NSA Naples celebrates man’s best friend in a K9 Veterans Day 5K

ByAaliyahEssex

U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples

NAPLES, Italy Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples celebrated K9 Veterans Day with a 5k run onboard NSA Naples’ Support Site Saturday March11,2023

NSA Naples’ Morale Welfare and Recreation(MWR)Fitness MilitaryWorkingDog (MWD)Team,VeterinaryClinic,NaplesArea SecurityAssociation(NASA),andUSOjoined together to recognize service dogs around theworld.

“We want to increase awareness and celebratethoseK-9swhohavebeenlostintheline ofduty […]Hopefullytheygainknowledgeof theworktheK9teamdoes,”saideventplannerandMWRFitness’sCapodichinoFitZone ManagerKatelynPaloma.

TheeventwasalsoashowcaseoftheprowessandaccomplishmentsbytheMWDteam andNSANaplesSecurityDepartment.

“Our outstanding Military Working Dog teamsandSecurityDepartmenthereatNSA Naples work tirelessly to keep our community safe and secure,” Capt. James Stewart, Commanding Officer of NSA Naples “We hope that through events like these our communitycaninteractwithourNavalSecurityForcesinamorecasualsettingandgetto knowthepeoplebehindtheuniform.”

Participants were able to watch a live demonstrationbytheMWDteamconducted bytwoK-9teams Adetectiondemonstrationwascompleted by Los Lunas, New Mexico native, Masterat-Arms Seaman Zion Gonzales and MWD Szana. During the exercise Szana sniffed through suitcases to show how MWDs are trainedtolocateimprovisedexplosivedevice (IEDs).

SzanahasbeenaMWDfor7years Gonza- lessayssheenjoysherexperienceasadetectordogandisverygoodatwhatshedoes

When asked to describe Szana, Gonzales’ facefilledwithadmirationashesaid,“Sheis very loving She is hard working—honestly shemakesmelookgood.Ijustholdherleash and she does everything herself I love that dog Sheisperfect.”

A patrol demonstration was completed by Fairfax,Virginianative,Master-at-Arms2nd Class Abbie Cabrera and MWD Reno Reno showcased his ability to assist with a vehicle extractiononastagednon-compliantsuspect duringafelonystop

“My favorite part of working with MWDs is being able to teach my dog a new skill and applying it to daily tasks. Reno is intelligent, caring clumsy hardworking and a fast learner He is always eager to work and his positive attitude makes every day worthwhile,”saidCabrera.

Although only two MWDs participated in the demonstration, the department is made up of three different, specialized types of detectiondogs Reno Szana MWDGero,andMWDQqonnorarepatrolexplosivedogs.

MWD Debi, MWD Toto and MWD Toni areexplosivedetectordogs MWDBoyisadrugdetectiondog

This team of eight makes its mark beyond NSANaplesbyparticipatinginsecurityoperationsthatsupportU.S.governmentofficials, U.S.Navyshipsandmore.

Most recently, on Feb. 23, 2023, Debi workedalongsideKennelSupervisorMasterat-Arms 1st Class Amber Ortiz and Dog Handler Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Kashira Collins to provide security to First Lady of theUnitedStates,Dr JillBiden

In November 2022, MWD teams Cabrera and Reno, Gonzales and Szana, and Master- at-Arms2ndClassXavierEscalanteandToni conductedportoperationsatPortoNapoliin supportoftheUSSGeorgeH.W.Bush(CVN77). The team conducted security sweeps of 10 small boats, 4 barges, and more than 175 buses

From November 2021 to October 2022, Cabrera and Reno deployed to Djibouti, AfricaandBaledogleMilitaryAirfield(BMA) SomaliasupportingatotalofthreeIndividual Augmentees(IA).

The skills used in these operations were showcased during the K9 Veteran’s Day 5K event. The team hopes the NSA Naples community gained a better understanding oftheirefforts.

National K9 Veterans Day, March 13 is a day set aside to honor commemorate the service and sacrifices of American military andworkingdogsthroughouthistory.

The K-9 Corps were first established on March 13, 1942 when the Army began trainingforitsnewWarDogProgram,markingthe firsttimethatdogswereofficiallypartofthe U.S.ArmedForces Officiallypartoftheserviceornot,MWDs havealonghistoryintheU.S.ArmedForces This includes canine heroes such as Sgt. Stubby,theoriginalwardog;Chips,themost decorated dog in World War II; Lex, who retired with his fallen owners family; and Cairo, the Navy SEAL working dog on the binLadenraid

NSA Naples is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed, when theyareneededtoensuresecurityandstability in the European, African and Central Commandareasofresponsibility For more news on NSA Naples, please follow us on Instagram @NSANaples and Facebookatfacebook.com/NSANaples/.

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A: There are three types of housing available to families:

Public/PrivateVenture(PPV)

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The Navy partnered with different private management companies to provide housing to Service Members. These companies are responsible forthe construction, renovation,maintenance and day-to-day management ofthe housing PPVhousing may be located on oroffgovernment property and in most cases will be formermilitary housing GovernmentOwned (also known as Military Housing orNavy Managed Housing is what was formerly called on-base housing While only available in limited quantities CONUS,Government Owned Housing is still widely available OCONUS. CommunityHousing is any housing that a Service Member may choose that is not PPVor government operated This is housing outside ofthe base that is privately owned and operated NAVY HOUSING Norfolk: 757.445.2832

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(March 6,2023) –

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