{"id":28951,"date":"2019-03-10T17:07:23","date_gmt":"2019-03-10T17:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/03\/10\/jbers-oldest-k9-retires-after-8-year-career\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:49:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:49:15","slug":"jbers-oldest-k9-retires-after-8-year-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/03\/10\/jbers-oldest-k9-retires-after-8-year-career\/","title":{"rendered":"JBER\u2019s oldest military working dog retires after 8-year career"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska \u2014 After nearly eight years of military service, the oldest military working dog<\/a> at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson will, for the first time, become somebody\u2019s pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military Working Dog Kimba, an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois serving with JBER\u2019s 673rd Security Forces Squadron, part of the Air Force\u2019s 673rd Air Base Wing, retired Friday in a ceremony attended by four of her canine comrades. Her career had included everything from foot patrols of the base to drug detection to demonstration patrols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her eight year career at JBER, Kimba has been assigned to seven different handlers and hit on 32 narcotics finds, officials said. Her most recent handler, Staff Sgt. Christopher Bennett, called her “the best friend” he’s had since he’s been at serving at JBER.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimba completed her training in 2011 at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, squadron officials said. Out of about 2,500 tested for military service<\/a> every year, about 750 are selected for rigorous training. An additional quarter drop out before completing the training.<\/p>\n\n\n\t