utilizing their cognition and experience, he created GAK9 and developed principles of tactical tracking utilizing dogs. In this method, the alleged proximity alert is peculiarly crucial – says Rosenberger. It's about signals and dog's body language. The animal shows its guide that they are approaching a tracked object. – Our GAK9 group is most likely the only 1 in the planet during training that emphasizes these proximity alerts. This ensures the safety of soldiers on the battlefield – explains the instructor.
Soldiers of the 13th Silesian BOT talk about training. “There are quite a few fresh messages, we are impressed by the way in which dogs can be utilized on the battlefield and the possible in specified sections with dogs,” say the Silesian territorialists. "We learned the basics of combat tracking. The teacher explained how to read the signals given by the dog and how our animal should alert erstwhile it smells like a man, and in this case its opponent," 1 of the soldiers said.
Dog guides with 13 BOT explain that in the case of combat tracking, it is highly crucial that a guide cooperates with a dog and a bond that allows them to realize without words. – The dog should alert the guide as shortly as it finds its mark. The last alarm should be erstwhile we're within 10 yards of the target. Then with his nose as well as with his full attitude he points to the direction in which the forces of the opponent are located – explains Krasińska-Ligejka. The Petty Officer adds that while tracking, the dog works on a 10-meter line called a combined method. This means that animals are tracking the target, following the tracks or following the alleged advanced wind, that is, catching the scent floating in the air. “So far, our dogs were moving around the neck of the bell while searching for missing persons. uncovering a live individual signaled barking. Now it's impossible. You should be very quiet. We cannot afford noise, due to the fact that this would origin the detection of our group, and so a direct threat – explained Krasińska-Ligejka.
Further training from combat tracking soldiers and dogs of the 13th Silesian BOT will pass in the spring of next year. Until then, the skills of dogs will be developed in the hotel in the Forge of Raciborska. erstwhile they have acquired fresh skills, in WOT you will be able to make scout groups with dogs and prepare a unified training program. For now, we learn and learn. Then we will transfer fresh cognition and skills to our ground – announced by the instructors from the Military Training Centre of Specialised Search and Ratovian Groups.
Project for dog service in WOT and search and rescue groups in territorial defence troops, it was formally started in July 2021, but as of 2019 it was conducted in pilot form at 13 BOT. At the beginning of 2022, pilot programmes began in the following brigades. By the end of 2025, DWOT plans to make 20 search and rescue groups.
