A Bond Beyond Duty

Published on February 12, 2026

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Flex didn’t know a ceremony marked the end of his military career, but what he did know was routine, commands and the handler he trusted at the end of the leash.

After nearly eight years of service, Military Working Dog Flex (A482) officially retired from the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 26, 2026, closing one chapter as a defender and beginning another with the handler who chose to make him family.

Born March 20, 2017, Flex entered military working dog training at the 341st Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, at just 18 months old. There, he learned the patrol and detection skills he would use to define his career.

Flex was assigned to the 88th Security Forces Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, on May 7, 2019, immediately following graduation.

During this assignment, he supported multiple Secret Service missions for the president and vice president of the United States. His patrol work was extensive, encompassing more than 3,000 random anti-terrorism measures and over 3,000 foot patrols. He also secured more than 400 vehicle checkpoints, dedicated approximately 5,000 hours to explosive detection and performed in over 100 K-9 demonstrations.

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