HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —
During Operation Enduring Freedom, a military healthcare facility in Afghanistan was bearing the force of taking care of service members injured in fight. While the staff worked all the time to save lives, they discovered convenience in what would end up being the nation’s very first and last fight tension treatment dog.
Edan started her military profession in 2012 as a military working dog charged with narcotics detection. Her temperament and tendency to overlook her responsibilities whenever food was around led to her being alleviated of her position.
It wasn’t till healthcare specialists at the healthcare facility found her capability to determine clients in intense distress and supply instant convenience that she was provided a brand-new job as a battle tension treatment dog. Edan’s special abilities led her down an unique profession course from other military working dogs.
“There were a lot of traumatic injuries with people getting critically wounded all the time, and a lot of doctors were under extreme stress,” said Lt. Col. Michael Brasher, a pilot appointed to the Air Force Reserve’s 919th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, and Edan’s caretaker. “They realized Edan had a special gift because she would go comfort the most stressed people specifically.”
After finishing extra training and heading into task, she ended up being popular throughout Kandahar Airfield as Afghanistan’s just fight tension treatment dog. Edan made her rounds at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation center and at different offices on base. She flew often to support service members at Bagram Air Base, Camp Bastion, Camp Dwyer and forward running bases throughout the nation.
“I met Edan while I was deployed to Bagram, and it felt so nice to pet her ears and talk to her,” said Tech. Sgt. Ashli Nelson, a sensing unit operator with the 919th’s second Special Operations Squadron. “She was definitely great for morale.”
Edan rapidly ended up being a star for the special service she was supplying. She was included in publications like Time Magazine and The Atlantic. Public affairs workplaces throughout numerous branches produced stories about her exploits.
“All my friends I deployed with would show me pictures of her and we’d talk about meeting her,” Nelson said. “She’s kind of a celebrity. I think anyone who was deployed to Bagram around that time knows her.”
In 2017, Edan satisfied Brasher while on task at an MQ-9 Reaper substance in Afghanistan. Brasher examined her out of the kennels and brought her to the substance, where the operators would have fun with her and feed her.
“At the 2nd SOS operations center, crewmembers would all lay on the floor with her,” he said. “She was a small brown dog in a sea of flight suits. They would always tell me having Edan around made working so much better and they looked forward to their jobs.”
After 2 more years of supporting service members around Afghanistan, Edan retired from her active-duty profession when Brasher took her home to Florida.
Edan served along with Brasher at the second SOS for 3 more years, utilizing her special abilities to determine members dropping stressed out.
“I’ve witnessed her picking up on stress in people over and over again,” Brasher said. “I was talking to this very outgoing and gregarious member when she started licking his palm, and I knew something was going on.”
Edan has numerous methods of suggesting somebody’s tension level. When an Airman is experiencing small tension, Edan will put her head on the individual. If the individual is experiencing persistent tension, she will lay beside them or at their feet. If a member is going through intense distress, she will lick the palm of their hand.
“She’s most definitely done her job,” Nelson said. “Edan has done at least her full 20 in dog years, and I’ve really appreciated having her and Brasher at the squadron.”
While Edan is putting her military service behind her, in her leisure time she still volunteers at a Veterans Affairs healthcare facility in Orlando.
“I love her to death and am extremely proud of her,” Brasher said. “She’s brought a lot of joy and love to people over the years.”
Brasher and Edan retired together at an event in January, where they both got certificates of gratitude for their service and congratulatory words from Col. Jason Grandy, 919th SOW leader.
Brasher said Edan will spend her retirement capturing sticks, going on strolls and swimming.
(Gentile is appointed to the 919th Special Operations Wing’s public affairs workplace.)
