From intense drills to bite suits, it was a day of teamwork for the crew of HMAS Brisbane and the four-legged heroes of the Naval Base San Diego Military Working Dog Kennels.
Navy personnel toured the kennels, observed an obedience course certification and practised a simulated hostile incident response.
Able Seaman Maritime Personnel Operator Celeste Hardiman, of Clarkefield in Victoria, was especially keen to interact with the combat canines because her family bred German Shepherds for 15 years for the police force.
"Spending the day with the dogs brought back lots of great memories," Able Seaman Hardiman said.
"Most of the Victorian Police breeding stock came from our family, which the police then used to start up their own breeding program."
Military working dogs are highly trained dogs that perform a wide range of duties, including force protection, tracking and apprehending suspects, detecting explosives and drugs, aiding in search-and-rescue operations and attacking hostile aggressors.
Able Seaman Hardiman said German Shepherds were well suited to combat work, as they are high-energy dogs with lethal instincts, speed and agility, as well as fast learners.
"Their temperament is perfect for the military, as they are very protective in nature, plus they are very good at obeying orders and commands," she said.
"Their appearance also tends to scare a lot of people unintentionally."
For Able Seaman Hardiman, the highlight of the day was the interactive demonstration of a 'hostile aggressor' scenario, and watching how the dogs reacted to a 'runner'.
"I put on the 'bite suit' and when they gave the order for the dog to attack, I had to try to run away," she said.
"It was actually really difficult to bend my knees and run in the suit and the dogs were very reactive and fast."
Brisbane is currently in San Diego for five months conducting an interchangeability deployment to learn from and work with the US Navy, enhancing leadership skills, especially in high-intensity scenarios.
