What is the check-in procedure for MWD teams at mission start and end?

• A. Log start and end times only.
• B. Debrief any issues or welfare concerns after the mission.
• C. Confirm dog and handler readiness, verify equipment function, log start and end times, review plan, and debrief any issues or welfare concerns.
• D. Skip check-in to save time.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is to ensure the MWD team is fully prepared and accounted for at the start and end of a mission, with everyone and everything ready, documented, and any welfare or issues raised. At the outset, you confirm the dog and handler are ready, you verify that all equipment is functioning, you log the start time, and you review the mission plan so everyone is aligned on roles and objectives. At mission end, you log the end time and debrief any issues or welfare concerns that arose, so problems can be addressed and welfare needs tracked. This combined check-in creates a clear, verifiable record, supports safety and care for the dog, and ensures the team is ready to proceed or recover appropriately.

Other approaches fall short because they omit essential steps: logging times alone doesn’t verify readiness or gear status and ignores the plan review and welfare debrief; focusing only on debrief addresses welfare but misses readiness, equipment checks, and documented timing; and skipping check-in entirely is unsafe and unacceptable for mission accountability and safety.