Military Working Dogs

nellis air force base

Discription:

Concrete base with a metal plaque embedded. The plaque includes a photo of the dog Shep, and his name is engraved in large, capital letters. But the memorial actually honors all such animals. It reads, “SHEP. August 1977 to November 1980. Trained in peace Died in War A courageous and loyal friend That will be sorely missed. Dedicated to all Military Working Dogs Who have given their lives In the service of their country.”

Responcible Organization/Individual:

Nellis Air Force Base

Designed By:

Friends of military dog, Shep.

MilitaryDogs

Address:

4700 Las Vegas Blvd. North, North Las Vegas, NV, 89191-6600.

GPS Coordinates:

36.242360 -115.039120

Hours Available

Business hours, weekends. Limited public access. Individuals must have entry to Nellis AFB. Civilians can apply for a pass by visiting the visitors center at the main gate off the Las Vegas Blvd. entrance to the base, but access is limited and not guaranteed. Properly credentialed active duty U.S. military and retired U.S. veterans are generally allowed access.

Ceremonies: no

However there is a covered community area with BBQ equipment in the park, where ceremonies could be held. Permission to use the facility must be obtained from base officials.

History:

Freedom Park is located inside the gates of Nellis AFB and is home to many military memorials. Although at first glance this memorial appears to be solely for Shep, it is actually dedicated to all working military canines. Military working dogs have been around for centuries worldwide and were officially recognized in the U.S. on March 13, 1942. Military working dogs and their handlers are trained at the 341st Training Squadron located at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. A fully trained bomb detection canine is reportedly worth more than $150,000. The U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis reports directly to the Air Combat Command. The center was founded on Sept. 1, 1966, as the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center. It was later renamed the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center in October 2005. The Mission: The USAFWC conducts warfighter-centric live and virtual operational test and evaluation, tactics development, and advanced training to optimize Air Force capabilities and prepare airmen for joint, all domain combat operations. (Current as of August 2020).

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