Rambo comes home

  • Published
  • By Stefan Bocchino
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  Staff Sgt. Marcus Moreno, 377th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler and Rambo, an MWD, were among the last U.S. military members to leave Iraq following the conclusion of Operation New Dawn in December 2011.

Rambo was one of the final two MWDs to leave Iraq. Moreno and Rambo departed Kirtland Air Force Base in September 2011 for a deployment to Iraq. They were stationed at Sather Air Base in Baghdad. They returned home on Christmas Eve.

"The main thing we were part of during our deployment was the changeover as Operation New Dawn was already drawing down," said Moreno. "We were that factor in making sure everybody got home safely. Our manning was drawing down and the Iraqis were taking over guarding the bases."

Rambo is a combination patrol dog and explosive detector dog, said Moreno.

"He pretty much detects any kind of 1.1 explosive including TNT, dynamite, smokeless powder and C-4 to name a few," said Moreno. "He is also a patrol dog, where he can do law enforcement duty. He provides that psychological deterrent. He performed both functions while we were deployed."

One of their duties was to provide security at Baghdad International Airport.

"There were times we worked the main gate of Baghdad International Airport, where all the locals would come through," said Moreno. "Rambo was pretty much the first one they see. He was working the cars, detecting for anything. It gave off the impression that 'We might be leaving, but we still mean business while we're here.'"

The deployment was the first one for Rambo.

"His weakness may be traveling," said Moreno. "He traveled with me as carry-on in the plane. During commercial travel, you always have to be careful with him, especially when traveling with civilians. The flight attendants alone were enough for him to deal with. He's an active dog."

The six-year-old Rambo is a pure bred Belgian Malinois and are extensively trained as military dogs.

"He's a very relaxed dog," said Moreno. "Nothing really fazes him. He was relaxed on the plane and during gunfire training with the Iraqi Special Forces. He's just very calm."

MWDs normally stay at the same base they go to after training for their whole careers.

"He liked coming back home after the deployment," said Moreno. "The difference in Iraq and here is that there is no grass in Iraq, only sand. He was getting sand in his paws and he didn't like that. As soon as we got home he was very happy. I gave him an hour as soon as we got home to sniff everything. Here he had grass, so he was pretty excited."

Once Rambo got home, he started back on his job in law enforcement and protection.

"They're aware of their environment, so they know where home is," said Moreno. "We'll work the gates and do random vehicle searches. The security forces flights and squadrons know who Rambo is. They know he's all professional. Rambo is a military police dog and he knows it. I don't know how he knows that, but he knows he is on duty 24/7. That's one of the main characteristics I like about him. Rambo probably has another four or five years as a working dog before he retires."

The careers of working dogs range from eight to 12 years before they retire. When they retire, the Air Force tries to find good homes for them to live out their days.