Reference & AI

DAFI 31-121

Air Force

MILITARY WORKING DOG PROGRAM

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

DAFI 31-121, "MILITARY WORKING DOG PROGRAM", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated February 20, 2026.

Published

February 20, 2026

OPR

AF/A4

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

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DAFI 31-121 — index record

NumberDAFI 31-121
TitleMILITARY WORKING DOG PROGRAM
PublishedFebruary 20, 2026
Certified currentFebruary 20, 2026
Office of primary responsibilityAF/A4
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionIC, August 26, 2026
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (53 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 31-1, Integrated Defense, and establishes the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Military Working Dog (MWD) Program. This instruction prescribes responsibilities and procedures for the direction, management, and control of the DAF MWD Program. It explains how Military Working Dog Teams (MWDTs) are used in non–combat and combat support missions including area security, law enforcement, and antiterrorism, to include narcotics and explosive detection. This instruction is applicable to the entire DAF, including all uniformed members of the Regular Air Force, the United States Space Force, the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard, all DAF civilian employees, and those with a contractual obligation to abide by the terms of DAF issuances. In addition, this instruction is mandatory for all government-owned, contractor-operated and contractor-owned, contractor- operated facilities when required by contractual agreement. The authorities to waive wing, unit,

Summary of changes, as printed

This document is substantially revised and needs to be completely reviewed. The provided text outlines comprehensive regulations for Military Working Dog (MWD) management, establishing strict protocols for MWD relocation, facility usage, and manpower requirements, while mandating tailored monthly training plans, authorized equipment usage, and stringent qualification evaluations to ensure the continuous proficiency and mission readiness of MWD teams. A margin bar (|) indicates newly revised material.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 5
  2. Chapter 2—MILITARY WORKING DOG PROGRAM AND UTILIZATIONp. 13
  3. Chapter 4—MILITARY WORKING DOG TRAININGp. 26
  4. Chapter 6—EXPLOSIVE TRAINING SUBSTANCESp. 38
  5. Chapter 7—DRUG TRAINING SUBSTANCESp. 42
  6. Chapter 8—KENNEL FACILITIES AND CARE OF MILITARY WORKING DOGSp. 48
  7. Chapter 9—MILITARY WORKING DOG TRANSPORTATIONp. 52
  8. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 62
  9. Attachment 2—CERTIFICATION MEMORANDUMp. 68
  10. Attachment 3—RECLAMA OF AGENCY TASKING REQUESTp. 69
  11. Attachment 4—QUALIFICATION MEMORANDUMp. 70
All 54 contents entries
  1. Chapter 1—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 5
  2. 1.1. Director of Security Forces (AF/A4S)p. 5
  3. 1.2. Air Force Security Forces Center (AFSFC) will:p. 5
  4. 1.3. Air Education and Training Command (AETC)p. 6
  5. 1.4. Security Forces Commander will:p. 6
  6. 1.5. Military Working Dog Kennel Master (KM) will:p. 8
  7. 1.6. Military Working Dog Trainer willp. 11
  8. 1.7. Military Working Dog Handler willp. 12
  9. Chapter 2—MILITARY WORKING DOG PROGRAM AND UTILIZATIONp. 13
  10. 2.1. Military Working Dog Programp. 13
  11. 2.2. Military Working Dog Utilization and Employmentp. 13
  12. 2.3. Military Working Dog Searchesp. 15
  13. 2.4. Safety Proceduresp. 16
  14. 2.5. Use of Forcep. 18
  15. 2.6. Military Working Dog Limitationsp. 19
  16. 3.1. Authorizationsp. 22
  17. 3.2. Requisitionsp. 23
  18. 3.3. Military Working Dog Dispositionsp. 24
  19. Chapter 4—MILITARY WORKING DOG TRAININGp. 26
  20. 4.1. Military Working Dog Team General Proficiency Trainingp. 26
  21. 4.2. Detection Trainingp. 27
  22. 4.3. Training with Additional Substancesp. 28
  23. 5.1. Patrol Standardsp. 30
  24. 5.2. Detection Standardsp. 32
  25. 5.3. Qualification and Certification Testingp. 33
  26. 5.4. Decertification Processp. 36
  27. Chapter 6—EXPLOSIVE TRAINING SUBSTANCESp. 38
  28. 6.1. Explosive Training Substance Safety Precautionsp. 38
  29. 6.2. Explosive Training Substance Acquisition, Turn-In, and Storagep. 39
  30. Chapter 7—DRUG TRAINING SUBSTANCESp. 42
  31. 7.1. Introductionp. 42
  32. 7.2. Physical Security Requirements of Drug Training Substancesp. 42
  33. 7.3. Drug Training Substance Registrationp. 42
  34. 7.4. Drug Training Substance Custodiansp. 42
  35. 7.5. Registration to Procure Drug Training Substancesp. 42
  36. 7.6. Procurement of Drug Training Substancesp. 43
  37. 7.7. Requalification of Training Substances (Recall)p. 44
  38. 7.8. Disposition and Returning of Drug Training Substancesp. 44
  39. 7.9. Drug Training Substance Inventoryp. 44
  40. 7.10. Control of Drug Training Substancesp. 46
  41. 7.11. Change of Primary Custodianp. 47
  42. 7.12. Controlled Substance Accountability Folderp. 47
  43. Chapter 8—KENNEL FACILITIES AND CARE OF MILITARY WORKING DOGSp. 48
  44. 8.1. Kennel Facilitiesp. 48
  45. 8.2. Care of Military Working Dogsp. 49
  46. Chapter 9—MILITARY WORKING DOG TRANSPORTATIONp. 52
  47. 9.1. Military Working Dog Vehiclesp. 52
  48. 9.2. Shipping Military Working Dogsp. 53
  49. 10.1. Generalp. 56
  50. 10.2. Detector Dog Operationsp. 56
  51. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 62
  52. Attachment 2—CERTIFICATION MEMORANDUMp. 68
  53. Attachment 3—RECLAMA OF AGENCY TASKING REQUESTp. 69
  54. Attachment 4—QUALIFICATION MEMORANDUMp. 70

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Air Force index

REF: DAFI 31-121, effective February 20, 2026

Air Force e-Publishing — DAFI 31-121

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

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