TREK NAWA, Afghanistan - Many children beg their parents for a dog. The floppy ears and wagging tail seems to attract children to man's best friend. But many parents know that caring for a dog means a lot of responsibility, training and effort.

Dog handlers in the Marine Corps not only shoulder those same responsibilities ? they volunteer for it. Then take on the responsibilities of being deployed to Afghanistan as well.

A dog handler's job can be exhausting, with an additional month of dog handler school, combined with months of predeployment training.

For Cpl. Jeffery Rodriguez, a dog handler with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, those responsibilities are more like a privilege.

Rodriguez said he loves being a dog handler. He knows he's helping his squad, and the added responsibilities far outweigh the added attention of caring for a dog.

What sets Rodriguez apart from other dog handlers is the personal effort he puts into Dharma, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever.

"He's the best dog handler I've ever seen," said Sgt. Edward Welsh, Rodriguez's squad leader. "He's constantly taking care of the dog and working to make himself and Dharma better."

Rodriguez, a native of Fayetteville, Ga., knows that a dog handler's job is more than just patrolling with and feeding the dog. The most important job is ensuring the dog is well prepared for the deployment ahead.

Shortly after he arrived in Afghanistan he built Dharma a new kennel.

The kennel, made from discarded pieces of Hesko wall, has a door and a crate for Dharma to sleep in. He used excess cargo netting to cover half of the kennel to shield Dharma from the harsh wind and heat of Afghanistan.

Dharma, with her endless wagging tail and dark eyes, returns the favor with loyalty and obedience.

Rodriguez's responsibilities extend farther than supplying Dharma with shelter. He works with Dharma to keep her skills sharp.

"He exercises the dog and whenever he goes running he takes the dog with him," said Welsh, a native of Cleveland.

Keeping the dogs in shape is vital in an area where temperatures will reach more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

"If a dog gets out of breathe in 20 to 30 minutes, they actually become a hindrance to the unit," said 1st Lt. Joseph Hoeksema, Rodriguez's platoon commander. "Dharma is in shape, and (Rodriguez) works her out two to three times a day."

Keeping Dharma in shape is a priority for Rodriguez. He laughingly said he can't let the dog get fat.

Rodriguez continually trains Dharma. After patrols and after security posts, he trains her with commands to strengthen their communication.

The bond between a dog handler and his dog is based on trust. If a dog doesn't trust the handler it won't obey commands.

"He tells her to sit there and stay there, (and) she does it," said Hoeksema, a native of Davenport, Iowa. "It doesn't matter if we are getting shot at, she's obeying (Rodriguez)."

Rodriguez has Dharma to help find improvised explosive devices and weapons caches.

"I use Dharma to search compounds, or to verify potentially dangerous objects," said Rodriguez. "She's like my little guardian angel running around."

The Marines patrol with Dharma daily, clearing compounds and routes.

"Just trusting (Dharma) helps the Marines," said Hoeksema. "When she goes into a compound and doesn't find an IED, the Marines are able to walk in confident that there aren't any IEDs."

Dharma confirmed two IEDs and some hidden-away weapons while deployed; but beyond her keen nose, she's made more of an impact on the Marines she protects.

Dharma also helps with morale of Marines who are away from their families for several months.

After patrolling, the Marines regularly pet and play with Dharma. They also laugh as she interacts with the local animals; goats and turkeys make an interesting find for a curious dog.

The sound of wings flapping and a loud gobble lets the squad know Dharma is up to some good-natured mischief.

Rodriguez lets it go for a little bit before calling Dharma back.

"It has been a great experience being a dog handler," said Rodriguez. "It's a great job to have with a lot of responsibility."

The extra workouts and countless hours to keep Dharma's training sharp are well worth the sacrifice when compared to the bond Rodriguez developed with Dharma. He considers her more than a dog. She is a friend, and a faithful one at that.

"She's not much of a growler," said Rodriguez. "She does get protective with me though, she'll bark at someone if she thinks I'm in danger."

In a couple of weeks, Rodriguez and Dharma will return home from their deployment to Afghanistan. This is Dharma's first deployment and could be Rodriguez's last.

They'll return on the same flight but will then be separated. Dharma will be assigned a new dog handler, and Rodriguez will return to his squad.

Though he said the goodbye will be hard, Rodriguez shared that he loved every minute of being a dog handler. The bond he built with Dharma and the experience was well worth the extra responsibility.

