Military Working Dog Nick served the United States Army for his entire adult life.

From the day he entered training until the day he retired, Nick’s role was constant and demanding. Unlike human service members, he did not serve a single tour and transition to something else. He did not have a civilian career before or after. His entire working life was spent in uniform, supporting missions and protecting people.

Nick served for eight years as an explosives detection dog. He deployed overseas, including a nine-month tour in Iraq, where his work directly supported force protection and operational safety. Throughout his career, he operated in environments where accuracy, reliability, and trust were non-negotiable.

In addition to overseas service, Nick supported a wide range of high-visibility and high-security missions in the United States. These included Secret Service operations, international summits, the United Nations General Assembly, the Democratic National Convention, state funerals, and major Army events. These assignments are not ceremonial. They are entrusted only to teams with proven performance and discipline.

Many people recognize Nick without knowing his name.

For years, his image wearing protective goggles appeared across Army systems and directories and was seen daily by thousands of service members and civilian employees. Over time, he became one of the most recognizable Military Working Dogs in the force and a quiet reminder of the working animals who serve alongside soldiers every day.

At retirement, Nick was awarded an Army Commendation Medal.

The ARCOM is an appropriate and respected award, most often used to recognize a single successful tour or assignment lasting a few years. It is not typically used to recognize an entire career of sustained service.

Nick’s service was not limited to a single tour. It was continuous, operational, and career-long.

The Meritorious Service Medal is intended to recognize sustained, superior service over time. It is commonly awarded to leaders and key contributors who complete a full tour with lasting impact and responsibility. That standard aligns more closely with Nick’s record than a routine end-of-tour award.

This petition is not asking for an exceptional or symbolic gesture. It does not seek the Legion of Merit or an award traditionally reserved for senior officers after decades of command. The request is proportional and consistent with existing awards norms.

Upgrading Nick’s retirement award would properly reflect the nature of his service. It would also acknowledge, in a meaningful way, the role that Military Working Dogs play in modern military operations and force protection.

We respectfully ask the Secretary of War to review Nick’s retirement award and upgrade it from an Army Commendation Medal to a Meritorious Service Medal.

Nick gave a full career to the Army. His retirement award should reflect that.

Reporting on Nick’s service and retirement, including details of his deployments and missions, is available in Stars and Stripes:
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2026-01-20/doggles-military-dog-global-directory-20472211.html