New exhibit showcases bond between MWD handler, their K-9

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — The John B. Mahaffey Museum Complex’s Military Police Corps Museum unveiled a new exhibit Nov. 9, 2026, dedicated to military w… FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — The John B. Mahaffey Museum Complex’s Military Police Corps Museum unveiled a new exhibit Nov. 9, 2026, dedicated to military working dog handlers, known as 31K, and their dogs. For Amanda Webb, U.S. Army Military Police Corps Regimental Museum curator, it was a special occasion because this was the first exhibit to open when she was the curator. “So, this is a big deal to me because this is a love letter to the 31Ks,” she said. “For the last 15 years, the only exhibit in the Military Police Corps Museum’s gallery that spoke to working dog teams was dedicated to the Vietnam Soldiers that served as sentry dog handlers in the MP Corps.” Webb said she wanted to tell the story of how the military occupational specialty of 31K has evolved from its roots going back to the Dogs for Defense program in WWII, to the “expansive” branch today.

“The methods and diverse training that they provide today have evolved from the sentry style dog of Vietnam,” Webb said. “I was not aware of how diverse that training was until we started leaning in and looking at more