Paws that protect: The military working dogs defending Hurlburt Field

Paws that protect: The military working dogs defending Hurlburt Field

At 4:30 a.m., while most of Hurlburt Field is still dark and quiet, a security forces handler assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing begins his shift. He checks his gear, reviews the night’s incidents and prepares for a long day of patrol. But before he heads out, he makes sure his partner is ready. That partner doesn’t grab a radio or lace up boots. He waits patiently in a kennel, tail thumping against the gate.