Hey everyone, I've always been passionate about working with dogs and I've heard that some military branches offer roles involving canine training and handling. Could anyone advise me on which military branch I should consider if I want to pursue this career path?
Most branches of the military, including the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps, offer positions for canine handlers. The key component here is the Military Working Dog (MWD) program that each of these branches manage, as it tends to be the primary department for canine handling and training.
In the Army, you might be interested in the 31K Combat Military Working Dog Handler, which is a role centered around training and caring for working dogs that are used for search missions, law enforcement, and security.
In the Air Force, handlers work with canines that detect both drugs and explosives. The specific career designation is 3S1X1: Military Working Dog Handler.
The Navy offers positions for Master-at-Arms that involve Military Working Dog (MWD) handling. A Master-at-Arms MWD Handler functions as a military police officer, but with a heavier focus on working with the dogs.
While the Marine Corps does not train dog handlers from the start, they employ them through the Military Police (MP) MOS. After some experience, MPs can move on to the Military Police Dog Handler (5812) role, which involves search and rescue missions, as well as explosive and drug detection.
All these positions will require taking and passing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) as part of joining the military.
Remember, each branch has different training techniques, resources, and mission types, so it's all about looking at the specifics and deciding what aligns most closely with your own interests and skills.
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