All language subtitles for SEAL.Dog.2015.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

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Narrator: CHOPPER,
ALL 90 POUNDS OF HIM,

LOOKS THE PART
OF AN ALL-AMERICAN DOG.

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HE'S A CHAMP AT TUG OF WAR
AND A GREAT FAMILY PET,

JUST LIKE MILLIONS
OF OTHER DOGS.

HE'S EVEN LEARNED TO SURF.

Man: WOO HOO HOO HOO!

Narrator: BUT CHOPPER HAS
A SECRET IDENTITY.

HE'S A STEALTH WARRIOR,

ONE OF THE PENTAGON'S
SPECIAL OPERATORS.

AFTER 9/11, U.S. NAVY SEALS
FOUND A NEW KIND OF RECRUIT.

CHOPPER WAS RAW POTENTIAL,

BUT WITH THE RIGHT
TRAINING AND GEAR,

HE COULD JUMP INTO BATTLEFIELDS
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

FOR FOUR YEARS,
HE AND TREVOR MAROSHEK,

A DECORATED NAVY SEAL,
WERE AN ELITE FIGHTING TEAM.

WITH AN UNSHAKABLE BOND,
EACH SAVED THE OTHER'S LIFE.

Trevor Maroshek:
HAD CHOPPER NOT BEEN THERE,

I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD FOR SURE.

Narrator: IN 2007,
THE NAVY SEALS STARTED

THEIR OWN UNIQUELY DESIGNED
CANINE PROGRAM.

TREVOR MAROSHEK
WAS ONE OF ITS PIONEERS.

THEIR GOAL:
FOR MILITARY WORKING DOGS

TO DO EVERYTHING NAVY SEALS DO.

Trevor: WE BASICALLY WENT
TO ALL THE WORLD'S BEST

CANINE TRAINING SCENARIOS
WE COULD

TO JUST PULL THE BEST COMPONENTS
OUT OF IT

AND SEE HOW IT MAY APPLY
TO OUR JOB.

Stewart Hilliard: SPECIAL FORCES
DOGS HAVE A DIFFERENT MISSION.

MUCH MORE IS EXPECTED FROM THEM.

THEY HAVE TO BE
MORE POWERFUL, BRAVER,

MORE PHYSICALLY ENDURING.

THEY ARE THE CREME DE LA CREME,

THE MOST EXTREMELY FIT
AND MOTIVATED DOGS.

Narrator: SEAL DOGS ARE CHOSEN
FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE ENDURANCE

AND SUPER-HIGH DRIVES.

ABOUT 1% OF DOGS MAKE THE CUT.

Hilliard: WHAT WE LOOK FOR FIRST

IS WE LOOK FOR THE DOG'S
DESIRE TO WORK,

WHICH IS REALLY BASED ULTIMATELY
ON THEIR GENETICS

AND THEIR INSTINCT TO ENGAGE
IN BEHAVIORS LIKE HUNTING,

LIKE FIGHTING, LIKE SEARCHING,
ET CETERA.

SO A DOG LIKE THIS

HAS TREMENDOUSLY STRONG
VITAL INSTINCTS.

SHE LOVES TO EAT,
SHE LOVES TO RUN,

SHE LOVES TO CHASE THINGS,
SHE LOVES TO STRUGGLE,

SHE LOVES TO HOLD THINGS
IN HER MOUTH,

SHE DOESN'T WANT
TO GIVE THINGS UP

WHEN THEY'RE IN HER MOUTH.

IF YOU CHALLENGE HER,
IF YOU TRY TO FRIGHTEN HER,

SHE FIGHTS BACK REFLEXIVELY
AND WITH PLEASURE.

SHE LIKES IT.

Narrator: AND THAT WAS
EXACTLY CHOPPER'S PROFILE.

IN MAY 2007, THE NAVY LET TREVOR
CHOOSE HIS PARTNER,

A CHOICE BETWEEN CHOPPER'S
RAW POTENTIAL

OR OTHER PROVEN PEDIGREES.

Trevor:
THERE WAS A BELGIAN MALINOIS,
THERE WAS A DUTCH SHEPHERD,

AND THEN THERE WAS THIS GIGANTIC
BLACK FUR MISSILE MONSTER

THAT WAS SPINNING, KIND OF
INVERTEDLY SPINNING THIS WAY,

LIKE THEY DO IN THE CARTOONS,
YOU KNOW, THE ACME CARTOONS,

AND IT WAS CHOPPER.

Narrator: TREVOR CHOSE CHOPPER,
A GERMAN SHEPHERD,

BECAUSE HE WAS THE SCARIEST DOG
HE'D EVER SEEN.

Trevor: WANT TO GO FOR A SWIM?
GO FOR A SWIM?

Narrator: ON THE WAY BACK
FROM THE KENNEL,

THE TWO CAME
TO A QUICK UNDERSTANDING.

Trevor: I LOOKED OVER AT HIM,
MADE EYE CONTACT WITH CHOPPER,

AND WE HAD
A "HERE'S THE DEAL" SPEECH.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PARTNERS,

AND YOU'RE GOOD TO ME,
I'LL BE GOOD TO YOU.

YOU ATTACK ME,
I'LL ATTACK YOU,

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator:
TREVOR HAD HIS PARTNER,

BUT THE ROAD AHEAD
WOULD BE FRAUGHT

WITH STRUGGLE, UNCERTAINTY
AND MORTAL DANGER.

AND TREVOR WONDERED IF EITHER
OF THEM HAD THE RIGHT STUFF.

TREVOR GREW UP IN THE BEACH TOWN
OF SAN CLEMENTE

ON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
COAST.

Trevor: OH, I WAS A WATER BABY
THROUGH AND THROUGH,

AND MY DAD REALLY ENCOURAGED IT.

Narrator: HE LEARNED TO SWIM
AT AGE 3 AND WAS SURFING AT 5.

Nick Maroshek: 5 OR 6, YEAH,

AND THEN WE GOT HIM
HIS FIRST SURFBOARD,

AND AWAY HE WENT.

Barbara Maroshek: YEAH, ANYTHING
TO DO WITH WATER, HE LOVED IT.

Narrator: BUT AS A TEENAGER,

TREVOR MOVED FROM THE WATER
TO TROUBLE.

Trevor: WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,
I WAS AN ABSOLUTE PUNK.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS

THAT YOUR PARENTS DIDN'T
WANT YOU TO HANG OUT WITH.

Nick: AROUND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL,

HE STARTED GETTING INVOLVED
WITH SKATEBOARDING,

AND SURFING BECAME
A BIGGER THING FOR HIM.

THEN HE STARTED BEING ATTRACTED

TO THE MORE COLORFUL PEOPLE
THAT WERE AT THE SCHOOL.

Barbara:
HE ALWAYS SORT OF FLIRTED
ON THE EDGE OF DANGEROUS THINGS,

YOU KNOW, AND GETTING DRAWN INTO
THINGS HE SHOULDN'T BE DOING.

Narrator: BUT 9/11
CHANGED TREVOR'S LIFE.

Trevor:
THE DAY THAT 9/11 HAPPENED,

I HAD AN IMMEDIATE
CHANGE OF HEART.

AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER
MY BROTHER JOINED,

AND THEN I HAD AN OVERWHELMING
URGE IN MY HEART

TO, YOU KNOW, DO MY PART.

Narrator:
LIKE SO MANY BEFORE HIM,
TREVOR DECIDED TO ENLIST.

Trevor: I PRETTY MUCH FIGURED
THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE,

AND I'D ALREADY ACCEPTED THAT.

AND WHEN I JOINED THE SERVICE,
I WAS THERE TO DO TWO THINGS:

A] TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT
MY BROTHER

AND RESCUE HIM
IF HE EVER GOT SHOT DOWN,

AS WEIRD AS THAT SOUNDS,

AND SACRIFICE MY LIFE
FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

Narrator: FROM THE START,

TREVOR DIDN'T JUST WANT
TO JOIN THE MILITARY,

HE WANTED THE ULTIMATE TEST.

