Five active-duty military working dog (MWD) handlers stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and their MWDs join a retired MWD and her caregiver to commemorate K9 Veterans Day at Base X on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) on March 20, 2026. The Marine MWD handlers stand alongside the Army Veterinary Technicians supporting the event, the MWD trainer from the Air Force and Maj. Peri Salazar, a veterinarian Soldier, who stands beside her adopted MWD, Blackjack. Every year on March 13, the Department of War (DoW) observes K9 Veterans Day to honor the service and sacrifice of military working dogs. The observance started in 1942 when the U.S. Army’s War Dog “K9 Corps” was launched to contribute to the World War II war effort. At the JBPHH Kennel, MWDs are trained in a wide range of specialized tasks, including explosives and drug detection, tracking and apprehension, and patrol and protection. They also support missions for the President and Vice President of the United States. This year’s K9 Veterans Day commemoration featured a ruck march around Base X and explosive detection training in a warehouse located onsite. From left to right in the photo is Lance Cpl. Isaias Valdez, Cpl. Heidi Edwards, Sgt. Dante Cannavina, Staff Sgt. Ashlee Pollard, Sgt. Sara Concepcion, Sgt. Kira Cano, Maj. Peri Salazar, Sgt. Brandon Rollo, Staff Sgt. James Davis, and Lance Cpl. Derekson Alachedelgado. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Cpl. Heidi Edwards)
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2026 23:51 |
| Photo ID: | 9576989 |
| VIRIN: | 260320-N-RD674-7074 |
| Resolution: | 3663x2100 |
| Size: | 2.05 MB |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 4 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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