HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 66th Security Forces Squadron held a retirement ceremony for Military Working Dog Qquail at Fenway Park in Boston June 14.
Qquail, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, has active service of more than nine years with the squadron and the U.S. Air Force.
“This military working dog has spent more than three-quarters of her life defending Hanscom Air Force Base and her country,” said Tech. Sgt. Victor Portes-Garcia, emcee for the ceremony. “She has more than served her time, and as of today will be retired from the United States Air Force.”
Maj. Brandon Casso, 66 SFS commander, presented MWD Qquail with the Air Force Commendation Medal for “outstanding service to the United States as a Patrol Explosive Detector Dog.”
According to the medal citation, among her many accomplishments, MWD Qquail deployed to Kuwait in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel where she was responsible for securing military and civilian personnel and aircraft.
Officiating the ceremony was Col. Taona Enriquez, 66th Air Base Group and installation commander.
“She [Qquail] has been a trusted guardian and source of unwavering support to her many handlers and teams here at Hanscom Air Force Base and overseas,” she said. “She has truly embodied the spirit of service before self.”
Tech. Sgt. Adam Dunnam, Qquail’s former handler when assigned to 66 SFS, will adopt the retiree.
Military working dogs provide a unique capability in securing the installation and the forces assigned there whether at home or while deployed.
As the only active-duty Air Force base in New England, Hanscom’s AFB MWD teams support Department of Defense missions, as well as other government agencies in the Northeast.
Qquail’s official retirement date was May 2, 2023.