Cairo the War Dog Only Member of Elite SEAL Team 6 to Be Reveled
Cairo, a Belgian Malinois that was on the SEAL Team that killed Osama Bin Laden, is the only member of the special forces team to be publicly named
Whilst we may never know the identities of the members of SEAL Team 6 involved in Operation Neptune Spear that killed Osama Bin Laden, there is one participant in the mission whose name has been released – Cairo, the war dog.
In May, when President Obama visited Fort Campbell to personally thank the team members who completed the raid into Pakistan, the visit was conducted under closed conditions to keep the warriors identities a secret. Only Cairo, a Belgian Malinois dog specially trained to scout the compound for explosive devices or hidden personnel, was named. Although it is not clear if Cairo has also been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation along with the rest of the unit, the highest possible honor the President can bestow on a military unit, the dog has been called “the ultimate hero” by the US War Dogs Association.
The a Belgian Malinois is the breed of choice for the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six, due to it smaller and more compact size over traditional service dogs such as the German Shepherd. The Malinois smaller frame lends itself better to the tandem parachute jumping and rappelling operations often undertaken by SEAL teams.
The identity of this elite Military Working Dog (MWD) was released not long before Bart, another high-profile Malinois member of Seal Team 6, passed away along with 30 other member of his team when their Chinook helicopter was downed in Afghanistan on August 6.
The profile of these canine warriors, both active and fallen, has increased significantly over recent months as Pentagon departments step up the development of MWD programs. A formal procurement request has been made by Seal Team Six for an all-new canine armor and war gear system. The requested equipment integrates a camera, battery and antenna to transmit images to human handlers, as well as battlefield grade armor. The DEVGRU procurement request specifically mentioned Cobham Tactical Communications & Surveillance, a defense technology contractor that builds everything from human soldier’s gear to battlefield robots. Rumors of Special Force’s MWDs being implanted with titanium teeth have proved enduring, but have been repeatedly denied by U.S. military spokespeople.
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