DOGS ON DUTY
Service dogs help individuals on a personal level with a variety of mental and physical needs. On the other hand, working dogs also known as canines (K9s), are human companions trained to perform tasks such as detection for police and the military to ensure the safety of people in various settings, such as concerts, airports or public events.
Military working dogs (MWDs) are K9s trained to support warfighters both on and off the battlefield, and they are an integral part of the Army’s mission, employing them in large-scale combat operations. With superior senses to humans, MWDs have been vital in successfully alerting warfighters of attacks, both physical and chemical. Among the most famous MWDs is the first dog to receive a rank, Sgt. Stubby, a stray dog that served in World War I. Today, there are about 1,600 MWDs in service helping to keep the nation safe. Te 341st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio is the sole provider of DOD MWDs. Tey run the MWD Program teaching service member handlers and all courses required for K9s to become MWDs. Training is tailored to the requirements of each branch of service, with additional training extended for special operations. Te 341st Training Squadron also runs the Military Working Dog Adoption Program when dogs fail to meet MWD requirements or retire.
Outside DOD, there are many veteran charity organizations and private organizations that train K9s for individual needs and public protection. Retired U.S. Army Cpl. Jeremiah Holder, the director of training at American K-9 Interdiction (AK9I), is no stranger to differing deployment experiences trained K9s face on mission and after retirement. “I have deployed to Mosul, Iraq, as patrol narcotic handler as a Soldier in the U.S. Army, as well as worked for several contract companies at U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, in which we transported our K9 with us person- ally to and from country each time,” Holder said. Occasionally, Holder will work his explosive detection K9 at public events like the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meet- ing and Exposition. “Challenges honestly come with ensuring proper training is complete so that the dogs are able to work in hectic environments and getting the K9s neutral to all the stim- ulus happening around them,” Holder said.
For most dogs, working in a crowded space would be difficult, but for trained K9s, it’s another day at the office. “Tese animals serve a multitude of purposes. Te No. 1 purpose they serve is saving lives,” said Alisa Chmielinski, director of training and opera- tions for 3DK9 Detection Services. Her working dog, Lenny, also provided support throughout AUSA. “Whether it’s an explosive
56 Army AL&T Magazine Spring 2025
DO NOT PET
Claymore, a two-year-old German shepherd, awaits her next command at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Virginia. The loyal canine was donated to her handler, retired Lt. Col. Ladd Shepard and received training from Semper K9 Assistance Dogs. (Photo by Ladd Shepard, Headquarters Marine Corps)
K9 or a narcotic K9, they are searching for something that is dangerous, something that has the ability to end lives, some- thing that technology cannot detect and I believe that will never be able to detect as well as a dog.”
ROBOT DOGS Although dogs have superior senses of smell and other innate abilities that can’t yet be replicated, technology continues to advance. Te Army has started using quadruped (four-legged) robots in situations that would be too dangerous for dogs. Te robot dogs can be controlled remotely or programmed to function
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