Sgt. Darren Westmoreland, military working dog handler, K-9 Unit, Provost Marshal’s Office, answers a question from a Joshua Tree Elementary School student about the Marine’s job as a MWD handler during a demonstration at the school, Jan. 29, 2015. The MWD handlers answered questions that students and teachers had about the MWDs. (Official Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Julio McGraw/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Julio McGraw

K9 unit demonstrates skills at Joshua Tree Elementary

4 Feb 2015 | Lance Cpl. Julio McGraw Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

Military Working Dog handlers and their canine counterparts demonstrated their capabilities and discipline during a aggression and obedience demonstration at Joshua Tree Elementary School, Jan. 30.

The Marines and MWDs showed the students the different ways they would react while dealing with a perpetrator. The MWDs displayed their level of discipline as the handlers performed searches and demonstrated how the dogs would react if things got violent or out of control. Marines also demonstrated how and when a MWD would bite or subdue a target.

PMO regularly provides these demonstrations to schools in the local community approximately 12 times a year, serving 11 schools in the Morongo Unified School District.