IT BEGAN HERE IN 2003,

AT THE NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS BASE
IN CORONADO, CALIFORNIA.

THE BASIC UNDERWATER DEMOLITION
SEALS TRAINING--

BUDS FOR SHORT--

MIGHT BE THE TOUGHEST TRAINING
ON EARTH.

THE FEW WHO PULL THROUGH
BECOME U.S. NAVY SEALS,

ONE OF THE MOST ELITE
MILITARY FORCES ON THE PLANET.

THE GRUELING 6-MONTH BUDS COURSE

TESTS MEN TO THEIR
ABSOLUTE LIMITS.

Trevor: GOING INTO BUDS, WHICH
IS BASICALLY GLADIATOR SCHOOL,

I KNEW THAT THEY WEREN'T THERE
TO KILL ME,

THEY WERE THERE TO BREAK ME DOWN
AND TO TRAIN ME,

AND SO IT DIDN'T MATTER.

SO FOR ME GOING INTO BUDS
WAS LIKE BRING IT,

YOU CAN'T HURT ME.

Narrator: MORE THAN 70% OF THOSE
WHO SIGN UP FOR BUDS WASH OUT.

BUT THOSE WHO SURVIVE GET
THE MISSIONS THAT MAKE HISTORY.

FROM GETTING OSAMA BIN LADEN

TO TAKING OUT PIRATES
IN SOMALIA,

NAVY SEALS GET IT DONE.

THOSE WHO ENDURE BECOME EXPERTS
IN COMBAT DIVING,

FAST ROPING, MARKSMANSHIP,
AND FREE FALLING.

Trevor: BUDS IS 5% PHYSICAL
AND 95% MENTAL.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT UP HERE TO
MAKE IT THROUGH THE TRAINING.

I'VE SEEN GUYS WHO LOOK
LIKE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

AND COMPLETELY QUIT
THE FIRST DAY,

AND I'VE SEEN GUYS
WHO YOU LOOK AT AND GO,

"THERE'S NO WAY THAT GUY
WOULD MAKE IT,"

AND HE'S AT THE TOP TIER
FIRST TIME EVERY TIME.

AND IT'S BECAUSE
THEY HAVE IT UP HERE.

Lloyd: WHEN IT GETS TOUGH AND
YOU GET COLD AND YOU GET SANDY,

WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER
HOW MANY PUSHUPS YOU CAN DO,

THE COLD DOESN'T GO AWAY,
THE PAIN DOESN'T GO AWAY.

IT'S JUST, IT'S THE MINDSET
THAT OVERTAKES EVERYTHING.

AND IT'S THE WILLINGNESS
NOT TO QUIT.

Joe Biden: THE FINEST WARRIORS
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

ARE THE UNITED STATES
SPECIAL FORCES.

Man: GET DOWN, IN THE MUD!

Biden: THERE ARE
NO GROUP OF WARRIORS

THAT HAVE BEEN AS EFFECTIVE
AS OUR SPECIAL OPERATORS,

AND AMONG THOSE ARE THE SEALS.

THESE GUYS, WELL, I MEAN,
THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

[CHANTING]

Officer: BOOYAH!
SEALS: BOOYAH!

Officer: BOOYAH!
SEALS: BOOYAH!

Biden: AND WATCHING THE SEALS

AND HOW THEY USE THEIR DOGS
AS WELL

IS ASTOUNDING.

Narrator: SEAL DOGS ARE
THE LATEST EVOLUTION

IN CANINE COMMANDOS,

BUT MILITARY DOGS HAVE
OFFICIALLY BEEN USED

BY U.S. FORCES
SINCE WORLD WAR TWO.

IN 1948, PARATROOP DOGS
WERE TRAINED IN THE ARCTIC

TO RESCUE PLANE CRASH VICTIMS.

DECADES EARLIER, A BULL TERRIER
NAMED SERGEANT STUBBY

BRAVED 17 WORLD WAR ONE BATTLES.

HE LEARNED TO RECOGNIZE THE
SMELL OF DEADLY POISONOUS GAS

AND SOUND THE ALARM,

GIVING SOLDIERS TIME
TO GRAB THEIR GAS MASKS.

MILITARY MASCOTS LIKE STUBBY

ROUTINELY STAYED
NEXT TO WOUNDED SOLDIERS

UNTIL HELP ARRIVED,

OFTEN BARKING TO HELP MEDICS
FIND THE INJURED WARRIORS.

STUBBY RETURNED HOME
A HERO FOR HIS SERVICE,

LEADING PARADES AND HOBNOBBING
WITH PRESIDENTS.

IN RETIREMENT, HE BECAME
A FOOTBALL MASCOT

AT WASHINGTON, D.C.'S
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY.

IN APRIL 2004, TREVOR
HAD NEVER HEARD OF STUBBY

OR ANY OTHER MILITARY DOG.

AND WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT
IN TRAINING,

HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT FATE
WAS ABOUT TO MOVE HIM

FROM WARRIOR TO TARGET.

ON APRIL 14, 2004,
TREVOR FOUND HIMSELF

IN THE WRONG PLACE
AT THE WRONG TIME.

HE'S ON HIS WAY
TO MEET FRIENDS BACK HOME

WHEN HE WALKS
INTO A STREET FIGHT

OUTSIDE A LOCAL BAR.

AS HE TRIES TO BREAK IT UP,

HE'S HIT IN THE HEAD
AND KNOCKED OUT.

Trevor: THERE WAS SOME MARINES

THAT WERE HAVING AN ALTERCATION
WITH A CIVILIAN.

I WALKED UP AND WAS HIT
WITH A BLUNT OBJECT.

Narrator:
HE'S RUSHED TO MISSION HOSPITAL.

Trevor: THEY TOLD ME I HAD
A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY,

DUE TO BLUNT TRAUMA.

AND I HAD BASICALLY
A DOUBLE BRAIN CONTUSION

AND A BASAL SKULL FRACTURE,

AND I HAD BRAIN FLUIDS AND BLOOD
COMING OUT OF MY LEFT EAR.

WELL, THE MOMENT I CAME TO,

THE FIRST WORDS
OUT OF MY MOUTH WERE,

"OH, MY GOD, WHAT TIME IS IT?
I HAVE TO GET BACK TO TRAINING."

Narrator: TREVOR'S DOCTORS
HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN FOR HIM.

Trevor: THEY TOLD ME, WELL,
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW

YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE
FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS.

DON'T PLAN ON BEING
IN THE MILITARY.

THAT'S OVER.

AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NEVER GOING
TO BE A NAVY SEAL.

I FEEL BAD FOR ANYONE IN MY WAY

IF I'VE GOT TARGET LOCK
ON A GOAL

BECAUSE I'M GETTING IT,
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

AND THAT SAME DRIVE APPLIED

GOING THROUGH
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

IT WAS AGAIN, JUST LIKE QUITTING
IN BUDS ISN'T AN OPTION.

THIS INJURY IS NOT AN OPTION.

STRAIGHT UP.

FLAT OUT.

Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2004, AFTER
MONTHS OF GRUELING THERAPY,

AGAINST ALL ODDS
AND MEDICAL EVIDENCE,

TREVOR GRADUATED, AND RECEIVED
HIS NAVY SEAL TRIDENT PIN.

Trevor: THE DAY I RECEIVED
MY TRIDENT

WAS ONE OF THE BEST DAYS
OF MY LIFE

AND ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL.

Nick: I MEAN, AFTER ALL
THAT HE'D BEEN THROUGH

AND TO BE THERE AT HIS,
WHAT AN HONOR

TO WATCH NAVY SEALS
RECEIVE THEIR TRIDENT.

Barbara: YEAH, WE WERE
SO PROUD OF HIM.

