http://www.army.mod.uk/news/23502.aspxA soldier from Shrewsbury who earned herself the reputation as the Army’s best dog handler searching for deadly Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan is to be awarded an MBE.
Corporal Kaye Wilson, aged 35 of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps searched for IEDs with her dog Obama in a high risk area of Helmand laced with the devices.
Her citation credits her as being the first to volunteer for tasks, and having the respect of all the search teams in the Task Force area.
In one 25-day operation, Kaye and Obama, a Belgian Shepherd Malinois, were the only constant as 15 IEDs were discovered in a painstaking four-kilometre clearance task along the Bandi Barq Road.
The road was largely un-passable for the local population as it was literally seeded with IEDs planted by Taliban fighters. The clearance was achieved without any loss of life or injury.
'Being watched by the enemy'
Her citation states: “Corporal Wilson operated at the top of her game and maintained this unparalleled performance throughout the tour.”
Kaye described the importance of the handler/dog relationship. She said: “When you are paired up, the instructors look for personalities and how you will match up.
“I only had around two weeks with Obama before deploying but we worked very well together. It is important to know what he is thinking and look for little signs.
“The first time you go out, there is a certain trepidation but you relax into it. Because the dog is such a trusted tool and you’re working with high assurance search teams, it gives you real confidence.
“To say I was the best dog handler is quite a mad statement, there were many good handlers, there were probably others better than me,” she modestly adds.
The Bandi Barq Road clearance was especially taxing. “We were being watched by the enemy,” said Kaye.
'Slept on the road'
“After we got rid of IEDs, they would replace them behind us and lay more ahead of us. As a result, a greater presence was sent to ward them off and we actually slept on the road to prevent further seeding.”
Obama was so successful he was kept in theatre after Faye finished her tour. She said: “He has a new handler and is more use out there than back here. You do get attached but the job is the most important thing.”
Faye is now training other operatives and dogs to perform with the same distinction she showed in Afghanistan.
The announcement was made today with the release of the latest operational honours and awards list, which includes 140 personnel. The awards are for actions roughly during the period October 1 2010, to March 31 2011.
Topic: MBE for 'top of her game' dog handler (Read 2125 times)