A canine surge: Over the last 2 years, there has been an effort to rapidly increase the # of IED detection dogs in Afghanistan & Iraq. Currently, the Marine Corps has 170 bomb-sniffing dogs, but has plans to deploy as many as 600 dogs to their program before September 2012. In late 2010 the Marines have also awarded a contract to American K-9 Interdiction for "as much as $35 million" to train & kennel their dogs.

In February, Marine Commandant General James Amos stated that he'd like to see "a dog w/every patrol."

Above, U.S. Marines attached to 1st Battalion, 6th regiment, Charlie Company relax w/their bomb-sniffing dogs Books & Good One in Huskers camp on the outskirts of Marjah in central Helmand on 1/25/2010.