One of our readers sent us this DoD photo of a Special Forces Soldier helo casting with his K9 during Exercise Emerald Warrior 11. While the reader thought that it was interesting that the Soldier was wearing Five Fingers, we were more interested in the K9’s Bass Pro Shops flotation vest.
Thanks Anatolii!
Tags: Bass Pro Shops, Five Fingers, K9
That dog looks thrilled.
That dog actually looks like he’s trying to stay in the Helo…. Note the left paw : )
I wonder if the muzzle is necessary to keep him from biting his handler during the swim to shore…
Check out the Soldier’s footwear
@ BBMN…reading is fundamental. Did you even read the article?
I think the dog looks awkward because it was tossed out, rather than jumping out. I would think it would be better to teach the dog to jump out, less chance of an awkward jump and injury.
I wish I knew more about the whole process.
The dog and his handler are doing what is called helo casting where the helicopter flies slowly along at a low level and the troops jump into the water. Depending on mission, they may either swim directly to shore or toss a boat as well and use it to continue their mission. In this photo, the dog team is not parachuting. In fact, they are low enough that you can see the ripples in the water from the rotor wash. In the photo the dog does look a bit awkward but dogs are more than capable swimmers and this one is wearing a bright yellow flotation vest. Tossed? Probably not. He is behind the handler and no one else is on the ramp. That other guy you see to the left is standing at the top of the ramp and still has a ways to go to get to the bottom.
doesn’t look like a helo to me. back of a C-130, low and slow.