IT WAS AN AMAZING DAY.

Nick: YEP.

Narrator: IN APRIL 2005,
TREVOR DEPLOYED

ON HIS FIRST MISSION TO IRAQ.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER,
THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED:

TREVOR'S HUMVEE WAS BLOWN UP
BY A ROADSIDE BOMB.

Trevor: THE EXPLOSION COMES IN

AND IT SUCKS ALL THE OXYGEN
OUT OF THE VEHICLE,

AND OBVIOUSLY
THE SHOCK WAVE ITSELF

ROCKS EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING.

BECAUSE OF MY HEAD INJURY, WELL,

I HAD FELT A LOT
OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS I HAD HAD

WHEN I FIRST GOT INJURED.

Narrator:
TRAGICALLY, TREVOR SUFFERED

A SECOND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
FROM THE EXPLOSION.

WITH THE TRAUMA OF TWO TBIs,
AND STILL WANTING TO SERVE,

HE FOUND A NEW DIRECTION
IN THE NAVY SEAL DOG PROGRAM.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE WARS
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN,

THE U.S. DEPLOYED MORE THAN 600
MILITARY WORKING DOGS

IN COMBAT ZONES.

OF THESE CANINE COMMANDOS,
FEWER THAN 20 WERE SEAL DOGS.

NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE DOGS
ARE SPECIFICALLY SELECTED

FROM TWO HERDING BREEDS--

GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS...

AND BELGIAN MALINOIS.

Hilliard: I THINK
MOST EXPERTS WOULD AGREE

THAT THE HALLMARKS OF A REALLY
GOOD GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

ARE STEADY NERVES
AND STABLE CHARACTER.

AND WHAT IS SOMETIMES LACKING
IN THE GERMAN SHEPHERD

IS INTENSITY OF DRIVE.

THE MALINOIS, THE STRENGTH
IS INTENSITY OF DRIVE,

AND THEN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING
TO GET IS NERVE STABILITY.

AND WHAT I MEAN
BY NERVE STABILITY

IS A DOG WHO CAN GET
ON A HELICOPTER

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
AND BE FLOWN SOMEPLACE

AND GET OUT IN A REALLY,
REALLY STRESSFUL SITUATION

AND STILL DO HIS JOB.

Narrator: BELGIAN MALINOIS
ARE MORE COMPACT,

LESS PRONE TO HEATSTROKE,
AND EASIER TO CARRY.

Lloyd: GERMAN SHEPHERDS
ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN

JUST BECAUSE
THEY'RE SO MUCH BIGGER.

A LOT OF THE TIMES WE HAVE TO GO
UP AND OVER A BUILDING,

CARRY THEM UP LADDERS,
RAPPEL OUT OF HELICOPTERS,

FAST ROPE, TAKE THEM UP
HIGH-ANGLED MOUNTAIN TERRAIN.

Narrator: BUT TREVOR
SENSED SOMETHING SPECIAL

IN HIS GERMAN SHEPHERD PARTNER.

CHOPPER WAS WORTH THE EXTRA
WEIGHT TREVOR HAD TO CARRY.

MOST SPECIAL OPS CANINES
ARE PURCHASED ABROAD.

CHOPPER WAS BORN IN JULY 2005
IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

HIS PRICE TAG: $13,000.

Hilliard:
THE REASON THAT THE MAJORITY
OF THE DOGS COME FROM OVERSEAS

IS THAT THEY'RE COMING
FROM LARGER POPULATIONS

OF WORKING DOGS

THAT ARE DEDICATED
TO THIS KIND OF SERVICE.

Narrator: CHOPPER SPENT
HIS FIRST TWO YEARS

IN EUROPEAN SPORT TRAINING...

HONING HIS PREY
AND FIGHT DRIVES.

Trevor: SO HE'S BEEN TRAINED
SINCE HE WAS BORN TO FIGHT,

YOU KNOW, SIX-FOOT MEN.

YEAH, IN THE BITE SUIT,
OF COURSE,

BUT YOU KNOW, EVEN IN THE SPORT
THEY ARE TRAINED TO ENGAGE THEM

AND FIGHT A GROWN MAN AND WIN.

THEY LEARN HOW TO CONTROL
A HUMAN BEING.

Narrator: TREVOR WORKED
WITH CHOPPER FOR A YEAR

BEFORE THEY EVER DEPLOYED,

EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT
TRAINING METHODS,

UNTIL THEY FOUND
THE RIGHT MATCH.

Trevor: POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT.

AN EXAMPLE OF THAT
IS CALLED CLICKER TRAINING

USING, YOU KNOW, TREATS
AND REWARDS AND TENNIS BALLS.

THAT'S ACTUALLY
WHERE WE SKYROCKETED.

IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

WE TRAIN DOGS
OFF OF TWO MAJOR DRIVES:

THE PLAY DRIVE
AND THEIR PREY DRIVE.

AND THE PREY DRIVE
FAR EXCEEDS THE PLAY DRIVE.

AND SO, GETTING THE BITE

IS THE BEST REWARD
HE COULD EVER GET.

TO HIM, IT'S JUST A BIG GAME.

UNTIL HE FEELS ACTUALLY
PHYSICALLY THREATENED,

TO HIM IT'S JUST,
"OH, I GET TO BITE SOMEBODY.

I GET TO BITE SOMEBODY."

AND THAT'S HIS WHOLE WORLD.

Narrator: IN DECEMBER 2008,
CHOPPER'S WHOLE WORLD CHANGED

WHEN HE AND TREVOR WERE CLEARED

FOR THEIR FIRST MISSION OVERSEAS
ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF IRAQ.

IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TEST

OF CHOPPER'S ABILITY TO PERFORM
IN REAL-LIFE COMBAT,

AND EVEN TREVOR WASN'T SURE
HOW IT WOULD GO.

THEIR FIRST MISSION
WAS HUMANITARIAN,

TO WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS
OF LOCALS.

Trevor: YOU KNOW,
HAND THEM BLANKETS,

GIVE THEM FOOD, HELP THEM OUT,

MAYBE EVEN MONEY
TO REBUILD STUFF.

Narrator: TREVOR AND CHOPPER
WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY.

ABOUT AN HOUR INTO THE MISSION
TREVOR NOTICED A SUSPICIOUS MAN.

Trevor: THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY
HAD AN OBJECT IN THEIR HAND,

WHICH AT THE TIME
APPEARED TO BE A GUN.

AND SO AGAIN, THIS IS
MY VERY FIRST MISSION,

AND I'M LIKE, OH, MY GOD,
WHAT DO I DO,

AND ACTUALLY I HAD A RACE
OF NERVOUSNESS GO THROUGH ME

AND ANXIETY OF LIKE, OKAY,

NOW IT'S TIME TO PROVIDE
SOME ACTION.

Narrator:
TREVOR SENT CHOPPER OUT
TO ATTACK THE POTENTIAL ENEMIES,

BUT REALIZED MIDSTREAM
THAT CHOPPER'S TARGET

WAS A HARMLESS SHEEP HERDER.

Trevor: WHAT WAS IN HIS HAND WAS
ACTUALLY ONE OF THEIR STAFFS

THAT THEY USE FOR SHEEP HERDING.

SO I HAD TO RECALL CHOPPER.

AND I WAS...

HAD TO USE MY RECALL
FOR THE FIRST TIME,

WHICH WAS YOU KNOW,
"CHOPPER, HIER."

Narrator: TREVOR'S COMMAND
STOPPED CHOPPER IN HIS TRACKS.

Trevor: AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY
THE VERY FIRST WARM AND FUZZY

THAT I HAD THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT,
MY DOG IS WORKING FOR ME,

WE'RE A GOOD TEAM.

Narrator: CHOPPER PASSED
HIS FIRST TEST,

BUT THE PATH FORWARD WOULD BE
LITTERED WITH HIDDEN ENEMIES.

