MWD Bruno Retires After 9 Years

By Senior Airman Collette Brooks, 49th Wing Public Affairs

Military working dog Bruno, 49th Security Forces Squadron explosive detector dog, retired April 24, 2020, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.

Afer serving almost nine years in the U.S. Air Force and six of those nine years at Holloman, MWD Bruno ends his military career surrounded by friends, colleagues and tennis balls.

MWD Bruno protected and served here for the last year and a half with his handler, Staf Sgt. Chase Feeney, 49th SFS MWD handler. MWD Bruno deployed twice to Al-Udied, Qatar, and once to Al-Jaber, Kuwait with Feeney.

“On his most recent deployment, MWD Bruno discovered an improvised explosive device that was placed in the direct route of travel of U.S. Forces,” said Feeney. “He’s also provided security for many high-level government ofcials to include Secretary of Defense Mattis and President Trump’s inauguration.”

Additionally, MWD Bruno and his fellow MWDs supported Security Forces Defenders when faced with threats on and of the installation both locally and in a deployed environment.

“The objective of having MWDs work alongside us in the feld is to employ MWD assets aggressively and efectively to counter threats,” said Staf Sgt. Jennifer Franco, 49th SFS kennel master. “This instruction provides the framework for employment and utilization to support Integrated Defense as outlined in AFI 31-101, Integrated Defense. This outside of the medical facility, we’re ensuring base personnel are still receiving their medication and (medical support) in a safe and timely manner,” said Senior Airman Blaine Redman, 49th CES electrical power production technician. “It’s great knowing we can make a difference.”

In addition to keeping the central portion of base equipped with electrical power, these Airmen also aid in the continuation of base operations by conducting a variety of daily and monthly inspections,

Staff Sgt. Chase Feeney, 49th SFS military working dog handler poses with MWD Bruno. Feeney is adopting Bruno. PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN COLLETTE BROOKS

will ensure our forces can anticipate, deter, detect, assess, warn, defeat, delay, defend and recover.”

To ensure MWD Bruno always maintained readiness, MWD Bruno and Feeney trained daily to keep MWD Bruno’s detection skills sharp and intact, especially his most valuable weapon - - his nose.

“MWDs have a keen ability to detect substances that are not perceivable to the human nose,” said Franco. “MWDs are a trusted informant in the presence of contraband and intruders. They are considered a force multiplier to the mission here at Holloman.”

“When MWD Bruno started showing signs

Continued from page 4 including maintaining the 16 different aircraft arresting systems across the flightline.

“During our weekly inspections, (checking) the hydraulics on an aircraft is integral because they are what applies the pressure onto the brakes, allowing them to function properly,” said Cleveland. “(Without this inspection), you’re risking not having the brake pressure applied in stopping the aircraft, and it could be disastrous-- it could result in losing the aircraft, the pilot, or even

Staff Sgt. Jennifer Franco, left, kennel master, and Staff Sgt. William Hale, right, military working dog handler; both with the 49th Security Forces Squadron, toss tennis balls in the air for MWD Bruno, 49th SFS explosive detector dog, during his retirement ceremony, April 24, 2020, on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN COLLETTE BROOKS

that his old age was keeping him from being able to do the things necessary to complete the mission, we immediately brought it to the veterinarian’s attention,” said Feeney. “It’s every handler’s responsibility to be aware of their dog’s health and welfare.”

“Once the vet determined he was no longer able to perform his required duties, we immediately started conditioning him to be adoptable,” said Feeney. “I would let him out of his kennel frst thing in the morning, and he would just hang out in the ofce with us endangering the other responders that may be off to the side waiting for engagement.”

For this same reason, aircraft arresting barriers are crucial. In fact, if those barriers are inoperable, the mission is at a standstill until fixed.

“Every sortie that’s coming out of this base is dependent on those barriers functioning,” said Cleveland. “You don’t want the military operation at a base to shut down simply because a transformer blew. The mission must keep going, as best as it can, to make all day. I’m very happy that he is retiring.”

“I adopted Bruno, and he is living at home with me now,” said Feeney. “He went straight to the couch as soon as his retirement ceremony was over. I honestly couldn’t not adopt him. We’ve done a lot together in this short amount of time. We were a team, and while I’m sure someone else would have taken great care of him, nobody knows him better than I do. It was my responsibility to take care of him as a working dog, and now I get

to care for him as my pet.” sure operations continue functioning, which is why our job is so important.”

Senior Airman Redman also mentioned they’re supporting several agencies across the base to include the air traffic control tower, fire department, command post and fuels distribution center.

Although the number of personnel on each shift has reduced, in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, that limiting factor has not stopped this electrifying team from getting their typical workload accomplished.