Blue, a yellow Labrador Retriever, was working with his handler Lance Cpl. Jarrett Hatley to detect IEDs in Afghanistan. While patrolling a village, Blue detected an IED in an area with recently disturbed ground, saving the lives of over a dozen men. As an IED detection dog and handler, it is Blue and Hatley's job to search for explosives and keep their fellow soldiers safe, facing constant pressure to prevent any mistakes that could cost lives.

1. Saving Lives
By
By Kristina Lotz |
Posted: May 8, 2012, 3 p.m. EDT
It started out like any other day on the job for yellow Labrador Retriever Blue, an Improvised
Explosive Device detection dog and his handler Lance Cpl. Jarrett Hatley.
They were passing through a tiny farming village in Afghanistan - Daywala - when their Afghan
National Army partners stopped to examine a suspicious compound. While examining the
surrounding ground, Hatley halted their advancement when he noticed an area of ground that
looked recently disturbed.
Blue was sent in to investigate.
Just as he is trained to do, Blue laid down next to the area, confirming the presence of an IED.
Once again, Blue's excellent training and Hatley's keen eye saved the lives of at least a dozen men.
Although this time it ended well, Hatley works under constant pressure.
"While we're on patrol, everyone looks to Blue and I to keep them safe," said Hatley, a 21-year-old
native of Millingport, North Carolina. "If we mess up, my friends behind me could get blown
up...because of my mistake."

2. What's it like, exactly, to be an IED detection dog and his handler? We had the honor of interviewing
Hatley, while still in Afghanistan on tour, to find out.
DC: What is the "job title" of these dogs and their handlers, and what are they trained to do?
Hatley: These Marines are dog handlers. They are infantrymen by trade, but dual-trained as dog
handlers, and serving on at least their second combat deployment to Afghanistan. The dogs are
Improvised Explosive Device detection dogs that are trained to locate, by smell, both narcotics and
explosives used in IEDs.