MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT -- With a burst of speed, Alf is after the red dog toy. He slides like a professional baseball player and snatches it before the second bounce. Dust trails behind him as he makes a beeline back to Cpl. Kyle Schiemann, a military working dog handler with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. On command, Alf stops, sits and drops the toy at Schiemann’s feet.
Schiemann , a native of Gladwin, Mich., said Alf, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, is one of the younger dogs with the Cherry Point PMO. It’s because of his young age and high energy level that he requires a lot of attention and energy to match.
Schiemann and Alf are constantly working and conditioning themselves to be the best team they can.
“We’re either out patrolling or we’re back here training,” he said. “The key is to keep a steady pace throughout the day.”
Military working dogs like Alf provide Cherry Point a wide range of detection and security capabilities.
Schiemann enlisted to be a military police officer and when he heard about an opening for dog handlers, he didn’t hesitate to apply.
“As far as being a military police officer, this was the best choice for me,” he said. “I love working with the dogs. I see it more as a privilege and a reward than a job.”