Yokota Air Base retires two military working dogs after 15 years

Splash and Rroswell walked out of service the same way they had worked through it, side by side with the handlers who knew their pace, their habits and their limits. At Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo on May 13, 2026, about 70 people gathered to mark the retirement of two military working dogs whose combined 15 years of service ended with adoption into the homes of the handlers from the 374th Security Forces Squadron.

The farewell had the feel of a handoff after a long shift. Rroswell, a Belgian Malinois, entered training in 2019 and arrived at Yokota in 2020 as an explosives patrol detector dog. Splash, a black Labrador retriever, entered training in 2018 and was later reclassified as an explosives detector dog after transferring to Yokota. Both dogs spent their careers in the kind of work that keeps a base moving, vehicle inspections, perimeter patrols and security operations tied to important personnel.

That work comes at serious cost and serious training. Military working dogs typically spend about 180 days in training before joining operational units, and the Air Force says the dogs can serve in both non-combat and combat roles. The 341st Training Squadron prepares them for patrol, drug detection, explosive detection and specialized mission functions, while also providing logistical support and veterinary care. Base kennel leaders say a single military working dog can cost up to $1.5 million to train, care for and support over the course of its service, a reminder that these animals are treated as highly trained professionals.

Retirement is not driven by age alone. Health and working condition matter, and older retired dogs can be adopted even when they need medication or special diets for the rest of their lives. Under the broader adoption system, the Defense Department has historically placed about 300 dogs a year, with roughly 100 going to law-enforcement agencies. Former handlers, qualified families and police units all remain part of the pipeline that gives these dogs a second career, or a quieter one.

Yokota has already shown how that transition can work. Edy retired in June 2025 after nearly five years of service and more than 17 Secret Service missions. Riko retired in October 2023 because of early-onset arthritis and was adopted by a handler. Splash and Rroswell now join that pattern, leaving behind long shifts and early mornings for a much easier life with the people who already know how to bring them back to calm.