Women's History Month: Kennel master shares joys of (wo)man's best friend

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Combining her love of dogs and being in the U.S. Air Force, Tech. Sgt. Hannah Hobart, 100th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog kennel master, is pretty much in her element.

"I signed up to be a cop, although I wasn't a handler at first," said Hobart. "Once I started working as a security forces member and saw the capabilities of the dogs, I then pursued it and upgraded to the proper skill level."

The additional 12 weeks of training is to become an MWD handler takes place at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio.

"Before I went to school, I didn't know how awesome it was to work with a dog rather than a human," said the Aurora, Ind., native. "It's definitely a lot more interesting! They're incredible; the dogs are your best friend at work, your partner, and they've got your back all the time."

Hobart has a natural affinity with dogs, according to her coworkers, which makes her an ideal handler and kennel master. She's responsible for eight dogs - six German Shepherds and two Belgian Malinois - and their handlers.

"They're an asset that's extremely underestimated," she said. "A lot of people don't understand how important the dogs are when it comes to detection, criminal deterrents on every level; their senses are unmatched and when it comes to humans they can tell you everything, just through their body language.

"You know they are always going to be there for you; there's never a dull moment with the dogs," she continued. "They're the reason I want to come to work every day."

When seeing the kennel master and handlers with their canine partners, there's an obvious bond between them.

"It's built through a lot of rapport; going for walks, feeding and taking care of them in every way, playing fetch and just doing basic obedience with the dogs," Hobart said. "Through those things - before you even start working - you start to build that relationship with each other, and start to build that trust. Once you have that, you can go anywhere."

Just like humans, each dog has its own personality, quirks, likes and dislikes, and there are always dogs that are easier to work with than others.

"When you get paired up with a dog, that rapport time is what allows you to get know how this dog is and how you guys will work together. But sometimes it just doesn't work; personalities either clash or it just doesn't happen."

Hobart laughed as she recalled previous dogs she'd known. She explained that some dogs are easier to work with than others, and there are definitely those who, like people, can be extremely high maintenance,

"My favorite dog I've ever worked with is Ajax," Hobart said. Ajax is one of the MWDs assigned to RAF Mildenhall.

"He was so easy to work with; we got along so well and he was such a great worker. Ajax is a beast! He's so good at what he does - he challenged me and I could always do something different with him," the kennel master said. "I could go above and beyond with him."

However, she considers her first MWD, Cora, her joint-favorite.

"She's the one that challenged me the most, and I learned everything from her. Cora was a challenge every day; there was always something new or different with her," she laughed. "I could always expect something in the form of trouble from her every day! But Cora was the one that taught me the most. She kept me on my toes."

Hobart was paired with Cora, a Belgian Malinois, at her first base, Hurlburt Field, Fla., from 2008 to 2010.

"She was a hot mess, but we were deployed together, and that's what sealed the deal with our bond. We butted heads for the first six months; it's like having an unruly child - once you find that median, you're good.

"It's almost like she had an epiphany one day when we were in Iraq, and she was like, 'Alright, I think we'll be okay. I'll stop making messes for you that you have to clean up for me,'" Hobart said, explaining that Cora was a young, "green" dog and new to the Air Force.

Being a female security forces member in the Air Force, in what is usually considered a male-dominated career field, there are bound to be barriers every now and then along the way.

The kennel master said she has come across that issue several times since joining the Air Force.

"But I never l let it get to me. I knew it was a barrier and it was a challenge, but I never let it be a part of my career. I just did what I was told and met the standard, if not a little bit more.

"I never compared myself to men, because you can't, and I never compared myself to any of the other women either," she laughed. "You just go in and do what you've gotta do, and hey, if people want to put that barrier up for you, go ahead and do it - but I don't recognize being a female as a barrier in this career field. I run with the best of them!"

Whatever the career field, women prove time and time again that they are more than capable of doing the job.

"Women and men can do (this) job equally," Hobart said. "You don't have to be a man to be a kennel master, the same as you don't have to be a woman to be a kennel master. You've just got to know your job and do it. There's only a man/woman restriction when the Air Force says so, like with combat duties. Otherwise, any woman should be able to do any job a man does."

Being in the military is a family tradition for the kennel master, though she is the first woman in her family to join.

"My grandfather was in the Air Force during the Korean War. My other grandfather was Army in World War II. My brother was Army and in Iraqi Freedom when it first kicked off. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my brother, but I really did it for the whole family.

"I felt if my brother and my grandparents could do it for our family, then I definitely could too. My mom and dad brought us up to be responsible adults; they set me up for success," she said.

This ownership of responsibility has served Hobart well in her military career, and those above her have noticed.

"Hannah personifies the Air Force Core Values - specifically, 'Excellence in All We Do," said her supervisor, Senior Master Sgt. Mario White, 100th SFS operations superintendent from Prince Frederick, Md. "She maintains an exemplary standard of care for all the military working dogs, she mentors and develops her handlers, and ensures the highest standard of daily kennel sanitation and cleanliness. She takes pride in her job performance.

"(Sergeant Hobart) is the nucleus - she brings everyone together," White said. "I observe her interaction with her trainers too; she possesses great 'people skills' and has great attributes - she's an effective listener and a take-charge leader."

Drawing on her own experiences, Hobart offered advice for any young women looking to either join the military or looking to take on a different career.

"Do it for you. Don't compare yourself to others; do what you want to do and succeed on your own terms. Don't think of it as, 'I'm going into a male-dominated career field and I've got to be like them.' No - you can be your own person without putting up that gender barrier," she said.

Hobart is a great representation of women in the Air Force, according to White.

"She has determination, integrity of the highest level, she's courageous and doesn't 'settle for anything - Hannah is totally driven!" the operations superintendent said.