BY 2008,

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES,
OR IEDs,

WERE THE SIGNATURE WEAPON
OF IRAQI INSURGENTS,

AND THE NUMBER 1 KILLER
OF COALITION FORCES.

THEY WERE CHEAP, EASY TO USE,

AND VERY EFFECTIVE
AT SOFT TARGETS,

LIKE HUMVEES, TRUCKS
AND FOOT PATROLS.

Man: WHOA!

Narrator:
THE HOMEMADE EXPLOSIVES

WERE EASILY HIDDEN
UNDER ROADSIDE DEBRIS,

OFTEN IN ANIMAL CARCASSES
OR BOXES,

AND COULD BE DETONATED REMOTELY
BY CELL PHONES

OR EVEN A CHILD'S
REMOTE-CONTROLLED TOY.

IF CHOPPER COULDN'T DELIVER AND
CONSISTENTLY DETECT DEADLY IEDs,

SOLDIERS WOULD DIE.

DOGS' NOSES ARE UP TO 100,000
TIMES MORE SENSITIVE TO SMELL

THAN HUMANS'.

THIS DOG IS ALERTING HIS HANDLER
TO IMMINENT DANGER.

Biden: THEY'RE BETTER
AT DETECTING BURIED EXPLOSIVES,

THESE IEDs AND BURIED BOMBS,
THAN ANY MACHINERY WE HAVE.

[EXPLOSION]

Hilliard:
THERE IS NO PRESENT TECHNOLOGY

THAT IS MORE COST-EFFICIENT,
MORE ADAPTABLE,

MORE VERSATILE, MORE FUNCTIONAL,
THAN AN ANIMAL LIKE THIS,

WITH THE RIGHT QUALITIES
OF CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

AND WORKING APTITUDE
THAT IS PROPERLY TRAINED,

SO THIS IS A LITTLE LIFESAVER
SITTING RIGHT HERE.

Narrator: CHOPPER TURNED OUT
TO BE A LIFESAVER, TOO,

PROVING HIS VALUE
AGAIN AND AGAIN

BY ALERTING TREVOR
TO SCORES OF IEDs IN IRAQ.

Biden: THESE DOGS HAVE SAVED
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF LIVES.

THEY'RE AMAZING ANIMALS,

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
HOME TODAY, HEALTHY,

BECAUSE OF A DOG.

Narrator:
BUT IT TAKES MONTHS OF WORK

TO TRANSFORM A DOG
INTO A LIFESAVER,

AND FOR SPECIAL OPERATORS
LIKE CHOPPER,

HAVING THE RIGHT GEAR
IS ESSENTIAL.

Trevor:
THE WHOLE IDEA WITH CANINES

IS YOU WANT TO KEEP THEM AS
LIGHTWEIGHT AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE

BECAUSE YOU'RE COUNTING
ON HIS SPEED AND HIS ACCURACY.

Narrator: GERMAN SHEPHERDS CAN
RUN TWICE AS FAST AS HUMANS.

Trevor: IT'S LOAD-BEARING,

SO ANYTIME I WOULD FAST ROPE,
RAPPEL, DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT,

THIS IS WHAT I CAN
CLIP HIM INTO,

AND I KNOW THAT IT WILL HOLD
HIS BODY WEIGHT CONNECTED TO ME.

CHOPPY.

GOOD BOY.

ANOTHER ONE IN THERE, GOOD BOY.

SO HE KNOWS THE DEAL.
HE POPS RIGHT ON.

NOW THE KIND OF COOL THING
ABOUT PUTTING HIS VEST ON ALSO

IS THIS IS SORT OF THE BEGINNING
OF HIS SWITCH,

THEN HE KNOWS HE'S WORKING,

SO THESE ARE "DOGGLES,"
AND THEY'RE PHENOMENAL.

Narrator: HELICOPTERS OFTEN MEAN
BLOWING DEBRIS,

SO EYE PROTECTION IS MANDATORY
FOR EVERYONE ON THE TEAM.

Trevor: IT'S NOT SOMETHING
YOU CAN WEAR ALL THE TIME,

AND THE DOGS DEFINITELY
DON'T LIKE WEARING 'EM,

BUT AS FAR AS THE PROTECTION,

THIS WOULD KEEP HIM FROM GETTING
INJURED WHEN A HELICOPTER LANDS

OR IF THERE'S ANY KIND
OF DUST STORM OR SAND STORM,

THIS PROTECTS HIM.

Narrator:
LIKE MOST SEAL DOG HANDLERS,

TREVOR GIVES HIS VERBAL COMMANDS
IN DUTCH, NOT ENGLISH.

BUT SOMETIMES
HE HAS TO "GO DARK"

AND RELY ONLY
ON HAND AND BODY GESTURES.

CHOPPER GETS IT ALL.

[BARKING]

SEAL DOG TACTICAL GEAR IS
SHROUDED IN SECRECY...

BUT WE KNOW STATE-OF-THE-ART
CANINE GEAR EXISTS

AND IS READILY AVAILABLE FROM
COMMERICAL SUPPLIERS...

INCLUDING CUSTOM-FIT,
BULLET-PROOF BODY ARMOR,

A SOPHISTICATED
HIGH-DEFINITION CAMERA

THAT AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES
TO NIGHT VISION IN LOW LIGHT,

ALLOWING HANDLERS TO SEE
WHAT THEIR DOGS ARE SEEING.

A SPEAKER AND MICROPHONE,
SO HANDLERS CAN RELAY COMMANDS

FROM MORE THAN FOUR
FOOTBALL FIELDS AWAY,

WITH A SIGNAL STRONG ENOUGH
TO PENETRATE THROUGH CONCRETE.

AND SPECIALLY DESIGNED DOGGLES,

WITH NIGHT VISION
AND INFRARED CAPABILITIES.

THE ENTIRE CUSTOM CANINE GEAR
COMES AT A BIG PRICE--

MORE THAN $20,000.

IN WAR, WHAT SETS
SEAL DOGS APART

IS THEIR ABILITY TO TACKLE
MULTIPLE JOBS.

[GUNFIRE]

MOST MILITARY WORKING DOGS

ARE TRAINED
IN ONE OR TWO SPECIALTIES.

SEAL DOGS, KNOWN
AS MULTI-PURPOSE CANINES,

ARE TRAINED IN FIVE--

EXPLOSIVE DETECTION,

TRACKING,

LASER TARGET ACQUISITION,

SIXTH SENSE,

AND BITE WORK.

CHOPPER MASTERED ALL FIVE,

BUT ON ONE EXERCISE,
SOMETHING WENT TERRIBLY WRONG.

Trevor: I GOT TO EXPERIENCE
ONLY ONCE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE

WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO BITE ME
FOR REAL,

AND IT WAS VERY, VERY SCARY.

Narrator: ON COMMAND,
CHOPPER ATTACKED,

BUT WHEN TREVOR TRIED
TO PULL HIM OFF THE TARGET,

IN A FLASH,
CHOPPER LUNGED FOR TREVOR.

Trevor: I SAW HIM, IT WAS
KIND OF LIKE HE LOOKED UP AT ME,

LOOKED AT MY HAND
WHILE HE WAS ON THE BITE,

AND AS SOON AS HE DISENGAGED
THE BITE SUIT, HE ENGAGED ME

AND WENT RIGHT AFTER
MY LEFT HAND,

AND HE NAILED ME.

Narrator:
CHOPPER CAN BITE WITH A FORCE
OF 900 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH--

ENOUGH TO CRUSH BONE.

TREVOR HAD JUST SECONDS
TO CORRECT HIM

AND AVOID PERMANENT INJURY.

Trevor: I THREW HIM IN THE CAR
AND LOCKED HIM UP

AND I WAS ACTUALLY
EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT,

I WAS PISSED THAT HE
HAD TRIED TO BITE ME,

BUT AFTER THAT
I ESTABLISHED DOMINANCE.

