Xena: an EDD in Afghanistan
This year an excellent set of 12 photographs of Xena, an Explosive Detection Dog (EDD), was donated to the Memorial. Following an inauspicious start to life in the military, Xena proved her true worth serving in Afghanistan. A Malinois (Belgian Shepherd), Xena was the runt of the litter in an RAAF breeding program. Deemed too timid to have a future as an attack dog, her future was uncertain. She was allocated to a trainer, however her high energy levels created havoc and her next transfer was to the pound. There she was selected for basic training as an EDD at the School of Military Engineering RAE and attached to the Special Operations Engineering Regiment. In 2012 Xena undertook a tour of Afghanistan with handler Sapper T. Her intelligence and high energy levels were ideal assets. Her focus, skills and canine instincts contributed to the detection of many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and caches of explosives, weapons and ammunition. The photographs illustrate the dangerous, exhaustive nature of this work and the close bond between handler and dog.
Xena and Sapper T wait in the shade of a wall prior to a route search.
Xena and Sapper T prepare to infiltrate a target.
Sapper T and Xena rest following a long search for explosive devices.
The complete set of these photographs can be viewed in the Collection area of the Memorial’s website at P11498.