FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Two Airmen and a military working dog from the 92nd Security Forces Squadron responded to a bomb threat at a high school in Chewelah, Washington Dec. 15, 2017.
Staff Sgts. Justin Benfer and Giancarlo Del Valle responded to the dispatch call from the Stevens Country Sherriff’s Office that a note was found in the school claiming there was a bomb in the building. No bomb was found on the premises.
“Our Military Working Dog teams are a key enabler in providing law and order as well as security at Fairchild,” said Lt. Col. Kevin McMahon, 92nd SFS commander. “Our teams maintain a constant state of readiness, certified and available to be called upon on a moment’s notice to support taskings on base, in support of Secret Service missions and, when possible, to support our local community partners.”
The team said they enjoy being able to be able to help out in the community when able.
“We all like to be able to give assistance to our local first responders,” said Benfer. “We’re here for Fairchild, but we also care for the safety and wellbeing of the local community.”
In addition to the MWD team, the Chewelah Police Department, Sherriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service were on scene to render aid for the bomb search.
Prior to the call, Benfer was in the middle of providing training to other security forces members while Del Valle was just coming on shift.
“I was in the middle of training a new handler with a new MWD when we got the call, so I got a hold of DV (Del Valle) and in less than 30 minutes we were out the door and on our way,” said Benfer, a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
In addition to maintaining readiness and training for military working dogs and their handlers, the 92nd SFS provides security for more than 12,000 total personnel who enable the refueling mission of three KC-135 Stratotanker squadrons, which enables rapid global mobility at a moment's notice.