Written by Sue Tone

Technical Sgt. Jessie Keller, U.S. Air Force, served 13 years of active duty before transferring into the reserves. She has been deployed seven times – five times to Iraq, and two times to Afghanistan.

When she entered the Air Force, it was with the goal of working in the K9 program. It took five years, but Keller calls working with animals one of the most rewarding jobs a person can have.

“It’s a job that many people can’t understand unless you’ve had a dog actually save your life,” she said.

K9 handlers don’t use the word ‘dog’ or ‘animal,’ she adde. “We say it’s our partner. These four-legged partners were there to save us.”

Working as a female in a traditionally male field had its own challenges. Keller had to prove herself as a valuable teammate every time she joined a new unit; and every time, she was accepted as one of their brothers.

Chrach (pronounced “crash”) was assigned to her as a Military Work Dog, or MWD. One of his biggest accomplishments was working on combat patrols with Special Forces. He located five IEDs – improvised explosive devices – which Keller said saved a good friend of hers, and other teams that came up behind her team. For these and other actions, Chrach received many awards, among them the Bronze Star and a Combat Action medal.

Chrach retired and lived with former Air Force airman Kyle Alltop; he died in June 2018. When K9 partners retire or pass away, their handlers and fellow comrades give them a full ceremony as they would a human soldier.