Alfa is a dog that has been active in the departments of Meta and Caquetá, in the municipalities of Vista Hermosa, San Juan de Arama, Mesetas, Uribe and Puerto Rico. Thanks to their experience of military operations and discipline, together with their guide, Soldier José Javier Ramírez Fontalvo, they have received eight consecutive accreditations by the Organization of American States (OAS), carried out in Guatavita, department of Cundinamarca; Neiva, department of Huila; Chaparral, department of Tolima, and Granada, department of Meta.
Thanks to the Alfa operation, together with Soldier José Javier Ramírez Fontalvo, more than 50,000 square meters have been cleared.
In the different territories of the country, the trained dog mine detectors, together with their trainers, continue in the work on humanitarian demining. Complying with a strict selection, training and accreditation process endorsed by the OAS.
Its mission is to demine and protect the inhabitants of these inhumane acts at the hands of organized armed groups that have taken lives and intend to take control of the territories through fear.
Alfa is the representation of security and commitment for soldiers. Dogs are selected by means of temperament and resources tests; subsequently, they start a course a duration of one and a half years, during which they are trained to detect different types of explosive substances in the national territory. Once this stage is completed, masters and dogs go through an additional training of more than 60 days before submitting the accreditation to the OAS.
The trained dog demining technique aims to clear and reduce dangerous areas, as well as conduct indoor quality control.
All of the above has the purpose of fulfilling the mission of protecting Colombia, Colombian National Army, together with its trained dogs, reaffirms its mission with humanitarian demining, an operation that restores security and trust to the communities.
Source: Press - National Army