Narrator: IT WAS THE ONLY TIME
CHOPPER MADE THAT MISTAKE.

LIKE TREVOR AND CHOPPER, LLOYD
AND HIS SEAL DOG SEEM

PERFECTLY MATCHED.

LLOYD WAS A NAVY SEAL
FOR CLOSE TO TWO DECADES.

HE'S BEEN ON DOZENS
OF CLASSIFIED MISSIONS.

BOTH HIS IDENTITY, AS WELL AS
HIS DOG'S, ARE PROTECTED.

LLOYD'S BELGIAN MALINOIS

WAS THE FIRST WEST COAST
SEAL DOG TO SERVE OVERSEAS.

THE BOND THEY'VE
FORGED IS PALPABLE.

Lloyd: IT IS AN AMAZING BOND
THAT WE HAVE.

IT'LL PROBABLY NEVER EVER BE
DUPLICATED IN MY LIFE.

WE'VE-- THE MISSIONS THAT WE'VE
HAD IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND

SLEEPING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND
CUDDLING TOGETHER TRYING TO

KEEP WARM AND FINDING FOOD.

HE'S NOT A DOG TO ME,
HE'S FAMILY.

HE SAVED MY LIFE, HE SAVED
THE LIFE OF MY TEAM GUYS.

HE'S BEEN THERE AND HE'S ALWAYS
PERFORMED HARDER AND BETTER THAN

ANYBODY I'VE EVER
KNOWN IN MY LIFE.

Narrator: SEAL DOGS BRING
TALENTS TO THE FIGHT THAT

SOLIDERS CAN'T...

AND OFFER A LESS LETHAL FORCE.

THEY'RE TRAINED
TO ATTACK AND HOLD,

NOT KILL THE ENEMY.

Lloyd: SO WE CAN ACTUALLY
CATCH A GUY, INTERROGATE HIM,

ASK HIM QUESTIONS,

WHERE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DOGS

IT MAY BE A SHOT
THAT WE'D HAVE TO TAKE,

AND THEN OUR INTEL
ACTUALLY ENDS THERE.

Narrator: SPEED AND AGILITY HELP
SEAL DOGS DEFEAT THE ENEMY

BUT IT'S THEIR SENSE OF
SMELL THAT HELPS THEM

PREVENT AMBUSHES.

[EXPLOSION]

CHOPPER'S LIFE IS ON THE LINE
EVERY SINGLE DAY HE'S WORKING,

AND TREVOR IS PAINFULLY AWARE
OF THE RISKS.

42 U.S. MILITARY DOGS
HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ACTION

IN AFGHANISTAN SINCE 2001.

Trevor: OUR JOB
IS ABOUT SACRIFICE,

AND UNFORTUNATELY THE WAY I HAVE
TO LOOK AT CHOPPER AND MYSELF

IS WE'RE TOOLS.

SO, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY,
AS MUCH AS I LOVED HIM,

HE COULD EASILY HAVE STEPPED
ON A PRESSURE PLATE...

[EXPLOSION]

AND I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE IT
BEEN HIM THAN, YOU KNOW,

4 TO 60 OF MY GUYS.

AND THAT'S WHY HE WAS THERE.
THAT'S HIS JOB.

[GUNFIRE]

OF COURSE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED

IF HE HAD GOTTEN BLOWN UP
OR SHOT OR KILLED,

BUT AS FAR AS
AN HONORABLE WAY TO DIE,

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD DEATH.

CHOPPER'S ACTUALLY SAVED US,
I WOULD SAY,

AT LEAST SEVERAL HUNDRED TIMES

FROM IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVES
FROM THE ENEMY.

[EXPLOSION]

Narrator: TREVOR HAS SAVED
CHOPPER FROM ENEMIES AS WELL.

IRAQ IS OVERRUN WITH STRAY DOGS,

AND MOST ARE INFECTED
WITH THE FATAL RABIES VIRUS.

TRANSMISSION IS
A VERY REAL THREAT,

ESPECIALLY FOR MILITARY
WORKING DOGS LIKE CHOPPER.

TOWARD THE END
OF THEIR DEPLOYMENT,

ONE OF CHOPPER'S PATROLS
TURNED DEADLY

WHEN HE WAS AMBUSHED
BY A PACK OF WILD DOGS.

Trevor: I TURNED AROUND,

AND THESE DOGS
WERE ATTACKING CHOPPER.

WELL, HE'S TRAINED NOT TO ENGAGE
OTHER ANIMALS.

SO HE WAS LOOKING AT ME.

SO I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND
UNFORTUNATELY SHOOT ONE OF THEM,

AND IT SCARED
THE REST OF THE PACK AWAY.

AND, YOU KNOW...

SO HIM AND I HAVE BOTH
EXPERIENCED WHAT IT'S LIKE

TO SAVE EACH OTHER'S LIFE.

Narrator: CHOPPER'S EXCEPTIONAL
VALUE ON THE BATTLEFIELD

WASN'T LIMITED TO FINDING IEDs--

HE ALSO HAD AN UNCANNY SENSE
OF OTHER DANGERS.

Trevor: DOGS HAVE
A SIXTH SENSE ABOUT THEM.

THEY CAN SENSE EITHER FEAR
OR AGGRESSION OR, YOU KNOW,

WHEN SOMETHING'S ROTTEN
IN DENMARK, DOGS KNOW.

Narrator: CHOPPER'S SIXTH SENSE
WOULD PROVE CRITICAL

THE DAY HE SAVED TREVOR'S LIFE
IN AFGHANISTAN.

THREE YEARS INTO THE FIGHT,

CHOPPER HAD SNIFFED OUT
HUNDREDS OF IEDs,

BUT HE ALSO HAD THE POWER
TO COMFORT SOLDIERS

WHO WERE UNDER
RELENTLESS PRESSURE.

Lloyd: WHEN YOU'RE DEPLOYED,
IT'S NICE TO HAVE A DOG.

IT'S KIND OF AN AMERICAN THING,
AND GUYS JUST FEEL AT HOME.

Trevor: WHEN GUYS ARE OVERSEAS,
THEY'RE BUMMED,

THEY'RE MISSING THEIR FAMILIES,
THEY'RE HOMESICK.

EVEN THE HARDEST GUY
ON THE PLANET,

EVERYONE HAS A ROUGH DAY,
AND HAVING A DOG COME UP,

AND YOU COULD SEE THE REACTIONS
AND THEIR EYES LIGHT UP

AS SOON AS CHOPPER
CAME INTO THE ROOM.

IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY

TO KIND OF LOSE THEMSELVES
A LITTLE BIT

AND FORGET WHERE THEY'RE AT.

Narrator:
THE EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY
TO BOTH PROVIDE QUIET COMFORT

AND BE A LIFESAVING TEAM MEMBER

MADE CHOPPER INVALUABLE
MONTH AFTER MONTH.

IN THE FALL OF 2009,
TREVOR AND CHOPPER WERE WORKING

IN ONE OF AFGHANISTAN'S
MOST DANGEROUS PLACES

WHEN A ROUTINE MISSION
TURNED DEADLY.

WHEN TREVOR'S TEAM
RECEIVED INTEL

THAT TALIBAN SOLDIERS
HAD BEEN SIGHTED

MOVING TOWARD THEIR BASE,

HE VOLUNTEERED TO CHECK IT OUT.

Trevor:
MYSELF AND ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL
ROGERED UP AND LEFT IMMEDIATELY

AND WENT RIGHT DIRECTLY
OUTSIDE OF OUR COMPOUND.

WE USED A TEXTBOOK METHOD
OF SEARCHING,

WHICH IS A BOX METHOD, WHERE WE
JUST COME OUT IN A BOX

AND HAVE OVERLAPPING
SEARCH AREAS,

JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE COVER
THE ENTIRE AREA.

