319th SFS, 5th SFS: Inaugural Top Dog of the Tundra Competition

A group of airmen assigned to the 319th Security Forces Squadron and the 5th Security Forces Squadron pose for a photo at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. There were five awards given for each of the individual events at the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition: Fastest ruck and top proficiency in tactical combat casualty care, substance detection, obedience and controlled aggression and the overall award of Top Dog of the Tundra (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
A group of airmen assigned to the 319th Security Forces Squadron and the 5th Security Forces Squadron pose for a photo at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. There were five awards given for each of the individual events at the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition: Fastest ruck and top proficiency in tactical combat casualty care, substance detection, obedience and controlled aggression and the overall award of Top Dog of the Tundra (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
  • Published 
  • By Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk
  • 319th Reconnaissance Wing


Senior Airman Ryan Faulk, 5th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., removes MP, 5th SFS military working dog, as he bites Staff Sgt. Stephen Zimmerman, 319th Security Forces Squadron MWD trainer, during a dog agility course at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. The final stage of the dog agility course was a bite, tasking the dog with biting an unmoving target, which differs from their training against aggressive moving targets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
Staff Sgt. James Edwards, 319th Security Forces Squadron military working handler, leads Zorro, 319th SFS MWD, through a dog agility course during the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. The agility course was an unfamiliar challenge for MWDs, who are accustomed to mission-specific training that consists of obedience, detection, controlled aggression and patrol work. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
Senior Airman Alexis Smith, 319th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, guides Ttommaso, 319th Security Forces Squadron MWD, through a dog agility course during the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. The agility course was an unfamiliar challenge for MWDs, who are accustomed to mission-specific training that consists of obedience, detection, controlled aggression and patrol work. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
Airman 1st Class Joseph Silva, 5th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler assigned to Minot Air Force Base N.D., runs his partner Hexo, through a dog agility course during the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. The final challenge of the competition was a dog agility course, to demonstrate the control and communication handlers exhibited with their MWDs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
Senior Airman Caleb Manges, 319th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, is tested on his tactical combat casualty care knowledge during the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. The competition challenged airmen in scenarios where they performed TCCC on a Diesel Advanced Canine Medical Trainer, testing their capability, knowledge and proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
Senior Airman Caleb Manges, 319th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, trains in tactical combat casualty care on a Diesel Advanced Canine Medical Trainer at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. The DACMT is a full-body canine simulator that is used to prepare for and practice TCCC procedures in the case of a real-life scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
A military working dog team from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., conducts a detection exercise as part of the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. During the challenge, the MWDs were tasked with detecting and alerting their handler within a certain time limit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
U.S. Army Capt. Joshua Middleton, veterinary corps officer of the Veterinary Readiness Activity assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D.; and Staff Sgt. Sally Dolance, animal care specialist of the VRA assigned to Minot AFB, review tactical combat casualty care with U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. James Edwards, 319th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. MWD handlers have monthly training on how to perform TCCC on their dogs to ensure they are proficient and prepared to respond to a MWD medical event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
A 319th Reconnaissance Wing military working dog team conducts a substance detection exercise as part of the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. During the challenge, the MWDs were tasked with detecting and alerting their handler of the presence of any substance in the area within a certain time limit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
Staff Sgt. James Edwards, 319th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, participates in a Police Week ruck with his partner, Zorro, 319th SFS MWD, at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. The 319th SFS held an inaugural Police Week competition including a two-mile ruck, where airmen wore body armor and 35-pound packs to simulate standard medical equipment and gear required to conduct security operations with their K-9. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)
Senior Airman Caleb Manges, 319th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, helps Flex, 319th SFS military working dog, stretch before a two-mile ruck run at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., May 13, 2025. A team of MWD handlers from the 319th SFS and the 5th SFS, based at Minot Air Force Base, competed in several challenges throughout the day in the inaugural Police Week Top Dog of the Tundra Competition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emma Funderburk)