The Redstone law enforcement K-9 branch has earned high praise during its annual kennel inspection, receiving an overall “excellent” rating. All five military working dog, or MWD, teams also achieved full certification.
The certification process evaluated the teams’ abilities in critical areas such as patrol, explosives detection, and narcotics detection.
“There are 80 inspectable items that the teams are graded on,” Capt. Jason Villafane, the kennel master for the Redstone K-9 branch, said. “We received excellent ratings in 76 of them.”
The kennel is home to five MWDs – three patrol explosive detection dogs and two patrol drug detection dogs. The dogs include three German shepherds, one Dutch shepherd, and one Malinois. Each team, composed of a dog and its handler, demonstrated the high level of skills and readiness required to support Redstone’s law enforcement mission.
The Army Training and Doctrine Command Provost Marshal’s Office has recognized Redstone Arsenal’s K-9 unit with an “excellent” rating following a weeklong inspection of its MWD program. The inspection team spent five days at the Redstone kennels, evaluating everything from daily operations to training programs.
“The annual Kennel Inspection Assessment is a snapshot for the program manager to see what we do throughout the year,” Villafane said. “They inspect all areas, but it really reflects a year’s worth of work. We make sure everything is in accordance with AR-190-12, the Army regulation governing the Military Working Dog Program.”
The evaluation covered a wide range of areas, including personnel responsibilities, kennel safety, veterinary care, explosives and narcotics detection programs, and overall training and equipment readiness.
Redstone Deputy Police Chief Dennis Brown said at the Sept. 17 Redstone Community Update that canine support is available to military and civilian organizations. All support requests must be submitted through the Garrison Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
Villafane credited the success to a team effort. Officer Joshua Maynard and Officer Joseph Doll manage the narcotics detection program, while Sgt. Julian Reid leads the explosives detection program and serves as the training officer, helping MWD teams prepare for certification. Officer David Cartwright, the kennel’s veterinarian coordinator, oversees the dogs’ vaccinations and medical care.
Since taking over as kennel master in November 2023 after 21 ½ years in the Army, Villafane has worked to strengthen the program. “I got my team involved, we got after it, and within a year and a half we got an excellent rating,” he said.
The kennel recently welcomed a military working dog from Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, that had been without a handler for nine months. Maynard stepped up to become the dog’s handler after the retirement of his previous partner, Penge, a Belgian Malinois, in June.
“They had a dog without and handler, and we had a handler without a dog,” Villafane explained. “Within 35 days, he was trained, certified, and earned a 100% rating.”
Social Sharing