Narrator: AS THEY CAME
AROUND A CORNER,

THEY SPOTTED
AN ABANDONED MOTORCYCLE.

Trevor: AND AS SOON WE SAW
THE MOTORCYCLE...

[CLICKING]

WE INITIALLY WENT, "OH, MY GOD."

Narrator:
IN WAR-TORN AFGHANISTAN,

ANYTHING COULD BE
RIGGED TO BLOW,

SO TREVOR AND HIS TEAMMATE
FIRST LOOKED FOR LEAD WIRES,

AND THEN HAD CHOPPER
SEARCH THE BIKE.

[CLICKING]

Trevor: CHOPPER.

IT FELT WARM, LIKE IT HAD JUST
BEEN ABANDONED RECENTLY

WITHIN THE LAST FEW MINUTES.

CHOPPER, HIER.

Narrator: ON A HUNCH, GUESSING
THE ENEMIES WERE NEARBY,

TREVOR DECIDED TO CAST CHOPPER
OUT TO FIND THEM.

CHOPPER WOULD FOLLOW
HIS NOSE AND INSTINCTS

AND ATTACK IF NECESSARY.

Trevor: HE TOOK ONE BIG WHIFF

AND JUST BOLTED
LIKE A LIGHTNING BOLT

RIGHT INTO THE BUSHES.

[BARKING]

[MAN SCREAMING]

Narrator: CHOPPER FOUND NOT ONE
BUT TWO ENEMIES

AND ATTACKED THEM BOTH.

Trevor: WE KIND OF CAME UP
LIKE A COUPLE OF SPIDERS

AND STOOD BY TO WAIT.

WE JUST SAT THERE,

AND THEN ONE OF THE GUYS
POPPED OUT OF THE BUSHES,

NOT REALIZING THAT WE
WERE EVEN THERE.

AND AS SOON AS HE DID,
HE JUST WAS LIKE,

CHOPPER HAD HIM
BY THE RIBCAGE, ACTUALLY,

AND HE CAME UP AND THEN
JUST TOOK ONE LOOK UP AT US,

AND IT WAS TSHOO...

[GUNFIRE]

WE SHOT HIM.

HE HAD AN AK DANGLING FROM HIM
AS WELL, TOO.

THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SEE
CHOPPER COMING

OR HEAR HIM OR ANYTHING.

HE JUST CAME IN
LIKE A LIGHTNING BOLT,

NAILED THEM, AND COMPLETELY
CAUGHT THEM OFF GUARD,

WHICH ALLOWED US JUST TO GET
THE QUICK DROP ON THEM

TO ENGAGE THEM.

WE SAW BITE MARKS ON BOTH
OF THEM IN MULTIPLE PLACES,

ALL OVER THEIR BODY, ACTUALLY.

HAD CHOPPER NOT BEEN THERE, I
WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD FOR SURE.

AND THEY WERE ARMED TO THE HILT,

AND IT WAS AN OBVIOUS
AMBUSH SITUATION.

Narrator: THE SEAL TEAMS
LATER DISCOVERED

THEIR COMPOUND WAS SITTING

ON SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS
OF HIDDEN EXPLOSIVES

PLANTED BY THE ENEMY
BEFORE THEY ARRIVED.

TREVOR BELIEVES THE TWO TALIBAN
SOLDIERS HE TOOK OUT

WERE TRYING TO DETONATE
THESE BOMBS.

Trevor: THEY HAD,
WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE

MOVING TO A LEAD WIRE

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO USE
TO BLOW EVERYBODY UP.

THE END GAME, AFTER
THE SITUATION HAD OCCURRED,

CHOPPER POTENTIALLY SAVED
ABOUT 70 PEOPLE,

60 OF THEM BEING NAVY SEALS
AND VARIOUS SPEC OPS GUYS

WHO WERE WITH US,

IN ADDITION
TO ABOUT A DOZEN TOWNSPEOPLE.

Narrator: BY 2009, THERE WERE
MORE THAN A DOZEN SEAL DOGS

DEPLOYED IN THE WARS.

IN MAY 2011, ONE OF THEM
BECAME FAMOUS AROUND THE WORLD.

OPERATION NEPTUNE'S SPEAR,

THE MISSION TO FIND AND KILL
OSAMA BIN LADEN,

IS STILL CLASSIFIED.

BUT WE KNOW A SEAL DOG,
NAMED CAIRO,

WAS WITH THE TEAM THAT NIGHT.

BY MOST ACCOUNTS, CAIRO'S JOB

WAS TO LOOK FOR ESCAPE TUNNELS
AND IEDs

ON THE OUTSIDE PERIMETER
OF THE COMPOUND.

PRESIDENT OBAMA,
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN,

ADMIRAL MULLEN AND OTHERS
WATCHED THE MISSION

VIA LIVE VIDEO FEED

SHOT FROM A DRONE FLYING
15,000 FEET ABOVE ABBOTTABAD.

Biden: WE'RE GOING THROUGH
THE WHOLE ROUTINE,

WATCHING WHAT WAS HAPPENING
IN THE BIN LADEN RAID.

THE ADMIRAL'S PULSE
ACTUALLY WENT DOWN, NOT UP.

I MEAN, THESE GUYS ARE LIKE,
YOU KNOW,

THE TOUGHER IT IS,
THE COOLER THEY ARE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST REALLY
AN AMAZING, AMAZING MAN OR WOMAN

THAT HAS THAT CAPACITY.

THE AVERAGE AGES OF SEAL TEAM 6
THAT GOT BIN LADEN,

I'M GUESSING,

THEY WERE PROBABLY
35, 36 YEARS OLD.

THE ONE THING EVERYBODY FAILS
TO FULLY UNDERSTAND,

THEY'RE REALLY SMART.

THEY'RE NOT JUST PHYSICALLY
INCREDIBLY CAPABLE,

THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY SMART.

President Obama:
A SMALL TEAM OF AMERICANS
CARRIED OUT THE OPERATION

WITH EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE
AND CAPABILITY.

AFTER A FIREFIGHT,

THEY KILLED OSAMA BIN LADEN
AND TOOK CUSTODY OF HIS BODY.

Narrator: THEIR TALENT, SKILL,
AND PREPARATION PAID OFF.

ALL MEMBERS OF SEAL TEAM 6,
INCLUDING CAIRO,

MADE IT HOME SAFELY.

BUT THESE SPECIAL OPERATORS ARE
NOW ON MULTIPLE ENEMY HIT LISTS.

AND TERRORISTS ARE BEGINNING
TO UNDERSTAND

THE VALUE OF DOGS LIKE CAIRO.

IN FEBRUARY 2014,
TALIBAN FORCES RELEASED A VIDEO

OF A BELGIAN MALINOIS
THEY CAPTURED IN A FIREFIGHT

IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN.

BRITISH MEDIA REPORTED
THAT THE DOG BELONGED

TO BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES.

THIS MAY BE THE FIRST CASE
OF A SPECIAL OPS DOG

BEING HELD HOSTAGE.

THE DOG'S WHEREABOUTS
ARE CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.

THE IDENTITIES OF BOTH
ACTIVE SEAL TEAMS

AND INCREASINGLY,
ACTIVE SEAL DOGS,

ARE CLOSELY GUARDED
FOR OBVIOUS SECURITY REASONS.

Biden: THE PRESIDENT AND I
WENT DOWN TO SEE THE NAVY SEALS

WHO HAD DONE, THE SEAL TEAM 6
THAT HAD GOTTEN BIN LADEN.

WE WENT DOWN TO FORT CAMPBELL
TO MEET WITH THEM.

IT WAS OFF THE RECORD BECAUSE
THEIR FACES COULDN'T BE SHOWN.

AND THE PRESIDENT AND I,

THEY GAVE US A FULL,
DETAILED BRIEF,

AND WE MET THEM ALL.

