Last modified Wed., January 09, 2008 - 05:03 PM
Originally created Thursday, January 10, 2008

In The 'Dog House' Mayport Awarded Kennel Of Year

By MC3 Patrick Cook, Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Southeast

Military Working Dog Handlers aboard Naval Station Mayport are given the Navy Region Southeast 2007 Kennel of the Year award during a presentation on base. The award promotes camaraderie and competition among the regions 10 kennels and is given to the Sailors who maintain their dogs at the highest level.
MC3 Patrick J. Cook

A division of Naval Station Mayport's security department - Military Working Dogs (MWD) - received the Navy Region Southeast's 2007 Kennel of the Year award during a presentation at Mayport in December.

Instituted in 2005, the program began as way to encourage camaraderie as well as a keen sense of competition among the region's 10 kennels. Receiving the award recognizes Mayport as being the front runner for 2007.

"I have kennels asking me all the time, 'what do we need to do to achieve this award?' and I tell them excel, push your dogs, get your dogs where they need to be and maintain them at that level," said J.R. Prevatte, the regional canine coordinator. "They really put forth the effort here and this was the region's way of recognizing that effort."

The Master-at-Arms (MA) that handle the dogs laid the foundation for the award by leading the way in both utilization and training; often doubling the instructed times required.

"This is a direct reflection of how are teams are doing both here and deployed," said MA Petty Officer 1st Class Allan McGathey. "We're constantly trying to improve the base's anti-terrorism force protection policy and the military working dogs are doing an outstanding job in helping us achieve that."

MWD, along with their handlers from every military service, are deployed worldwide to support the war on terror, helping to safeguard military bases and activities and to detect narcotics and explosives ordinances before they can inflict harm.

"We're doing an excellent job, we'll continue to do an excellent job and we will take home the Kennel of the Year again," said McGathey.