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U.S. and Japanese K-9 teams completed a four-day joint military working dog expeditionary course at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 6–9, 2026, bringing together the 35th Security Forces Squadron, members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd and 4th Air Wings, the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Misawa Air Base Veterinary Treatment Facility, and 35th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technicians.
“Working with our U.S. partners is important because there’s so much to learn from them,” said JASDF Staff Sgt. Masaki Murakami, 3rd Air Wing security forces K-9 handler. “We’ve learned U.S. tactical aspects and methods for training guard dogs during this training.”
The course combined detection, patrol and response scenarios to test handlers and their dogs and improve coordination between the two forces. Organizers emphasized sharing tactics, techniques and procedures to bolster combined force protection and underscore the enduring partnership.
“This training is valuable because with downrange operations, especially for us, you never know what you’re going to encounter,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dante Sepulveda, 35th SFS MWD handler. “If an incident happens, it’s critical to be able to get yourself and your dog into cover and apply Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC).”
Army Veterinary Corps personnel led TCCC instruction with a canine training dummy, guiding participants through placing an IV, clearing airway obstructions, applying a tourniquet and packing wounds. MWD teams also conducted building searches and dismounted patrols with simulated explosives set by EOD technicians, while smoke grenades and blank ammunition were used for environmental conditioning to keep the dogs focused under pressure.
“It’s important to know basic care and to truly know your dog. As a handler, if you don’t know how your dog reacts to certain situations, like gunfire,” Sepulveda added.”You can endanger the lives of your team, especially when you’re sweeping for explosives.”
Working alongside JASDF counterparts, the teams refined coordination for high-stress missions and reinforced combined readiness to defend the installation and support stability in the region.
