(DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah) – In July of this year, a new four-legged friend made Dugway Proving Ground home. At just five years old and measuring about two feet high, SGT Kent has already made a big impact in the three years he has served in the Army. The black lab with an enormous heart arrived at the installation with the new Garrison Chaplain, MAJ Bryan S. Kimble.
Chaplain Kimble says SGT Kent is a hard-working service dog who enhances the morale and resiliency of the soldiers he encounters. On his first day of duty, SGT Kent assisted a solider dealing with the death of his best friend. Chaplain Kimble says, “he opened up to Kent in a fashion he would not for me.” While sharing the pair’s story with those they meet at DPG, the Chaplain says SGT Kent’s trainers realized “his heart was too big for just one person.” This is why Kent uses his talents to provide love and comfort to multiple people throughout the day.
The pair are certified as a team, meaning no one else can be Kent’s handler. When the Chaplain took custody of SGT Kent, he signed an agreement that states Kent is not a pet but a companion. He will only serve in the Army for six to eight years before being discharged from his duties.
Before being assigned to Dugway, MAJ Kimble’s first duty station was Ft. Hood in 2009. In September of 2010, Chaplain Kimble was then deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 7th US Cavalry for 12 months. Since then, he has served at installations across the United States, joining forces with SGT Kent in 2019. Most recently, MAJ Kimble served with the 59th Ordnance Brigade and Ordnance School at Fort Lee, Virginia before coming to DPG.
As Chaplain, MAJ Kimble’s duties include caring for the spiritual, moral, and emotional wellbeing of the Army. The Chaplain’s office offers counseling, spiritual care, religious programs, and services. The Dugway Post Chapel is located at 5100 Valdez Circle in English Village – they can be reached at (435) 831-2431 between 0730 and 1730 Monday through Friday.
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