Colonel KEITH J. BUTLER, Commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri | Whiteman Air Force Base
Colonel KEITH J. BUTLER, Commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri | Whiteman Air Force Base
After two years of dedicated service to the U.S. Air Force, encompassing approximately 1,650 mission hours, Military Working Dog (MWD) Azir officially retired on April 26, 2024, at Whiteman Air Force Base.
Azir, a four-year-old Brindle Dutch Shepherd, was previously assigned to the 509th Security Forces Squadron at Whiteman AFB in 2022. He will now reside with his former handler, Staff Sgt. Marcel Durand, a 509th SFS MWD handler.
Durand emphasized the responsibility handlers have towards their canine partners. “We chose this job; the dogs didn’t,” he said. “We care for them to the best of our abilities and try to give them a good life.”
MWDs serve wherever military members are deployed and every day security forces handlers entrust their lives to their canine partners. Durand expressed unwavering faith in Azir's abilities: “I never went into a situation where I doubted him,” he said.
During their tenure together at Whiteman, Durand and Azir undertook numerous assignments including two U.S. Secret Service missions. The first occurred in 2023 when they ensured the safety of President Joseph Biden by sweeping a large event complex in Chicago. In another significant assignment, Azir became the first MWD from Whiteman AFB to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Staff Sgt. Austin Cook, 509th SFS kennel master, underscored the importance of MWDs in anti-terrorism measures due to their psychological deterrence and substance detection capabilities.
As Azir transitions into retirement following a tribute from his fellow Airmen, he will swap his duty of sniffing out threats for enjoying treats at home with Durand and his other dogs.
“The retirement ceremony honors the dogs and everything they do for the base like augmenting for the United States Secret Service, presidential support and deployments,” said Cook.
Azir's retirement came earlier than expected due to a medical condition that could cause him to aspirate or overheat during strenuous work. Now, he will enjoy a comfortable retired life with Durand and his three new canine siblings.
The personnel of Whiteman Air Force Base expressed their gratitude for Azir's service, pledging to carry on the watch from here.
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