THE PRESIDENT AND I
HAD QUESTIONS.

THEY SAID, "ANY MORE?"

I SAID, ONE LAST QUESTION:

I SAID MY DOG CHAMP ASKED ME
TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION.

AND THEY ALL LAUGHED.

AND I SAID, "WAS IT A SHEPHERD
OR A BELGIAN?"

THEY SAID, "BELGIAN."

I SAID, I'M NOT GOING BACK
AND TELLING HIM.

I'M NOT TELLING HIM.

Narrator: TREVOR MAROSHEK
DEPLOYED FOUR TIMES

DURING HIS 7-YEAR NAVY CAREER,

WITH MISSIONS IN IRAQ,
THE PHILIPPINES,

AND AFGHANISTAN.

CHOPPER WAS WITH HIM
FOR TWO OF THOSE TOURS.

EACH HAD SAVED THE OTHER'S LIFE,

AND IN THE PROCESS,
DEVELOPED A LIFELONG BOND.

BUT THEIR YEARS OF COMBAT
HAD TAKEN A TOLL,

AND TREVOR BEGAN
EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS

OF POST TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER.

Trevor: I CAN'T SLEEP
FOR THE LIFE OF ME,

I TRY THE BEST I CAN.

I WAKE UP WITH COLD SWEATS
AND HAVE TREMORS

AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, DAYDREAMS,
NIGHTMARES, ALL THAT.

Narrator: RE-ENTERING CIVILIAN
LIFE IS TOUGH FOR ANY SOLDIER.

FOR TREVOR,

COPING WITH TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURIES AND PTSD,

IT WAS ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING.

Trevor: YOU CAN'T DO
A DECADE OF AGGRESSION

AND TEN YEARS AT WAR
AND BE UNSCATHED.

GETTING SHELLED
FOR SIX MONTHS STRAIGHT

OR GETTING SHOT AT OR

PICKING UP SOME OF MY BEST
FRIENDS WHO GOT BLOWN UP

AND PUTTING THEIR BODY PARTS
IN, YOU KNOW, BODY BAGS,

I DO SUFFER FROM
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS,

BATTLE STRESS, ANXIETY,
NERVOUSNESS,

AND IT'S GOING TO BE WITH ME
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

Narrator:
IN 2011, TREVOR SOUGHT HELP

AT THE NATIONAL INTREPID CENTER
OF EXCELLENCE,

OR NICOE FOR SHORT,

AT THE WALTER REED MEDICAL
CENTER IN BETHESDA, MARYLAND.

NICOE OFFERS
SPECIALIZED TREATMENT FOR VETS

WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS,

SUCH AS PTSD.

THEY SEE SERVICE MEMBERS

WHO HAVE EITHER PLATEAUED
IN THEIR RECOVERY

OR AREN'T GETTING BETTER
THROUGH CONVENTIONAL MEANS.

TREVOR'S PLAN INCLUDED THERAPY
WITH DR. ROBERT KOFFMAN,

A PSYCHIATRIST
AND FELLOW NAVY MAN.

Robert Koffman: EVERYONE
WHO SERVES IN UNIFORM

SERVES BY DESIRE AND DOES SO
AT A COST, UNFORTUNATELY.

SOMETIMES THAT COST IS DEAR,

BUT THAT COST IS NEVER
WITHOUT A LOT OF TRANSITION.

AND PEOPLE WHO COME BACK
FROM WAR COME BACK DIFFERENTLY.

Narrator: BOTH CHOPPER
AND TREVOR'S WIFE, RUJ,

ACCOMPANIED HIM TO NICOE.

Koffman:
HAVING A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM
IS ACTUALLY THE BEST MEDICINE

FOR SOMEONE WHEN THEY COME BACK
FROM COMBAT

OR FROM A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.

Ruj Maroshek: NICOE WAS A PLACE
WHERE TREVOR OPENED UP TO ME

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IT WAS A CENTER THAT ACTUALLY
BROUGHT US TOGETHER

BECAUSE IT GAVE ME INSIGHT

AS TO WHAT A PERSON WITH TBI
IS GOING THROUGH

AND UNDERSTAND
NOT TO TAKE THINGS

OR FRUSTRATIONS PERSONALLY.

Trevor: THE BEST THING
THAT I HAVE GOING FOR ME

ISN'T MEDICATION,
THERE'S NO PILLS.

IT'S MY DOG.

IT'S MY DOG.

Koffman: I'VE SEEN SERVICE DOGS
AND THERAPY DOGS DO WORK

THAT NO HUMAN THERAPIST
COULD DO.

Narrator:
DR. KOFFMAN RECENTLY ADDED
AN UNCONVENTIONAL CO-THERAPIST

TO HIS PRACTICE,
REAR ADMIRAL RON.

Koffman: COME ON,
GET YOUR LEASH.

RON IS AN IMMEDIATE ICE-BREAKER.

IN FACT, I HAVE WARRIORS
COME IN TO MY OFFICE

JUST TO SEE RON,
AND, OH, BY THE WAY,

THEY'LL TALK WITH ME.

HE IS ABLE TO SENSE

WHEN SOMEBODY IS HAVING
AN ANXIOUS REACTION

OR EXPERIENCING
A LOT OF ANXIETY OR PANIC.

HE'LL LAY AT THEIR FEET AND JUST
REMAIN THERE UNTIL THEY GET UP.

HE'S ALSO BEEN TRAINED,
IF SOMEBODY NEEDS A KLEENEX,

TO FETCH A BOX OF KLEENEX
AND BRING IT OVER TO THEM.

STIGMA IN THE RECEIPT
OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE

IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES

THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

TOO MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE AFRAID
THAT THEY WILL BE SINGLED OUT

OR THEY WILL BE EXEMPT
FROM CERTAIN LICENSES

OR FOLLOW-ON JOBS
IF THEY SEEK CARE.

AND REALLY, NOTHING COULD BE
FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

Man: GOOD BOY.

Narrator:
SOLDIERS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES
SUFFERING FROM PTSD.

WAR DOGS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE
MENTAL STRESS OF COMBAT, TOO.

Narrator: THEY'RE TREATED
BY VETERINARIANS HERE,

AT HOLLAND MILITARY
WORKING DOG HOSPITAL,

ON THE CAMPUS
OF LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE

IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

WHEN MILITARY CANINES NEED

EITHER PRIMARY
OR SPECIALIZED CARE,

THEY COME TO HOLLAND
FOR BOTH COMPLICATED SURGERIES

AND EMOTIONAL HEALING.

IT'S THE WALTER REED
FOR SOLDIER DOGS,

THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND
IN THE WORLD.

THE HOSPITAL HAS A STAFF
OF HIGHLY SPECIALIZED VETS,

INCLUDING THE COUNTRY'S
TOP EXPERT IN CANINE PTSD.

Walter Burghardt:
WORKING WITH CANINE PTSD

IS REALLY A UNIQUELY MILITARY
TYPE OF PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: ABOUT 5% OF COMBAT
DOGS ARE DEVELOPING CANINE PTSD.

Burghardt:
SO WE WERE SEEING DOGS
WHO WERE SHOWING AVOIDANCE OF,

OR ATTEMPTS TO GET AWAY
FROM CERTAIN AREAS OR SOUNDS

OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

Narrator: THIS DOG
SUDDENLY BECAME SKITTISH

AROUND NON-U.S. SOLDIERS.

Burghardt: WE'RE SEEING DOGS
THAT SHOWED OVER-RESPONSIVENESS

TO THINGS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT,

THEY JUST WERE KIND OF JITTERY,
BEING HYPER-VIGILANT

AND OVERLY RESPONSIVE TO THINGS

THAT HADN'T AFFECTED THEM
IN THE PAST.

Narrator: MANY DOGS SIMPLY STOP

DOING THE JOBS
THEY WERE TRAINED TO DO.

