A new home for K9 heroes: Military Working Dog Kennel opens at USAG Bavaria

TOWER BARRACKS, Germany - The 131st Military Police Detachment, 18th Military Police Brigade marked a major milestone Aug. 19, 2026 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of its new military working dog kennel at Tower Barracks.

The project replaces a facility that had been in use for more than a century and no longer met modern standards.

Planning for the new kennel began in May 2019, with construction managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District in partnership with U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria and German construction contractors. The project cost $3.8 million in Unspecified Minor Military Construction, Army (UMMCA) funding.

"Seeing a facility so special like a Military Working Dog Kennel growing from the first idea throughout the programming, design and construction process until the final key turn over to the customers is the best thing of being part of the USAG Bavaria Engineering Division," said Andrea Hoesl, chief of Engineering Division, Directorate of Public Works.

The detachment currently houses seven military working dogs, and the new facility is built to support up to 14 dogs. The expanded capacity allows for improved housing, training and medical support while giving handlers more flexibility to conduct obedience, detection and scenario-based exercises.

The modern kennel includes offices, a food-preparation and storage area, training rooms, a medical examination room and upgraded kennel spaces designed to meet current Army standards. Structural improvements in the new facility provide a safer environment for the dogs and include a more sanitary waste-disposal system. The kennel's expanded training rooms and exercise areas offer handlers dedicated space for obedience, detection and other scenario-based training.

"I've visited different kennels across Europe, and this kennel is the standard, and what it directly correlates to is readiness," said Col. Francisco Cortez, commander, 18th MP Brigade.

After the official ribbon cutting ceremony and walkthrough of the new facility, Sgt. Brianna Plush demonstrated a training exercise with Edzsi, one of the detachment's military working dogs trained in explosives detection.

Spc. Logan Knight also conducted bite-training demonstrations, showing the audience how handlers develop and maintain the dogs' advanced operational skills.

"There is no piece of equipment, no system, no technology that can replace what a Military Working Dog brings to the fight," said Capt. Angela Chaves-Evan, commander of the Combined Military Working Dog Detachment - Europe. "Bred to serve, trained side by side with one individual, they provide protection, detection, and apprehension - and they are a force multiplier for all Army operations. So at minimum, they deserve a safe and healthy environment to call home."

The 131st MP Detachment, part of the Combined Military Working Dog Detachment - Europe, supports law enforcement operations at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria and deploys military working dogs across the region for policing and security missions.

For more photos of the ribbon cutting ceremony, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/usagbavaria/albums/72177720335208426/