In the Italian contingent of the "Resolute Support" mission in Afghanistan, canine units conventionally indicated with the initials K9 operate in support of the Force Protection assets, with the task of contributing to the safety of personnel and military installations, in particular in operations of search for explosive devices and materials (EDD, Explosive Detection Dog).
The K9 pairs, made up of handler and dog, are mainly used for the control of vehicles and staff entering Camp Arena, home of the Train Advise Assist Command West (TAAC-W), but also carry out explosives research on the ground ( Route Clearence) and, thanks to their "combat capability", they support the staff in the operational control and surveillance of sensitive areas and points, also in tactical transport on any type of military vehicle.
The main component of the national contingent is currently made up of Italian Army personnel from the 132nd "Ariete" armored brigade under the command of Brigadier General Enrico Barduani, while the Italian area of responsibility is included in the Western Afghanistan region, which includes the four provinces of Herat, Badghis, Ghor and Farah.
The dog units, which come from the Army Veterinary Military Center of Grosseto, a structure of excellence of the Italian Armed Forces for the selection and training of military four-legged people and conductor personnel, before being placed in the operating theater they carry out an intense training cycle, adapted to the specific needs of employment, context and the geographical area in which they will have to operate.