DR. BURGHARDT AND HIS COLLEAGUES
IN COMBAT ZONES

TREAT CANINE PTSD
WITH ANTI-ANXIETY MEDICATIONS,

DESENSITIZATION
AND COUNTER CONDITIONING.

Burghardt: WITH TREATMENT,
WE CAN PROBABLY REHABILITATE

ABOUT 50% OF THE DOGS,

AND THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD NUMBER
WITH A PROBLEM OF ITS SORT.

Narrator: THE REST RETURN
TO CIVILIAN LIFE

AND ARE ADOPTED OUT,
USUALLY BY THEIR HANDLERS.

AFTER SEVEN YEARS AND FOUR TOURS
ON THE FRONT LINES,

TREVOR DECIDED TO RETIRE
FROM THE NAVY IN 2011.

NOW TREVOR AND RUJ
ARE STARTING A NEW CHAPTER

BY OPENING THEIR OWN
TACTICAL EQUIPMENT BUSINESS.

THEY'LL SPECIALIZE
IN MILITARY GEAR FOR NAVY SEALS

AND CUSTOM CANINE GEAR
FOR SEAL DOGS.

Trevor: LET'S PUT UP
THE MOST IMPORTANT PORTION

OF THIS...OF OUR BUSINESS.

I'VE GOT ANOTHER PIECE OF TAPE
RIGHT HERE.

THIS SHOULD HOLD IT
PRETTY WELL.

I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO FALL
AND TOUCH THE GROUND.

SO AT LEAST WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN,
THEY KNOW WHO WE STAND FOR.

OH, THIS IS AWESOME.

Narrator: TREVOR'S ALSO CREATED
HIS OWN NON-PROFIT,

THE SEAL DOG FOUNDATION,

TO HELP VETS WITH TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURIES AND PTSD

GET THERAPY DOGS.

Trevor: THE MOST REWARDING
PORTION FOR ME

IS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE
THAT LIFE OF SERVICE

AND, YOU KNOW,
TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

Koffman: I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD
OF TREVOR.

IN FACT, THIS NEW MISSION

THAT HE HAS TO HELP
HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS

IS COMMENDABLE.

I TOLD TREVOR A LINE
FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT,

AND THAT GOES SOMETHING LIKE,
"HE WHO SAVES A LIFE,

IT'S AS IF HE HAS SAVED
AN ENTIRE WORLD."

I THINK TREVOR'S GONNA SAVE
A LOT OF WORLDS.

Narrator: RECENTLY, TREVOR AND
RUJ WELCOMED A NEW ADDITION--

THOR, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE
CHOPPER'S SON.

THOR HAS NEVER BRAVED
THE BATTLEFIELD,

BUT TREVOR PLANS TO GIVE HIM
AN ADVENTURE OF HIS OWN.

NAVY SEALS LEARN
TO PARACHUTE JUMP HERE,

AT TACTICAL AIR OPERATIONS
OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO.

ONLY SEAL DOGS TRAINED
ON THE EAST COAST LEARN TO JUMP.

IT'S SOMETHING CHOPPER
NEVER EXPERIENCED

AS A WEST COAST SEAL DOG.

NOW HIS SON THOR
WILL HAVE THAT CHANCE.

AND HOW HE RESPONDS
WILL BE ONE MEASURE

OF WHETHER HE COULD HAVE
A CAREER ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

HE'LL FREE FALL IN HIS OWN
CUSTOM-BUILT HARNESS.

Man: YEAH,
QUITE THE TALENTED PUP.

Narrator: THOR WILL JUMP TANDEM
WITH JAY STOKES,

A FORMER ARMY GREEN BERET

AND INSTRUCTOR
AT TACTICAL AIR OPERATIONS.

JAY IS THE MOST EXPERIENCED
FREE FALL TEACHER IN THE WORLD,

WITH MORE THAN 22,000 JUMPS
UNDER HIS BELT.

BUT THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME
HE'S JUMPED WITH A DOG.

Man: YOU ARE SET TO JET.
YES, YOU ARE. JUMP DOG.

Trevor: YOU ACTUALLY GET
TO ONE-UP YOUR DAD.

COME ON, PUP.

ALRIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU
WHEN YOU HIT THE GROUND.

Narrator: JAY AND THOR WILL JUMP
FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 13,000 FEET

AND FALL TO EARTH
AT 115 MILES PER HOUR.

Trevor: I SEE THEM,
THEY'RE RIGHT OVER THAT RIDGE,

RIGHT THERE, RIGHT NOW
DOING THEIR PASS.

OH, I SEE HIM, HE'S WITH THOR.

THEY'RE DOING ALRIGHT,
THEY'RE SPINNING AROUND.

[LAUGHS]

I DON'T SEE ANY PANIC.

THOR JUST KIND OF LOOKS
LIKE A LIMP BISCUIT, RELAXING.

GOOD BOY. WOO HOO HOO!

GOOD BOY!

YEAH, BUDDY!

WOO!

GOOD BOY.

I GOT YA, BUDDY.

I GOT YA, I GOT YA.

GOOD DOG. GOOD BOY.
IS THAT FUN OR WHAT?

HOW WAS THAT? YEAH!

ROUND TWO? WANT TO DO IT AGAIN?

THAT WAS AWESOME. HUH?

Jay Stokes: HE WAS A GOOD PUP.

Trevor: HE WAS A GOOD PUP, HUH?
AWESOME.

ALRIGHT, LET'S GO SEE YOUR DAD.

THERE'S YOUR DAD,
THERE'S YOUR DAD!

OH! HOO HOO HOO!

GOOD BOY!
GOOD BOYS!

AW!

MOST DOGS DON'T EVER GET
AN OPPORTUNITY TO FREE FALL,

SO HE JUST EXPERIENCED ACTUALLY
WHAT MOST PEOPLE IN GENERAL

DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO.

GOOD BOYS.

MY TWO LITTLE HEROES.

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS.

Narrator:
CHOPPER'S COME A LONG WAY

FROM HIS FIRST DAYS
IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

HE'S SURVIVED TWO WAR ZONES

AND SAVED THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
HE NEVER KNEW.

CHOPPER SERVED OUT OF LOVE
AND LOYALTY TO TREVOR.

AND NOW, HE CONTINUES TO SERVE,
IN HIS OWN WAY, BACK HOME.

Trevor: I AM OBLIGATED TO CARE
FOR HIM UNTIL HE PASSES AWAY

AND MAKE HIS LIFE
AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S THE LEAST I COULD DO

FOR THE SERVICE HE'S DONE
FOR OUR COUNTRY.

Ruj: CHOPPER IS THE MOST LOVING,
CARING, HAPPY, MISCHIEVOUS,

PROTECTIVE DOG I HAVE EVER MET.

AND HE HAS HIS OWN
SENSE OF HUMOR,

AND I DO BELIEVE HE LAUGHS.

DOGS LAUGH.

Trevor: WOO!

GOOD DOG.

HUH, HUH?
YOU WANT TO GET BACK ON?

YOU WANT TO DO ANOTHER ONE?

Narrator: CHOPPER'S THE PERFECT
COMPANION FOR A NAVY SEAL.

Trevor: HE'S THERE FOR ME,
YOU KNOW?

AND HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

HE DOESN'T CRITICIZE,
DOESN'T YELL AT ME,

DOESN'T EVEN PET ME AND TELL ME,
"HEY, EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OK"

AND POOH-POOH ME
AND PATRONIZE ME.

HE JUST SITS THERE
AND HE LISTENS, YOU KNOW?

HE'S A HERO.

IF ANYONE EVER HAS A QUESTION
IF DOGS HAVE A SOUL,

THE ANSWER IS YES THEY DO.

I CAN'T EXPLAIN THE BOND
BETWEEN A DOG AND A MAN.

ALL I CAN SAY IS
HE'S A PART OF ME.