musher magazine winter 2013

8/13/2019 Musher Magazine WINTER 2013

1/3

The magazine of dog-powered adventure


2/3

mush 10 sept/oct 2013

The Casillos broadened their mission

to go beyond providing the average

summer tourist with a thrilling

helicopter ight and a dog sled ride on a

glacier. They also changed the name of their

professional racing kennel to reect this

added purpose.

Now known as Battle Dawgs Racing, the

Casillos kennel honors and brings attention

to the cause for which Rick will now race

the militarys wounded and battle weary.

The kennel has teamed up with Anchoragenonprot Alaskas Healing Hearts. (AHH)

AHH was founded in 2011 to provide a

local Alaska connection for people wanting

to contribute and participate in wounded

military warrior rehabilitation programs.

They also team up to introduce the Outside

battle wounded and weary to A laska through

the national Wounded Warrior Project.

AHH founders started with one primary

event, a spring bear hunt. From there it has

grown to include many other types of events

for members of the military, their families

and loved ones. Pet it, ride it, drive it. If it has

wheels on it and hair on it, its an att ractor,

said James Hastings, director of operations

for AHH, and a retired U.S. Army veteran.

Hastings explains that because servicemembers move around a lot, they often feel

like they dont belong anywhere. Also, it can

be quite a challenge for family members

to nd commonalities. The outdoors is

that commonality, said Hastings. We do

what is asked of us, but a lso add new and

challenging options. Thats where Rick comes

in. He approached us wanting to help, said

Hastings.

Rick, 40, is the Iditarod veteran dog musher

and lifelong outdoor enthusiast, originally

from Alden, a small town near Buffalo, New

York. It is the other half of the duo, Jennifer,

39, with the military connection, and whose

experiences inspired the new kennel and

business vision.

Raised in Western Colorado, on the edge

of the Rocky Mountains, Jennifer graduated

from Colorado State and was commissioned

into the U.S. Air Force as an Aircraft

Maintenance Ofcer. She served for six years

on active duty in Combat Search and Rescue

stateside and overseas.

After leaving the Air Force, Jenniferbecame a Reservist and pursued a career as

a civilian helicopter pilot. She now serves in

the Alaska Air National Guard as an Aircraft

Maintenance Operations Ofcer assigned

to the 176th Rescue Wing at Joint Base

Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Five years ago I met the love of my life,

Battle Dawgs Racing andAlaskas HealingHearts By Julie St. L ouisA typical off-season jobfor many veteran mushers is conducting

sled dog tours for visitors from all over the world. That is exactly what

four-time Iditarod veteran Rick Casillo and his wife Jennifer, who ownand operate Palmer-based Aurora Heli-Expeditions were doing this

past summer, with one exception.

an Alaskan dog musher who stole my heart,

said Jennifer. The Casillos married in 2010.

Now, through providing dog sled tours and

excursions free to AHH participants the

couple combines both of their life experiences

for a greater purpose.

Having witnessed rst-hand the long-

term effects of war on our military men and

women, Rick and I are committed to mak ing

Battle Dawgs Racing a healing grounds for

their rehabilitation, said Jennifer. For a

wounded veteran, the true battle begins when

they get home.

According to the U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs, the daily suicide rate of

military veterans is 22 per day. My Biggest

desires would be 20 years f rom now, someone

who was i n danger of being one of those 22,

will tell about t heir t ime i n A laska to t heir

kids, said Hastings. I want [AHH] to be a

saving grace, and memories to stick in their

place.

With this rst summer, memories do seem

to be sticking. On May 30, the rst group of

men and women warriors were own up to

the musher camp on Colony Glacier to meet

the dogs, and learn about mushing.

As the helicopter landed, the rst thing

I noticed was how many dogs there were. I

was sur prised by them and how active they

looked to be, commented Army Sergeant

Steve Shumaker, a member of the rst AHH

tour group.

Sgt. Shumaker, 37, is currently stationed

at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and has served

more than three years combined duration in

combat zones of both Afghanistan and Iraq.

He was injured during training when the

helicopter on which he was a crewmember

landed hard, military speak for crash-

landed.

The [dog sled] tour was really special,

said Sgt. Shumaker. I really had a desire to

meet each one of the dogs and when I asked

if I could go and meet them all, Rick happily

agreed.

Fellow participant, Rebekah White

described watching Sgt. Shumaker hugging

and greeting each and every dog, and how this

led to some big laughs and funny moments

between her, Sgt . Shumaker, Casillo and the

rest of the group.

White, 32, now residing in Anchorage,

was honorably discharged from the U.S.

Navy after serving six years active duty as

an E-5 Air Trafc Controller. White said she

does not suffer the effects of combat, but has

been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress

Disorder.

Her PTSD presented a few years after the

death of quite a few friends over the course

of her early military career. An astounding

22 individuals that she knew while in the

military died in car accidents, airplane

crashes, and training mishaps. That on top of

being a victim of Military Se xual Trauma or

MST while at her rst duty station resulted in

a form of PTSD that causes insomnia, hyper-

vigilance, and makes it difcult for her to

initially trust people and situations.

White participated in AHHs 2012 bear

camp. I went out there and found the

camaraderie I had been missing after

discharging from the military, said White. I

was honestly in the dept hs of despair. James

Hastings and his wife Mary and the others

that were invited showed me that there is life

and fun after trauma. They saved my life.

When White returned this year for the

annual bear hunt, Hastings presented her

with the opportunity to instead y up to the

glacier for the dog sled tour. It was a no

brainer, said White. I never expecte d what

would happen next. Steve, C J, Chuck and I

went out to the glacier and it was absolutely

amazing.

