Military working dogs Rroswell, right, and Splash retire from the Air Force during a ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 13, 2026. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Two seasoned law enforcement professionals with 15 years of experience between them transitioned to veteran status Wednesday at this airlift hub in western Tokyo.
About 70 people attended the retirement ceremony for Splash, a black Labrador retriever, and Rroswell, a Belgian Malinois, at the base enlisted club during National Police Week.
Both dogs were adopted by their handlers from the 374th Security Forces Squadron following the ceremony.
“Now, the mission is finally over, buddy. You made it to the light at the end of the tunnel,” Staff Sgt. Marcello Frasca, Rroswell’s handler and now owner, said during the event. “No more long shifts, no more early mornings. From here on out, the time is yours.”
Rroswell, nearly 9 years old, entered training in 2019 and arrived at Yokota in 2020 as an explosives patrol detector dog, said the squadron’s kennel master, Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Hammer.
Rroswell, a military working dog, is greeted by guests during his retirement ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 13, 2026. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)
The double “R” in the dog’s name signifies participation in the military’s breeding program at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, where dogs are raised for military service, Hammer said. Military working dogs undergo about 180 days of training in obedience, patrol work and explosives detection before joining operational units.
Splash, nearly 10 years old, entered training in 2018 and was initially assigned to Camp Hansen, a Marine Corps base on Okinawa, as a specialized search dog, Hammer said. She transferred to Yokota after the Marine program was discontinued and was reclassified as an explosives detector dog.
At Yokota, the dogs supported vehicle inspections, perimeter patrols and security operations involving important personnel, Frasca said before the ceremony.
Retirement decisions are typically based on a dog’s health and working condition rather than age alone, Hammer said. Military working dogs often serve around eight years.
Splash, a military working dog, retrieves a ball for her owner, Staff Sgt. Wyatt Madix, during her retirement ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 13, 2026. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)
The cost of training, care and medical support for a military working dog can range cost up to $1.5 million over the course of its service, Hammer said.
For the handlers, the ceremony marked the start of a quieter life for the dogs.
“The time has finally come where you can retire on a comfy couch and relax on the beach with me,” Splash’s handler, Staff Sgt. Wyatt Madix, said during the ceremony. “Thank you for your service, girl.”
Frasca said he worked with Rroswell from 2022 to 2024 before leaving Yokota and returned unexpectedly shortly before the dog’s retirement.
“The timing couldn’t be better,” he said. “Talk about signs.”