Newest member of 60th SFS sniffs out trouble

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  
He's a newcomer to Travis Air Force Base, California, but he's already lending a hand.
Well, his paw print, anyway.

Paco, a 2-year-old German shepherd, is one of two fresh faces in the 60th Security Forces Squadron military working dog section along with his handler, Staff Sgt. Steve Thao, 60th SFS MWD section.

On Aug. 29 and 30 in Vallejo, California, Paco grabbed two first-place finishes at the Jeff Azuar K9 Trials, which pits Travis against other regional California government agencies such as West Sacramento, Lodi, Vacaville, San Francisco and more.

Although 60th SFS MWD kennel master Staff Sgt. Robert Stewart served as Paco's handler at the trials, Thao said he has a competitive spirit.

"I'm really competitive, but I'm humble," Thao said. "I try to do my best, but at the same time, I get (other handlers') input on all things, too."

They work together to sculpt Paco into the best dog he can be. After experiencing the dog equivalent of basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Paco shipped out to Travis, arriving more than a month before Thao.

According to Staff Sgt. Nicholas Taylor, the first thing that happens when a dog arrives at a new base is to assess where they are in their training. This includes seeing how much of the training the pooch has absorbed as the process of transit and change in routine can be jarring.

"We've got to get them used to the place and see if they'll be a good fit," Taylor said. "It's a challenge to get them out there and get them used to the surroundings, the noises, the distractions, just people in general and just seeing if they are accustomed to the Air Force in the way we need to operate day to day."

In the case of Paco, he's been assigned to scouting, detection and gunfire detail, but doesn't do assignments which require biting as his instinct for it is weak, Stewart said.

Thao's experience is with older dogs who were more experienced, so Paco represents a youthful and playful pup by comparison.

"My older dogs that I had before, if you tell them to stay, they're good, but Paco, he's a knucklehead," Thao said with a laugh. "He's just like a kid."

On a cool, recent morning at Travis, Thao and Paco worked on a detection exercise with the pooch trying to properly identify which of three boxes held the supposed drugs. This is one part of what they will do during his approximately 20-minute exercise.

Paco is the youngest in a facility with seven other dogs. The oldest is 8-year-old Brit, who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Jordan.

At a facility where each dog is paired with his or her own handler, Thao said it gives him the chance to work with Paco for his full shift.

"With dogs like this, you have to spend the whole entire day," Thao said. "You love him, bathe him, spend your time with him. I spend the whole entire day with Paco."