Print
Dogs are known for their superior stealth, sense of smell, agility and loyalty. The military knows this, too. In fact, SEAL Team Six, the elite Navy Seal operatives who captured and killed Osama bin Laden may have had canine help on their side.
Reportedly, a military dog wearing armor accompanied the Naval force as they repelled from a helicopter down to the ground, and into the compound. The dog then went searching for hidden bombs.
Dogs can get into spaces people do not fit into. They can also track, locate and report back on enemy forces without detection. The most commonly used breeds, German Shepherds and Belgian Mailnois, have the most highly desirable skills for combat and stealth missions: stamina, intelligence, and a highly-developed sense of smell. Due to this, these canine combatants are very effective to the military; the dogs are used to conduct patrols and find bombs.
The New York Times reported that in the opinion of Gen. David H. Petraus, United States forces commander in Afghanistan, “the capability they bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine.”
Those keen canine senses have proven to be very useful in sniffing out hidden rooms, as well as finding an internationally wanted fugitive and aiding in his subsequent capture.
Image: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew T MacRoberts / via Flickr
Source: TIME
