Fort Huachuca, Arizona - The 483rd Military Police Detachment, Military Working Dogs, said goodbye to two Soldiers on Tuesday morning at the Fort Huachuca Kennels.
Military working dogs Goliat and Nol both served the U.S. Army for nine years. They were recognized at a retirement ceremony, where they were handed over to their new owners.
Goliat, a German Shepard, retired from the 483rd MPD MWD as a patrol explosive detector dog. He completed six missions in support of the U.S. President and Vice President that took him across the United States from California to Georgia.
He has been deployed twice, once to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and once to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Goliat, 11, was adopted by his first handler, Stephen Gruden.
"As his first handler it's kind of a dream come true," said Gruden of the unusual opportunity. "I picked him up from the airport when he came from Lackland and did his first training and kind of made him into what he is today so to be able to bring him home after retirement is amazing."
The pair worked together for nearly three years.
"They have a wealth of training and a wealth of knowledge, and they serve their country just like every other Soldier in the U.S. Army, and they really deserve it," Gruden said. "They deserve to just go home and relax and end their life on a happy note."
Gruden is currently employed as a civilian on Fort Huachuca.
Nol, also a German Shepard, retired as a patrol drug detector dog for the 483rd MPD MWD. Nol served his entire nine years of service at Fort Huachuca.
Nol, 11, was adopted by his current handler, Spc. Richard Treloar, and his wife, Breann.
"My husband just loves that dog," Breann said. "We've been looking forward to adopting him for a while. We're just so lucky we actually got the opportunity to."
Treloar was Nol's handler for approximately a year.
"Nol put in his time, and he did all the duties he needed to do, so now its just time for him to be a regular dog and enjoy the last years of his life," Breann added.
The retirement ceremony also included a demonstration for the crowd of the capabilities of military working dogs. The demonstration included the obstacle course, detecting scents, marching, basic obedience and attacking a mock perpetrator.
Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Caravona, kennel master, 483rd MPD MWD, said holding a ceremony for the dogs was important, "because it gives them recognition and lets the Families be a closing piece of it. The dogs have done their time just as the Soldiers have and some of the dogs have been in some real hostile locations so this is their transition to prep them for the couch."
Both dogs were retired due to old age.
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