Sage, the first of her kind, joined the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford as part of a pilot program this May, according to US Fleet Forces Command. The program takes Sage, the first “expanded operational stress control canine” to be part of the crew as part of their deployment. The program’s goal is to provide mental health and operational stress support to the sailors on board the ship.
Sage is a 3-year-old Labrador retriever specifically trained to provide comfort, boost morale, and help cope with the stress of deployment like no other way but a dog can.
Per the Navy, the Expanded Operational Stress Control program was made to promote resilience in the sailors, with the mission to build that resilience “through toughness, trust, and connectedness while educating on stress management to maintain mission and personnel readiness.” The objectives of the program include building resilience, self-care, and buddy care techniques, identifying and managing stress to maintain positive reactions, and connecting sailors in ways to support growth.
Sage is not the first dog to deploy. The Defense Department has about 1600 working dogs in the military, doing various jobs worldwide. In 1942, the Marines initiated the war dog training program at New River, North Carolina (now Camp Lejeune). Dogs had been accompanying men to war in Roman times, and in World War I, first aid dogs were used. Over fourteen weeks, the dogs were trained in two types of work and understanding cues and commands. The handlers were selected for their character, ability, and intelligence. The first Marine Corps dog unit was sent to the Pacific as the 1st Marine War Dog Platoon arriving to participate in the Bougainville operation in November 1943.
The Marine Corps’ war dog training program initially procured sixty-two dogs, with forty-two going to the Army. Per the Marine Corps University, most of the first dogs were Doberman Pinschers and were shipped to the First War Dog Platoon. The other dogs were German Shepherds or Belgian Shepherds. The other service branches, including the Coast Guard, had war dog programs then. The dogs were used as messengers and scouts dogs during the war. The bonus of emotional support was there.
Therapy dog training is a bit different than the War Dog training school. The non-profit Mutts on a Mission raised Sage. Sage’s primary handler is Chaplain Genevieve Clark, who completed 120 hours of handler training with Mutts with a Mission. There are three other volunteer handlers on the Ford to help with Sage. Clark told NBC15, “One of the positives of having Sage aboard the ship is her help in breaking down some barriers to utilizing mental, emotional, and spiritual resiliency resources. Sailors are coming to more warrior toughness events and improving their morale through the vast network of resiliency resources the ship offers with Sage now present at these opportunities.”
Sage’s daily schedule will include private therapy sessions, attending morale, welfare and recreation events, and general visitation.
Sage is ready to take on the mission. Mutts on a Mission sent her with bedding appropriate for her handler’s stateroom, paw, hearing, and eye protection, as well as a life vest. She, of course, was sent with a waste collection mat.
While the first of its kind, this mission could potentially shape more comfort canines joining the crew to provide doggy-centric comfort.
