Officer Kris Spath and Momo, a 4-year-old yellow Labrador, routinely conduct vehicle, building and ground searches. (Photos by Brian Murphy, ODNI Public Affairs)

When it comes to providing a safe environment, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) Explosives Detection K-9 teams are on the front lines.

The nine handlers and their canine compadres thoroughly inspect the agency’s campuses — to include conference rooms, mailrooms and parking lots — with a standard of 100 percent accuracy. Anything less could lead to dire consequences.

Sgt. Aryhel Freeman performs an exterior search with his partner Nigel, a Golden/Labrador mix.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the primary source for NGA’s K-9s, with the majority of the agency’s dogs coming from two programs — Puppies Behind Bars and Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

“Having a dog as a partner has been the best assignment I’ve ever had,” said Officer Mike Muten. “The trust and bond formed with my K-9 partner cannot be broken. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

“My favorite thing about being a K-9 handler is that our mission makes a difference every single day of work.”

- Lt. Herb Watson

“My favorite thing about being a K-9 handler is that our mission makes a difference every single day of work,” said Lt. Herb Watson, NGA K-9 unit lead. “Most people don’t realize without our efforts, multiple things would come to a halt at NGA without our partners’ noses.”

Sgt. Clarence ‘Clancy’ Nidell and Licorice, an 8-year-old black Labrador, have been partners at NGA since 2011.

Canines identified as program candidates undergo six weeks of training at a location in Front Royal, Virginia, before being assigned to a permanent partner. Once that happens, the K-9s live with their handlers as part of their families.

Officer James Sweiderk and Landon, a 5-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, perform daily searches to stay sharp in their duties.

The handlers and dogs must develop a strong bond of trust and knowledge of each other to help handlers identify those subtle nuances their partner may exhibit when doing a search.

Frisco, a 6-year-old black Labrador, inspects an delivery truck with Lt. Herb Watson, a U.S. Army veteran.

“My partnership with Frisco has truly given me my best friend,” Watson said. “I spend more time with him than anyone else in my life. We work together, live together, and go on vacation together.”

Lt. Herb Watson and Frisco celebrate a job well done.

The first phase of training focuses on imprinting, which is a form of learning that typically happens at an early age and lasts the lifetime of the animal. During this process, a K-9 is offered an explosive compound to smell, and then given a food reward. Repetition is vital, which is why the smell-eat process may be repeated up to 200 times a day.

During their time together, Sgt. Steve Carter quickly learned that Bob, a 6-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, has an ‘extra tell’ and licks the location where the training ‘odor’ is placed during training exercises.

Once imprinted, the dogs are then taught to alert their handlers by sitting when they smell the odor. At that point, the cycle of detection — smell, sit, eat — is complete.

Momo, a 4-year-old yellow Labrador, has worked with Officer Kris Spath for three years at NGA as an Explosives Detection Team.

The second phase of training, which lasts for 10 weeks, introduces the K-9 to its handler as the two begin working together to refine their search techniques.

Clara, a 3-year-old female yellow Labrador retriever, is known as NGA’s residential high jumper. When Clara first met her partner, Officer Mike Muten, she was so excited, she tried to jump over her kennel wall at ATF.

This phase is vital to both the dog and the handler, as they begin to develop their bond and learn how each team member goes about conducting such an important mission.

Bob takes advantage of a break in the action.

During this period, the handler learns the dog’s personality and tendencies, which helps them to recognize the subtle clues their canine partner cannot vocalize.

“My partnership with Frisco has truly given me my best friend. I spend more time with him than anyone else in my life. We work together, live together, and go on vacation together.”

- Lt. Herb Watson

The NGA K-9 Explosives Detection ‘pack’ delve into a bag of toys as a departure from routine and to spark their inquisitive natures.

“I love working with Momo and feel I have truly built the best bond with the best partner around,” said Officer Kris Spath. “Momo is a huge part of my life, be it at work when we are searching vehicles or at home when he hangs out with my family. I don’t think there is ever a moment when he is not by my side, and I think that’s because of the bond we have together and were taught early in our career.”

