“Special weapons” of Vietnam"s border guards

QTO - Military working dogs, seen as “special weapons” of border soldiers in the central province of Quang Tri, are effective companions of the border guard in protecting the national border and the country"s sovereignty.

Lieutenant Nguyen Quang Toan and his companion during a training session. Photo: L.T

At the Special Reconnaissance Team of the Quang Tri Border Guard, these “special weapons” have contributed significantly to their operation in reconnaissance and arresting criminals along the Vietnam-Laos border.

The Special Reconnaissance Team has nine military working dogs to carry out their responsibilities along the border.

According to the Vice-Captain of the Special Reconnaissance Team, Major Tran Van Hau, the dogs have been trained well with high endurance levels and are obedient. Hau added they have been performing their tasks effectively, such as patrolling, tracing, or ambushing.

“Before being deployed to different units, the military working dogs had been trained in combat exercises to ensure their endurance and toughness up to the tasks,” Hau said.

“Here, we only need to beef them up to maintain their physical strength,” he continued, referring to works such as discipline training, jumping through hoops, lying close to the ground, or crawling on terrain.

Behind the elite and bravery of the military working dogs at the Special Reconnaissance Team are the effort and enthusiasm of the “masters” who train them. To see first-hand these training sessions of these “special soldiers”, one could see the hard work of the training staff here.

Lieutenant Nguyen Quang Toan, a professional dog trainer of the Special Reconnaissance Team, shared, at the unit, each officer is assigned a military working dog to care for, train, and lead when on duty.

Toan has been assigned a dog named A Po since 2020. The dog has been trained in different fighting scenarios.

“These dogs are quite large and capable of causing great damage, so I was a bit worried upon the first meeting with them. However, over time, my perseverance and love for these”loyal friends“made us closer,” he said.

For Apo and other military working dogs, Toan said they are provided with two meals per day.

“When on duty, they will get additional dry nutrition food. In addition to the training time, I have to make sure that they have enough time to relax,” said Toan.

The main task of the military working dogs at the Special Reconnaissance Team is to protect and guard important targets, patrol and control the area and participate in undercover work.

They will chase and arrest subjects infringing national security, social order, and safety, search and rescue works and participate in drills, training, and combat readiness.

Over the past time, the “special weapons” have contributed significantly to the border guards" overall successful operations.

In 2020, the border guard"s military dogs joined the search for ill-fated victims in a serious landslide that occurred in the garrison area of the Defense Economics Division 337; ensured security in the first Vietnam - Laos border defense friendship exchange program held in Huong Hoa and Sepon districts (Savannakhet, Laos) in December 2021; participated in the defense drill inDakrong district in 2022.

They have also participated in patrols, undercover tasks, and fighting against various types of crimes.

On June 21, 2021, the military working dogs successfully solved a case involving Laotians trafficking a large amount of drugs across the border in Huong Phung Commune, Huong Hoa District.

Along the western border of Quang Tri, the trainers and military working dogs do exercises day and night, conducting patrols to protect national borders and ensure sovereignty.

It is no doubt that they have made an outstanding contribution to the task of preserving the security of the country"s border.

Ngoc Mai - Le Truong