News: Mick and Marty graduate
Release Date: Wednesday, December 22 2010, 01:20 PM
The final national canine recruit course for 2010 came to an end with Mick and Marty joining their fellow recruits at their graduation ceremony at the National Canine Unit Training Complex in Majura, Canberra.
After eleven weeks of intense and rigorous training the recently graduated Canine Handlers will be deployed to Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Adelaide airports.
Canine Handler Federal Agent Mick Simmons said he was looking forward to his deployment, and a surf.
“I’m being deployed to Sydney. The majority of our work will take place in the Sydney international and domestic airport. It’s probably one of the biggest airports in Australia, so a lot of work” he said.
“I can’t wait to get back to Sydney. I’m from the Northern Beaches so I can’t wait to go for a surf.”
National Canine Instructor David McCambridge said he’d enjoyed his role and seeing the progress of each handler.
“Eleven weeks ago we saw the handlers start never having handled a detector dog before, we’ve seen them develop quite well through some of the very basic techniques right through to being ready to deploy to airports,” he said.
The course and the deployment of the handlers is part of the $17.8 million increase in funding for the AFP’s Firearms and Explosive Detection Dog capability to boost screening by canines at Australia’s major airports.
The initiative funds an additional 17 Firearms and Explosive Detection Dog teams that will be operational by mid next year.
The AFP is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment at Australian domestic and international airports. National Manager Aviation Shane Connelly said the handlers and their canines could save lives.
“It’s those little things that you pick up, or that your dog may pick up, just that little bit of attention may save Australian lives, and lives of tourists coming to or leaving from this country,” he said.
You can view the graduation ceremony and reflect on Mick and Marty’s journey through the National AFP Canine Firearms and Explosive Detector Dog training.