Frisco, a 6-year-old black Labrador, and 7-year-old Nigel, play ‘tug-o-war’ between facility and vehicle inspections. Play, as well as varied training, is important to help keep the dogs engaged and prevent ‘burn-out.’

Because the K-9s live with their handlers, training opportunities aren’t just limited to the duty day. Handlers have ‘odor’ canisters, which allow for impromptu training scenarios at home.

Landon, a 5-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, performs an exterior building search with Officer James Sweiderk.

“Being a K-9 officer has been an honor and provides constant challenges — like making sure training is sufficient and Landon knows all the explosive odors to ensure a safe working environment for the NGA employees and the intelligence community,” said Officer Jim Sweiderk.

Handlers must be extremely familiar with their canine partners, every slight change out of normal may make a very big difference.

Based off a finite group of explosive components, ATF estimates there are 19,000 explosive formulations.

“Being a K-9 officer has been an honor and provides constant challenges.”

- Officer Jim Sweiderk

Bob searches the National Geospatial-Intelligence College and conference area before the start of a conference.

Because dogs are able to break down complex odors into their basic components, they are able to detect a bomb regardless of which combination is used.

Bob makes a perfect kibble catch after a successful explosive search scenario with his partner, Sgt. Steve Carter.

“I love being a part of a team that is responsible for seeking out explosives that many others don’t have the courage to do,” said Sgt. Aryhel Freeman. “All police officers are on the front lines protecting this great nation, but my position as a K-9 handler allows me the opportunity to make sure that front line stays safe.”

“Chad is my second K-9 while here at NGA,” said Officer Eric Leeds. “My first K-9, Maggie, was medically retired in 2015 after a year and a half of service. Chad’s previous handler had taken a different job within the NGA Police Force within a few weeks of Maggie retiring, so Chad was re-assigned to me after we certified at ATF as a team. Our partnership is just beginning, but Chad is an excellent explosive detection K-9 and a great partner. Being an NGA K-9 handler is one of the best jobs I’ve had during my law enforcement career.”

By cultivating a strong bond, the human and canine learn each other’s mannerisms — what is normal behavior — and when one or the other is having an ‘off’ day.

“Being a K-9 officer has been an honor as it provides me challenges; making sure training is sufficient that Landon knows all the explosive odors to ensure a safe working environment for the NGA employees and the community,” said Officer James Sweiderk.

“My partnership with Landon gives me a reason to go to work every day, even when I feel under the weather,” Sweiderk said. “Landon gets so excited to work and search — even if it is overseeing operations while I’m working behind a computer screen.”

“All police officers are on the front lines protecting this great nation, but my position as a K-9 handler allows me the opportunity to make sure that front line stays safe.”

- Sgt. Aryhel Freeman

Sgt. Aryhel Freeman and Nigel have worked together for more than four years protecting the NGA workforce as an explosives detection team. Nigel is very passionate about finding explosives and just as passionate about playing fetch.

Quarterly testing at NGA ensures the teams are working at peak performance, identifies possible deficiencies that may need remedial training and prepares both K-9 and partner for their yearly ATF certification test.

The only passing score is 100 percent.

Landon and Nigel alert their handlers after finding a shell casing during training.

“My partnership with Nigel has allowed me the ability to protect others and has given me a life-long best friend,” Freeman said. “Nigel has never let me down, on or off duty. Working as a K-9 officer has given me the opportunity to educate others about what Nigel and I can do together and has given us, as a team, the chance to represent the NGA police force on and off site.”

Landon is not above borrowing another Explosives Detection K-9 team member’s chair during down time.

While most NGA employees will never know just how much time and energy goes into ensuring the K-9 teams are ready for any scenario, the workforce is able to feel safe each and every day because of the tireless efforts of an often overlooked entity.

Good dog…