Sgt. Maj. Fosco was the first MWD to complete an airborne jump while being held by his handler, 1st Sgt. Chris Lalonde.
I could not find an Official Army Regulation stating the dogs will outrank their handler. It appears to be a Tradition. Here is what I did find:
During World War I, a stray dog was adopted by an American infantry unit, which snuck him to Europe, where he survived numerous battles. He alerted sleeping troops to poison gas attacks, saved wounded troops, and returned home a famous hero. You can see Sergeant Stubbys preserved remains (complete with his many medals) at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
In 2011, another MWD was strapped into body armor and transported via helicopter to a secretive compound in Pakistan. There, the dog helped Navy SEAL Team 6 end one of the biggest manhunts in human history by taking down Osama bin Laden.
In America, military officials regard MWDs as incredibly valuable assets, ones that require a lot of time, effort (and money) to properly train and deploy for action. When they serve with courage, theyre lavished with awards ceremonies and medals. And when they die, theyre buried with honors. (The passage of the Robby Law in 2000 allowed for retired military dogs to be adopted. Before that, they were euthanized.)
“Showing respect to a fellow NCO and deference and respect to an NCO as a lower-ranking service member allows for mutual respect between the partnered team and would discourage mistreatment of the dog in theory,” says Kowalski.
Humans have drafted dogs into wartime duties from as far back as 600 B.C.E. Faithful and affectionate to their handlers, dogs were trained to savagely attack the enemy, causing confusion and fear. Dogs have also been deployed as scouts, bomb detectors, sentries and couriers. The United States military has a long and furry history with military working dogs (MWDs), and remarkably, the dogs usually outrank their human handlers.
How Military Dogs Are Trained | Boot Camp | Business Insider
If you buy something from a link on our site, we may earn a commision. See our advertising disclosure.