U.S. Army Master Sergeant CJ Dugan also

enjoyed being given what he described as

a once over of the world of dog mushing.

Dugan, 36 of Pinehurst, North Carolina, like

others came to Alaska for the bear hunt, but

got to experience much more in the wilds of

Alaska.

I had never been around anything like

mushing in my life, said Master Sgt. Dugan.

I found the similarities in [Ricks] sled dogs

and my experience with Military Working

Dogs to be very familiar. They both have a very

high drive and need to be a par t of something.

I see that same thing in the military warriors

that have a bond that so

than even blood

Master Sgt. Dugan su

Brain Injury, in a grena

Iraq in 2009. After only a

monitoring and therap

active combat duty. Thro

deployments Master Sgt

been blown up four tim

piece of shrapnel imbed

it squeezed between h

shoulder blade.

In the future I want t

what Rick is accomplish

Sgt. Dugan. Since I am

only have so much vacati

In addition to wanting t

Iditarod, Master Sgt. D

own civilian aviation com

demonstration team in N

also works with wounded

For Sgt. Shumaker, h

actively follow along at

Dawgs races this season

even one day see Whi

personally would love to

my own, said White, bu

that takes a lot of work an

though White said she wo

to help the Battle Dawgs R

At the Casillos winter

will play an integral role i

Dawgs Race team train

2014 Iditarod Trail Sled D

they can or want to be in

is open to them, said Ric

would be to one d ay have

vet get qualied and run

Hastings stated that th

a precedent in their spor

with t he warriors is so c

didnt buy a musher, cau

him with a sponsorsh

Former Navy air trafc controll er Rebekah White in command of the tag sled. Photo

Sgt. Steve Shumaker greets Victory, one of the Battle Dawgs.


3/3

mush 16 sept/oct 2013

i i ii i li li i l

i . i li l i .i i i l i l ,

l li ili i , l

i ,i . i

li l i il i , li ii l l

li il il i l . I li ,

i i i il l i li i . i i

l i i i ,l i iliil li , i ll il

l lii .

il i i l

i l

i il i l i i l

i l i l il i i . i i

l l i lii il l i l il , i . I

l i , li il l . .

i i j i i ii li

i i i i ii . i

lli ll l

i i l

i , lli i , li

il. I li i l ,l l li

. l il li i

i i li . l il

i i ii i i

. . l i , i l ,i i ll.

I , i i ii l i i ii i l l

, i i i i li il

i . l li i

i .i i , , i illi l i i i

i : . . ll ili . . ll

i . I i illi i li i

. I ii l l . I i

i l l li l

Complete Sled Dog OutfittersHarnesses Ganglines Sleds Snowhooks

Dogpacks Skijoring Equipment BooksCollars Leashes Dog Jackets Sled Bags

FREE CATALOGUE BEGINNERS WELCOME

3620 Yancy Ave. New Germany MN 55367www.blackicedogsledding.com (320) 485-4825

- - . .

7 : 7:

.

.,

.

.

. I

. .

.

,,

,

.

.

.,

,.

. . , ,.

I ,

,

.

., ,

: . .. .

. I

. I. I

TOP QUALITY CUSTOM FENCING

Free EstimatesWe Ship Statewide

Custom Made Dog KennelsAll Galvanized Steel Construction

Statewide Service

745-40491-800-478-4049 Fax 907-745-1668

Palmer www.fenceemporium.com

Tools & HardwarePortable CorralsElectric FenceHog PanelsCustom Gates

Post & Rail Farmwire Chainlink Kennels T-Posts

Subscribe or renew securely online.

mushing.com

Hes putting in his time and efforts and money

to cover ying time to get us up there. I dont

know why every musher doesnt race for a

cause, and help raise awareness for something

worthwhile, added Hastings, referring to the

name Battle Dawgs Racing.

He also makes an analogy about warriors

socially integrating after serving their country

and mushers racing the Iditarod. They both

can seem impossible at times, explains

Hastings. Just like it takes a whole dog team

with every dog a nd musher pitching in to get to

Nome, it also takes a team for warriors at hometo succeed.

Hastings would like to remind readers, If you

know a veteran, or if someone has introduced

you to a vet, be aware. Dont leave them sitting

in the dark feeling bad about themselves when

they could be buddied up with you or someone

enjoying the outdoors, or even just going for a

ride to the store.

Hastings said he would help facilitate

introductions between mushers and veterans

who are interested in going out on the trail.

Learn more, get engaged, be a friend for life.

he said.

To learn more about Battle Dawgs Raci ng, Battledawgsracing.com. Fo

Hearts, .alaskashealinghearts.com.

Rick Casillo showing Master Sgt. CJ Dugan how to harness and hook up the team

It Takes a Great Team

to Win These Races:

2006 Iditarod WIN

2006 Kusko 300 WIN

2005 Kobuk 440 WIN

2006 Diavik 150 WIN2005 Wyoming Stage Stop WIN

2006 Limited North American WIN

2006 Black Gold Run WIN

and more...

Caribou Creek Gold...At every distance, during all life

stages, nutritionallysupporting great dogs.

Missing backissues ofMushing?

Che ck ou t o ur arc hiv ecollection at mushing.com!

Advertising in mushing

magazine is cost effective

and works.

Reach our targeted audience ofdog owners and outdoor recre-

ation enthusiasts.Ask about our reader survey.

[email protected]

Alaska's Healing Hearts continued from page 11

musher magazine winter 2013

Documents