Retired K-9 honored at Air Force Base for Veterans Day

2 months ago 2

COMMITTEE, WHILE VETERANS AROUND THE NATION WILL BE HONORED IN A FEW DAYS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 100,000 RIGHT HERE IN NEW MEXICO. REPORTER ALYSSA MUNOZ SPOKE WITH ONE LOCAL VETERAN WHO SAYS VETERANS DAY IS SPECIAL FOR DOGS AS WELL. WELL, SASHA BRANDON SOTO AND HIS DOG BOB BOTH SERVED IN THE MILITARY, AND SOTO SAYS CANINES ARE JUST AS MUCH VETERANS AS WELL. ANYONE ELSE? THEY GO THROUGH EVERYTHING WE DO AND IT REALLY SHOWS AND IT CAN TAKE A TOLL ON THEM. BOB IS A FOUR-LEGGED HERO. BACK IN 2021, BRANDON SOTO BECAME HIS HANDLER AT KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE. WE TRAINED EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHETHER IT COMES DOWN TO DETECTION OR BITE WORK, THOSE SKILLS BEING PUT TO USE IN COMBAT FOR SIX MONTHS AND ON A MISSION TO PANAMA WITH SOTO. THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER GOING OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. ON A SECRET SERVICE MISSION. AND IT WAS A REALLY NICE TIME TO BE ABLE TO SPEND IT WITH HIM. GOT TO WALK DOWN THE BEACH, DO SECURITY FOR YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE AIR FORCE ONE. NOW, BOB IS A RETIRED VETERAN RELEASED FOR MEDICAL ISSUES. HE WAS JUST SO USED TO HAVING SOMETHING TO DO EVERY TIME HE WAS OUTSIDE OF HIS KENNEL THAT HE WAS JUST LOOKING FOR IT. AND IT WASN’T UNTIL MAYBE ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO THAT HE ACTUALLY WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, I’M GOING TO I’M GOING TO RELAX. THEN SOTO SAYS HE DECIDED TO ADOPT HIM DURING THAT TWO YEAR TIME FRAME. HE WAS THAT WAS MY PRODUCT. THAT WAS ALL MY EFFORT INTO TRAINING HIM. AND ALONG WITH SPENDING SO MUCH TIME, PLUS JUST LOOKING AT HIM, HE’S JUST HE’S HE’S ONE OF THE, THE SWEETEST DOGS. ADDING ANOTHER SPECIAL VETERAN TO HIS FAMILY. I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SERVED MY GRANDFATHER SERVED IN VIETNAM AND MY PARENTS BOTH WERE IN THE ARMY. THAT’S ACTUALLY WHERE THEY MET. SOTO SAYS VETERANS DAY IS AN HONOR FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS WHO SERVED TOGETHER IN TODAY’S MODERN TECHNOLOGY, YOU HAVE YOU KNOW, AIRPLANES. YOU HAVE COMPUTERS, YOU HAVE ALL THIS STUFF. BUT SO FAR, WHAT I’VE SEEN IS THESE DOGS, NOTHING CAN COMPARE TO WHAT WHAT THEY CAN DO AND AND WHAT THEY DO FOR US. WELL, BOB WILL BE HONORED FOR HIS SERVICE ON MONDAY AT KIRT

"They go through everything we do. It really shows that it can take a toll on them," said Sgt. Brandon Soto

Veterans around the nation were honored on Monday for Veterans Day. Sgt. Brandan Soto said the holiday is for both people and dogs who have served. "They go through everything we do. It really shows that it can take a toll on them," Soto said. Soto has been in the military since 2013. In 2021, he became a handler at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico and was assigned the task of training Bob, a German Shepherd. "We train every single day whether it comes to detection or bite work," Soto said. Bob was deployed to Kuwait for six months and went on a mission with Soto to Panama. "That was my first ever going out of the United States on a secret service mission. It was a really nice time to spend it with him, got to walk to the beach and do security for Air Force 1," Soto said. Bob is now a retired veteran after being released for medical issues in January. "He was so used to working every time he was out of his kennel, he was just looking for it, and it wasn't till about three or four months ago that he was like, OK, I'm going to relax," Soto said.After Bob was retired, Soto decided to adopt him."During that two-year time frame, that was my product. That was all my effort into training him and along with spending so much time, I mean, just look at him. He's one of the sweetest dogs," Soto said.Bob is another special veteran who will be added to Soto's family. "I come from a long line of family members who served. My grandfather served in Vietnam; my parents both were in the army. That's actually where they met," Soto said. "In today's modern technology, you have airplanes, computers, you have all that stuff. But so far, what I've seen is these dogs, nothing can compare to what they can do and what they do for us."Bob was slated to be honored for his service on Monday at Kirtland Air Force Base.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Veterans around the nation were honored on Monday for Veterans Day.

Sgt. Brandan Soto said the holiday is for both people and dogs who have served.

"They go through everything we do. It really shows that it can take a toll on them," Soto said.

Soto has been in the military since 2013. In 2021, he became a handler at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico and was assigned the task of training Bob, a German Shepherd.

"We train every single day whether it comes to detection or bite work," Soto said.

Bob was deployed to Kuwait for six months and went on a mission with Soto to Panama.

"That was my first ever going out of the United States on a secret service mission. It was a really nice time to spend it with him, got to walk to the beach and do security for Air Force 1," Soto said.

Bob is now a retired veteran after being released for medical issues in January.

"He was so used to working every time he was out of his kennel, he was just looking for it, and it wasn't till about three or four months ago that he was like, OK, I'm going to relax," Soto said.

After Bob was retired, Soto decided to adopt him.

"During that two-year time frame, that was my product. That was all my effort into training him and along with spending so much time, I mean, just look at him. He's one of the sweetest dogs," Soto said.

Bob is another special veteran who will be added to Soto's family.

"I come from a long line of family members who served. My grandfather served in Vietnam; my parents both were in the army. That's actually where they met," Soto said. "In today's modern technology, you have airplanes, computers, you have all that stuff. But so far, what I've seen is these dogs, nothing can compare to what they can do and what they do for us."

Bob was slated to be honored for his service on Monday at Kirtland Air Force Base.

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