News Stories

Photo by Cpl. Sarah Grawcock - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jesse Pena, a military working dog handler with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and a native of Texas, plays with his military working dog during an obstacle course at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 20, 2026. Obstacle course training is designed to instill confidence in military working dogs while also displaying operational readiness by enhancing the obedience and threat response of their K9s. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sarah Grawcock)

U.S. Marines and JMSDF Soldiers conduct MWD detection training exercises - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nicholas Rice, a military working dog handler for the Provost Marshal Office with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, conducts military working dog detection training at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Nov. 20, 2019. The training was part of a joint force detection exercise with Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) soldiers. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

MCAS Iwakuni PMO hosts joint K-9 training - U.S. Marines, members of the Hiroshima Police Headquarters and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force pose for a photo during a joint training event at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 12, 2018. The training brought Japanese K-9 handlers from the JMSDF Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit and the Hiroshima Police Headquarters to the air station, where they practiced detecting explosives with K-9’s. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones) (Portions of this image were obscured for security reasons)

A K-9 with Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni’s Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 unit searches for hidden explosives during joint training with Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters officers and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit military working dog handlers at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. Marines placed explosives in hidden locations before handlers and their K-9’s arrived, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. U.S. and Japanese handlers then escorted their K-9’s to locate explosives hidden throughout the stations old furniture store. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo) - A K-9 with Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni’s Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 unit searches for hidden explosives during joint training with Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters officers and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit military working dog handlers at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. Marines placed explosives in hidden locations before handlers and their K-9’s arrived, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. U.S. and Japanese handlers then escorted their K-9’s to locate explosives hidden throughout the stations old furniture store. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo)

Police Lt. Muneyuki Hirao, a police dog trainer at Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, and his K-9 search for explosives during joint training with Marines from the Provost Marshal’s Office at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. Trained in a variety of areas such as locating explosives and narcotics and conducting patrols, handlers and their military working dogs train regularly in order to maintain operational readiness, become a more effective team and ensure the safety of the station residents. Sgt. Adrian Nanez, PMO kennel master with Headquarters and Headquarters, placed explosives in hidden locations while the duo waited out of site, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Police Lt. Muneyuki Hirao, a police dog trainer at Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, and his K-9 search for explosives during joint training with Marines from the Provost Marshal’s Office at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. Trained in a variety of areas such as locating explosives and narcotics and conducting patrols, handlers and their military working dogs train regularly in order to maintain operational readiness, become a more effective team and ensure the safety of the station residents. Sgt. Adrian Nanez, PMO kennel master with Headquarters and Headquarters, placed explosives in hidden locations while the duo waited out of site, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Police Lt. Muneyuki Hirao, a police dog trainer at Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, and his K-9 search for hidden explosives during a joint training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 17, 2016. K-9’s are trained on scent boxes in order to get them familiar with the different scents of various explosives. The location and types of training are changed each time to broaden the capabilities of the dogs as well as the handlers. - Police Lt. Muneyuki Hirao, a police dog trainer at Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, and his K-9 search for hidden explosives during a joint training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 17, 2016. K-9’s are trained on scent boxes in order to get them familiar with the different scents of various explosives. The location and types of training are changed each time to broaden the capabilities of the dogs as well as the handlers.

Lance Cpl. Kevin Kelly, right, military working dog handler with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, gives praise to his K-9 after successfully attacking Cpl. Justin Stockton, military working dog handler with H&HS, who played a simulated noncompliant suspect during night training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 9, 2015. To ensure the safety of personnel on the air station, this training is conducted to keep military working dogs familiarized with the installation as its landscape continues to develop with the Defense Policy Review Initiative. The K-9’s are trained in the five phases of aggression, basic obedience and building searches which aid in a variety of potentially dangerous situations. - Lance Cpl. Kevin Kelly, right, military working dog handler with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, gives praise to his K-9 after successfully attacking Cpl. Justin Stockton, military working dog handler with H&HS, who played a simulated noncompliant suspect during night training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 9, 2015. To ensure the safety of personnel on the air station, this training is conducted to keep military working dogs familiarized with the installation as its landscape continues to develop with the Defense Policy Review Initiative. The K-9’s are trained in the five phases of aggression, basic obedience and building searches which aid in a variety of potentially dangerous situations.

Lance Cpl. DeSean R. White, military working dog handler with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron follows his dog Azra into a room during a routine training narcotics search exercise. The search took place inside an empty barracks room aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 16, 2014. Azra is a narcotics specialist dog and trains regularly to sustain and improve her sense of smell and trust with her handler. - Lance Cpl. DeSean R. White, military working dog handler with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron follows his dog Azra into a room during a routine training narcotics search exercise. The search took place inside an empty barracks room aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 16, 2014. Azra is a narcotics specialist dog and trains regularly to sustain and improve her sense of smell and trust with her handler.

Max bites a suspect, Sgt. Agustin G. Garcia, Provost Marshal's Office kennel master, in order to allow her handler, Sgt. Johnathon E. Pierce, PMO chief K-9 trainer, to catch up to the suspect during a demonstration for the students of Matthew C. Perry Elementary School here May 14, 2012. A K-9 can not only provide a better way to stop suspects but can also deter some suspects from breaking::r::::n::the law. - Max bites a suspect, Sgt. Agustin G. Garcia, Provost Marshal's Office kennel master, in order to allow her handler, Sgt. Johnathon E. Pierce, PMO chief K-9 trainer, to catch up to the suspect during a demonstration for the students of Matthew C. Perry Elementary School here May 14, 2012. A K-9 can not only provide a better way to stop suspects but can also deter some suspects from breaking::r::::n::the law.