Corporal Radunz: I think for myself it’s getting an understanding of how the bigger picture works. Getting exposure to all the different assets. For the dogs too. We bring them down here so they are exposed to all the different assets that the wider army and also foreign forces bring to the plate. The dogs become well rounded. We get to test their training as well. Also for my handlers it’s a good experience, to get out here and consolidate their skills I’ve been training them throughout the year. It gives them an opportunity to test those skills and just to hone in those fine art skills and brief their commanders on a result. Captain Mascall-Dare: As somebody in the military police, have you much to do with the other nationalities who are part of this exercise? We’ve got US forces here, British, New Zealanders. Corporal Radunz: Personally, no, but I have managed to detach two dogs to Battle Group Chromite throughout the exercise. That’s been a really interesting experience for my handlers, given that they do currently wear a different uniform to us. The military police dogs are trained to detect the differences between our uniform and a potential threat wearing different uniforms. Working closely with another foreign force who wear different 42
uniforms to us, does provide a little big of friction, and being able to adapt to that, noting that the dog may not always see that person as a friendly partner. Captain Mascall-Dare: From what you’re seeing on exercise Hamel, what do you think the dogs get out of it? Corporal Radunz: They get to experience a different environment, which is very, very different to Oakey. Also, they get to experience being around numerous different people, wearing different equipment, with different sounds and smells providing them opportunity to get used to different environments. Getting used to working with and around such a large number of people aids in their training too. They begin to feel more confident and can perform their job no matter what their surroundings are and no matter who is around. Captain Mascall-Dare: Do you have a dog? Corporal Radunz: Yes, I’m currently looking after MPD Jax. He’s just had some minor surgery, so I’ll look after him until he’s fit to go back into the field. I also have my old working dog at home. She was retired to me at the end of last year, due to medical reasons, so I’ve taken her under my wing and she resides with me. Find, like, share at