HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- David “Rosco” MacLean and Elma Mae Baxter corner the charisma in the 388th Fighter Wing. Like high school “populars” with animal magnetism, as they make their way down the hall, Airmen call out. They enter a room and a small, tight group of uniforms gel around them. They aren’t aloof, but they are “SUPER CHILL, DUDE.” They might even yawn and curl up on the floor.
Instead of two legs, they make their social rounds on four. David is a Labrador/Golden retriever mix with a classically calm face and Elma Mae is a stout little English Lab, friendly and eager.
David and Elma Mae (who was the first therapy dog in the True North program) were trained and provided by the nonprofit organization Paws for Purple Hearts. They were intensively socialized with humans when they were weeks old. The dogs were specifically trained for social and workplace behavior, selected and paired with their handlers based on personality traits.
The process included familiarization and “umbilical” training, where dog and handler were literally tethered to each other 24-hours-a-day for a week, said Sara Baxter, Elma Mea’s handler and a licensed clinical social worker with the True North program, assigned to the 388th Maintenance Squadron.
The explosion and variety of emotional support animals, from parrots to lizards, has created as many cynics and skeptics as it has awkward public situations. Don’t be quick to lump these two in with that crowd.
“They are specially trained for therapeutic intervention,” said Staci MacLean, David’s handler and a licensed clinical social worker, assigned to the 388th Operations Group. “They are both very empathetic. David and I were along when a commander had to deliver bad news to an Airman and I could see her head just drop. David got up from across the room and went over to her and started nudging her arm.”
Therapy dogs aren’t new to the military and veteran community, but they are relatively new to the 388th Fighter Wing as part of the Air Force’s True North program, which assigns mental health providers and religious support teams directly to units.
“We are here to be a part of the squadrons,” MacLean said. “When it comes to mental health, not everything is a crisis or needs a referral to the clinic. Sometimes we just need someone to talk to, or some coping skills for a specific situation. That’s one of the things True North providers bring.”
While the program bridges the frequent gap in Airmen seeking help for emotional and mental health issues, David and Elma Mae help bridge the gap from the shop floor and the hallways to a True North provider’s office.
“It was always a dream to include a therapy dog in my career as a social worker,” Baxter said. “To do our jobs, we need a rapport with the Airmen, to gain their trust and build relationships. We’re here to learn about the stressors they face and how they can be better supported. Having the dogs really helps open up that communication.”
As providers, MacLean and Baxter say the issues that many Airmen share are common to everyone – relationship issues (romantic and otherwise), workplace stressors, personal worth and identity, etc. The thing that often triggers an escalation in these problems is the tempo of the Air Force mission.
“The tempo is not changing. The mission is not changing, but stress and the demands of the job are frequent areas of concern,” Baxter said. “So, how can leaders support Airmen who are stressed, acknowledge those stressors, while also holding them accountable and meeting mission requirements? I believe it starts with creating and maintaining an environment where people feel psychologically safe to ask questions, admit fault, and receive feedback without fear.”
For their part, David and Elma Mae are ready, strolling the halls, looking for an Airman to show some love and support while they continue their vital mission of providing combat ready F-35As.