{"id":33558,"date":"2023-10-31T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=33558"},"modified":"2023-11-02T06:44:02","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T06:44:02","slug":"military-working-dogs-sniff-out-narcotics-display-skills-for-anti-drug-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=33558","title":{"rendered":"Military working dogs sniff out narcotics, display skills for anti-drug week"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n 1 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Spc. Carter Hanson, a military working dog handler assigned to the 901st Military Working Dog Detachment, demonstrates how one of their dogs, Lock, can apprehend a suspect during a Red Ribbon Week event at Camp Zama, Japan, Oct. 31, 2023. The demonstration capped off Zama Middle High School’s weeklong campaign that encouraged students to live a drug-free lifestyle.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Sgt.
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Sgt. Bruno Werneck, a military working dog handler assigned to the 901st Military Working Dog Detachment, demonstrates how one of their dogs, Lock, can apprehend a suspect played by Zama Middle High School Principal Henry LeFebre during a Red Ribbon Week event at Camp Zama, Japan, Oct. 31, 2023. The demonstration capped off the school’s weeklong campaign that encouraged students to live a drug-free lifestyle.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Zama
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 3 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Zama Middle High School students watch a military working dog demonstration as part of Red Ribbon Week at Camp Zama, Japan, Oct. 31, 2023. The event capped off the school’s weeklong campaign that encouraged students to live a drug-free lifestyle.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

CAMP ZAMA, Japan \u2013 Zama Middle High School capped off its Red Ribbon Week with a military working dog demonstration here Tuesday as part of various events that encouraged a drug-free lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Held every year, the weeklong celebration is the nation\u2019s largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign that has reached millions of people around the world.<\/p>\n

Students here had the opportunity to take an anti-drug pledge and attend a presentation by the Army Substance Abuse Program and school liaison office. Students also dressed in costumes, sports jerseys and the color red to get into the spirit of the week and show that they make positive choices in their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to remind the students consistently that drugs are not an option,\u201d said Zyra Sanchez, a school counselor who helped organize the events. \u201cThere are other alternatives that students can do in living a healthy lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the last day of the campaign, which began Oct. 23, Soldiers assigned to the 901st Military Working Dog Detachment demonstrated the skills of their dogs to students during their lunch breaks.<\/p>\n

The dogs sniffed out narcotics hidden in a suitcase, displayed their agility in a short obstacle course, and then practiced apprehending a suspect, who was played by one of the Soldiers and then by the principal while wearing protective clothing.<\/p>\n

Sgt. Taylor Reed, a MWD handler, said the mission of their dogs can be complex, ranging from using their strong sense of smell to alert troops to roadside bombs to locating a suspect in the dark.<\/p>\n

\u201cA working dog is a force multiplier, because they can find bad guys and they can also find bombs or drugs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 1 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Sgt. Taylor Reed, a military working dog handler assigned to the 901st Military Working Dog Detachment, and his dog, Kaia, search for hidden narcotics during a Red Ribbon Week event at Camp Zama, Japan, Oct. 31, 2023. The demonstration capped off Zama Middle High School’s weeklong campaign that encouraged students to live a drug-free lifestyle.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Sgt.
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Sgt. Taylor Reed, a military working dog handler assigned to the 901st Military Working Dog Detachment, answers questions from Zama Middle High School students during a Red Ribbon Week event at Camp Zama, Japan, Oct. 31, 2023. The military working dog demonstration capped off the school’s weeklong campaign that encouraged students to live a drug-free lifestyle.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Sgt.
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 3 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Sgt. Bruno Werneck, left, and Spc. Carter Hanson, both military working dog handlers assigned to the 901st Military Working Dog Detachment, demonstrate how one of their dogs, Lock, can apprehend a suspect during a Red Ribbon Week event at Camp Zama, Japan, Oct. 31, 2023. The demonstration capped off Zama Middle High School’s weeklong campaign that encouraged students to live a drug-free lifestyle.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

While drugs are not much of a problem on Camp Zama, Reed said the dogs can still deter any illicit drug activity from happening.<\/p>\n

\u201cCamp Zama is luckily a very safe place,\u201d he said. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean drugs aren\u2019t around here, so we do have drug dogs on this installation to be looking for somebody trying to smuggle drugs through the gate or hide it in a package.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marcus Childs, an eighth grader, said the demonstration helped drive home that there are consequences for those who decide to use drugs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re saying if you do drugs, you may get hurt at some point,\u201d he said, \u201cwhether it\u2019s by a dog when you\u2019re trying to run away, or you do something while you\u2019re on [drugs].\u201d<\/p>\n

Childs said he participated in many of the week\u2019s activities and even volunteered to assist at a booth that encouraged students to sign the anti-drug pledge.<\/p>\n

While some people may try drugs because of peer pressure, Childs said that can also be true to convince others not to try them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a lot of people are doing something, then I feel that a lot of people will try to join in,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, if a lot of people try to be happy and learn about [Red Ribbon Week], then a lot of people will try to be happy and learn about it with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The campaign, with the theme this year of \u201cBe Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free,\u201d is a great way for students to spread awareness, Sanchez said, adding it also shows them that the school is there for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe promote having students live a life where they enjoy it physically, mentally and emotionally,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to ensure that our students are aware that we care for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related links:<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. Army Garrison Japan news<\/a><\/p>\n

USAG Japan official website<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 Spc. Carter Hanson, a military working dog handler assigned to the 901st Military Working Dog Detachment, demonstrates how one of their dogs, Lock, can apprehend a suspect during a Red Ribbon Week event at Camp Zama, Japan, Oct. 31, 2023. The demonstration capped off Zama Middle […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33560,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33558","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33558"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33558\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33567,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33558\/revisions\/33567"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/33560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}