What My Husband Misses From The Air Force

This post is sponsored by Responsival but all opinions are my own.

My husband was in the Air Force for nearly 22 years before retiring. He deployed a number of times and it wasn't the easiest life. He was in security forces, which meant he started off checking ID cards at the gate and then he went to being in a vehicle. He knew he always loved dogs so he decided to go to school so he could become a K9 Handler. 

Yes, that meant he also had to put on the big suit to actually get bit by a dog so he'd know first hand what it was like. It looked absolutely terrifying to me, but he didn't mind. He would even volunteer to wear the suit when families and friends came out to a demonstration. You do not feel the bite, but you certainly feel the pressure of the strong teeth. 

I know he had different breeds of dogs as partners. German Shepherds. Belgian Malinois. Each of his dogs had different personalities and he would learn how to best work with them. 

He had a close relationship with all of the dogs he was partnered with. He'd give them treats like long lasting dog chews that were hand-selected and would benefit their health, and made sure they felt safe and secure. No, none of these dogs ever lived at the house. In the military, they must remain in the kennels on the base. But you are able to visit them whenever you'd like on days off, so Tom would usually do this so the bond would grow. 

He even became Kennel Master, which meant he was in charge of the entire kennel. He did a fantastic job and enjoyed seeing all the dogs. He didn't have one specifically that was his partner anymore, but he oversaw the entire kennel which sort of meant all of the dogs were a reflection of him. He took this job seriously and made sure the kennel ran as smoothly as it could. 

So yes, if you ask my husband what he misses from being in the military, he'd mention the dogs. He works at Lowe's now and sometimes people bring in their dogs. He spoke to a man who had just adopted a German Shepherd and wasn't sure how to train him. 

Well. Naturally Tom had plenty of advice and that man said he might even have Tom help to train his new furry friend. Tom said he wouldn't mind. He's always open to helping out when he can. 

It just goes to show that the things you learn that mean a lot, always come back around in the end.