CAMP SHLEBY, Miss. - Charged with the responsibility to "protect" and "look out for" 24 hours-a-day, battle buddies are authorized to take necessary action to prevent their fellow Soldiers from doing anything that would be unsafe and unwise.
Battle buddies are more than just social companions, they are Soldiers that live by the Soldiers creed and neve leave a comrade behind. Some battle buddies stationed here are teams of two working hard, training hard, and looking out for each other.
Both Soldiers are disciplined, well groomed, and physically fit for duty. Both follow commands explicitly, but unlike traditional Battle Buddies, this team has six legs instead of four. These Tactical Explosive Detection Dog teams consist of a trained dog and a validated handler.
The TEDDs have been trained to sniff out explosives.
The 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be the first in the National Guard to implement this latest resource.
"They are trailblazers," said Army Sgt. First Class Greg Sewell, brigade operations non-commissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 37th IBCT. "They are writing the [Standard Operating Procedures] for future National Guard units."
The TEDDs and their handlers have joined the rest of their fellow 37th IBCT Soldiers training here after eight weeks of hands-on training in Indiana and Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz.
"The dogs are ready for explosive detection but now they need to incorporate the rest of this," said Ben Martin, trainer and instructor of the TEDDs from Vohne Liche Kennels, Inc. The TEDDs are being integrated into their handler's organic units and the units are now being introduced to the TEDDs roles in training and combat.
"The TEDD program is designed for combat arms folks to beef up the organic capabilities of a maneuver unit," Sewell said.
"They are not attack dogs," Martin said. "They sniff. That's their only purpose."
"If your dog shows a response and you trust that something's there, your job is done. Contact [Explosive Ordnance Disposal]," said Army Spc. Mitchell Pupa, infantryman and dog handler for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-125th Infantry, 37th IBCT.
The dogs serve as Soldiers and are recognized as such. They hold rank one level above their handler's rank.
Aside from receive regular veterinary check-ups, the handlers are in complete control of their dog's care: feeding, walking, and grooming. The dogs also stay in the barracks with their handlers.
The TEDDs also receive vaccinations, including those required for deployment - just like their human counterpart soldiers.
The 37th IBCT and their TEDDs are deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.