Tyndall welcomes its newest K9 asset

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, FL - The 325th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) recently welcomed Military Working Dog (MWD) IInez, marking Tyndall's first K-9 addition in over a year. This enhances Tyndall's security and mission readiness. 

IInez, a Department of Defense puppy program dog from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, brings valuable skills and experiences. "Her name indicates she's a puppy program dog, which gives us confidence in her training and foundation," said Technical Sergeant Cullen Thomas, 325th SFS military working dog trainer. 

With IInez's arrival, the 325th SFS K-9 unit now has six dogs, restoring full staffing after MWD Sonne's retirement. IInez is one of two puppy program dogs at Tyndall, alongside MWD MMcenroe, the oldest K-9 in the unit. 

The goal for new K-9s is to continually challenge them psychologically and expose them to varied environments. This ensures that, once certified, they can perform tasks like narcotics and explosives detection without distraction. "Once certified, IInez will be deployed with a handler, helping keep Tyndall secure, whether at the gates or construction sites," said Thomas. 

IInez will also be capable of worldwide deployment to support the Department of Defense or United States Secret Service. Though K-9 handlers are key to training, every base agency plays a vital role in helping K-9s reach their full potential. Handlers work closely with Team Tyndall to expose dogs to diverse scenarios, ensuring they are ready for any challenge.