"It's hard not to think of Rodriguez and not think of Dharma too," said Welsh. "They are like two peas in a pod."

Rodriguez leaves Afghanistan with a four-legged friend and a lifelong bond.

"These dogs do work, so I'd want the next dog handlers to know to take it seriously," said Rodriguez with a smile.

Last week the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the first farm bill in decades that provides no funding for rural community and economic development. Creating rural jobs and economic opportunities should be a Farm Bill priority. Without real commitment and investment, the Rural Microentrepreneur Program will shut down and stop creating jobs. Little help will be available for value-added agriculture. Jobs that would have been created won't be there for the people of rural Iowa.

These are tough budgetary times. But as the Senate works to tighten Farm Bill spending, they should make choices that reflect America's priorities. Investing in jobs for people who need them and in the future of America's rural cities and small towns is one such priority.

Small and midsized farms should be another. But unlimited subsidies to some of the nation's largest farms and wealthiest landowners should not. Today, if one huge operation farmed all of Iowa, USDA would pay 60 percent of their premiums for insurance against falling crop prices and yields on every single acre in every year - even with record high crop prices and skyrocketing federal deficits.

Thankfully, the Senate Agriculture Committee closed loopholes that mega-farms use to evade caps on traditional farm payments. But they did nothing to rein in unlimited crop insurance subsidies and made no commitment to rural development.

Let's see - unlimited subsidies for the nation's largest farms or investments in jobs for rural people and a brighter future for their communities? The best choice is obvious.

Employers Recognized Among 3,236 Nominations Nationwide

SPRINGFIELD, IL (05/03/2012)(readMedia)-- ARLINGTON, Va. - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, announced today that three Illinois employers have been selected as semifinalists for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the DoD to employers for exceptional support of their Guard and Reserve employees. This year, 133 semifinalists nationwide stood out among an impressive pool of 3,236 nominees.

The Illinois employers named semifinalists are Caterpillar Inc., Peoria; Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46, Crystal Lake; and Divane Brothers Electric Company, Franklin Park. Freedom Award nominations come directly from Guard and Reserve members, or family members acting on their behalf. The Freedom Award provides service members with an opportunity to recognize employers for going above and beyond what is required by law. Employers chosen as semifinalists support their Guard and Reserve employees through a variety of formal and informal initiatives, including developing internal military support networks, providing full benefits to employees fulfilling their military obligations, caring for the families of deployed employees, and granting additional leave to Guard and Reserve employees preparing to leave for or return from deployments.

"The employers selected as Freedom Award semifinalists have distinguished themselves for their support of their National Guard and Reserve employees, and are truly serving our Nation with their extraordinary commitment to these special employees," said ESGR National Chair James G. Rebholz. "Their efforts are to be applauded, and ESGR salutes these patriotic employers for their special care of their Guard and Reserve employees and their families while they serve our Nation in times of war and peace."

ESGR will announce the 2012 Freedom Award finalists next month after a review board comprised of military and civilian leaders selects the 30 most supportive employers from among the 133 semifinalists. The 15 award recipients will be announced early this summer and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 17th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Ceremony on September 20, 2012.

A complete list of Freedom Award semifinalists from each state is available at www.FreedomAward.mil under the Media Tab in the Press Releases section.

About ESGR and the Freedom Award:

DES MOINES, IA (05/03/2012)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald has once again solicited the help of Visa Inc. and the NFL to launch a statewide initiative to enhance the money management skills of Iowa teenagers. Thanks to this special partnership, high schools across the state will be provided with a useful means for teachers to offer financial education to the students. This tool, Financial Football, is an interactive money management computer game with an NFL theme.

"I think we can all agree that knowing how to manage the money you have is every bit as important as being able to earn it," stated Fitzgerald. "Financial Football is a great way to get students interested in personal finances and give them a fiscal playbook they can use the rest of their lives."

To kick start the program, Treasurer Fitzgerald, along with Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, met with students at Lincoln High School in Des Moines last week. Together, they shared some valuable information about financial literacy and then led Lincoln students in an exciting game of Financial Football. Copies of the game have been sent out to all Iowa high schools. It can also be found at www.iowa.financialfootball.com.

"As State Treasurer, I am committed to providing Iowans access to unbiased financial information and education programs that can help improve their lives," Fitzgerald explained. "It is important that all Iowans know how to handle their finances. Equipping our youth with financial knowledge now will foster responsible behavior into adulthood."

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