K9 TORQUE PHOTOS
INTHESPOTLIGHT By Jen Boyer
Torque, Huey Crew Member and Therapy Dog,
EMU Inc. The Belgian Malinois accompanies veterans on exposure therapy flights to treat PTSD.
F
ROM EARLY ON, TORQUE displayed a gift for helping people. While training to become a detec-
tion dog, Torque, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois with nonprofit EMU Inc., had the opportunity to become familiar with heli- copters. She soon became a natural, showing none of the anxiety canines typi- cally exhibit around rotorcraft. One day, she demonstrated a unique
capability to connect with military veter- ans, proving she could do much more than locate devices: she could help veterans find peace. ROTOR conducted an “interview” with
Torque and her team during HAI HELI-EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, California.
ROTOR: What an inspiration you are to so many, Torque. Tell us about yourself and your work. Torque: I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area, and I’m a crew member of EMU 309, a 1965 Vietnam War–era Bell UH-1H Huey helicopter that’s been fully restored to its wartime combat con- figuration. Nonprofit EMU Inc. owns and operates EMU 309, the only airworthy Vietnam War–era Huey that still has all its original parts. EMU’s mission is to preserve the his-
tory of the Huey and serve US veterans by offering what are called “exposure ther- apy” flights to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I’ve been flying with this Huey crew for
over a decade, which is why I hold the Guinness World Record for the dog with
22 ROTOR JUNE 2024
the most flights in a Huey helicopter. As I share this with you, I’ve com- pleted 462 flights!
How did you get involved with EMU?
I’m trained to be a detection dog, helping apprehend child sexual predators and traf- fickers by sniffing out electronic storage devices, such as cell phones, thumb drives, and SD cards that contain evi- dence. My owner is a longtime detection- dog trainer and handler who has taught many dogs to fly comfortably and safely in helicopters. I started training to fly when I was 6 months old.
How did you get comfortable with flying? There’s much more to it than just sitting in the helicopter and flying. I received a lot of training to make sure I was well accli- mated to working in and around the air- craft. The high-pitched sounds, vibrations, rotating blades, and intense rotor wash can be uncomfortable for people and dogs—but not me. I’m right there with our crew during their proficiency training. We’ve practiced many hydraulic-system and engine-failure scenarios in which everyone involved knows how to respond … including me! While flying, I wear a tac- tical dog harness that’s tethered to the air- craft via two lines for safety. I also don goggles that have passed the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87.1 impact-resistance test and special ear- plugs to protect my ears from sound,
wind, and debris. My handler volunteers with EMU 309 and, as luck would have it, the chief pilot used to fly dog teams during the Vietnam War. Meeting me for the first time brought back some of those memories for him, and he initially didn’t seem to want to spend time with me. One day, when he was napping, I snuggled up to him and won him over. It was then that he got the idea that I could play an important part in helping veterans heal.
What do you do in your current job? I accompany veterans during exposure therapy flights in EMU 309. Many veter- ans return home from combat with seri- ous PTSD. Through exposure therapy—a cognitive behavioral technique—we try to help them process some of what they’re feeling. I offer the kind of companionship and connection that only a dog like me can provide. Every now and then, a veteran will begin to panic when the rotors start turn- ing. I crawl over and sit next to them. I pass no judgment, nor do I question why they need my help or what’s troubling them. Many of them will hold on to me during flights as they connect to the mem- ories of their past as soldiers. I help keep them grounded in today, where past threats don’t exist.
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