Photo By Staff Sgt. Fatima Konteh | U.S. Army Sgt. Scott Kokjohn, a military working dog handler, assigned to 520th Military Police Working Dog Detachment, 8th Military Police Brigade, Ft. Shafter, Hawaii, and Spc. Isabelle Shumaker, a military working dog handler with the 503rd Combined Military Working Dog Detachment, 94th Military Police Battalion, Camp Humphreys, South Korea, prepare Mez, a two-year-old military working dog, for a room clearance exercise during Hanuman Guardian, March 13, 2026.
Hanuman Guardian is a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Army and the Royal Thai Army in the Kingdom of Thailand. Now in its 17th year, the exercise enhances readiness through realistic training while reinforcing the enduring U.S.–Thailand alliance, one of America’s oldest partnerships, dating back to 1833, and a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Fatima Konteh) see less
| View Image Page
Hanuman Guardian | US - Royal Thai Army military working dog handlers and veterinarian services exchange best practices
PAK CHONG, Thailand – U.S. Army and Royal Thai Army soldiers participated in a military working dog and veterinarian services subject matter expert exchange, March 9-20, 2026, during Hanuman Guardian.
Hanuman Guardian is a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. and Royal Thai armies, increasing interoperability, partnership, and readiness in the event of an Indo-Pacific theater conflict.
In attendance were military working dog handlers, kennel masters, veterinarian service officers, animal care technicians, and other military personnel.
“We wanted to bring two different types of teams; to exchange ideas with their special forces and veterinarian teams,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Chairez, an animal care noncommissioned officer in-charge with the Veterinary Readiness Activity - Hawaii.
Over the span of 12 days, U.S. Army and Thai soldiers received training on room clearance procedures, explosive ordnance detection, K-9 tactical combat casualty care, critical veterinary care and health management, and other K-9 life-saving techniques.
“Myself and Staff Sgt. Young, we’re technicians and our role is to go over the basics of K-9 TCCC [tactical combat casualty care], care under fire, tactical field care, and evacuation care,” Chairez said. “The Royal Thai Army primarily consists of MWD handlers, and their scope of practice is different from ours, so we tailored our training to be as realistic as possible.”
Veterinarians, technicians and handlers work hand in hand to provide the most current medical treatment and care to the military working dogs.
Royal Thai Army Sgt. Maj. 1st Class Amp Rungmart, a military working dog master instructor, attended the SME exchange as an observer coach/trainer. Even though this is her fourth year supporting Hanuman Guardian, this time felt a little different.
“I’m usually the one doing the military working dog demonstrations and teaching the junior handlers' techniques on off-leash control,” said Rungmart. “But it’s extremely satisfying to see all the hard work and hours of training on display for the U.S. Army. It really makes me proud to be a part of the Thai Military Working Dog Regiment.”
Rungmart joined the Royal Thai Army 12 years ago to continue her family’s tradition in the Army, specifically working with animals. “My father retired from the Thai Army as a veterinarian; he would tell me stories of working with the Americans during Hanuman Guardian,” Rungmart stated.
Now in its 17th year, the exercise continues to enhance readiness through realistic training while reinforcing the enduring U.S.–Thailand alliance, one of America’s oldest partnerships, dating back to 1833, and a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
NEWS INFO
Date Taken:
03.13.2026
Date Posted:
03.18.2026 22:44
Story ID:
560808
Location:
LOP BURI, TH
Web Views:
14
Downloads:
0
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Hanuman Guardian | US - Royal Thai Army military working dog handlers and veterinarian services exchange best practices, by SSG Fatima Konteh, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
