The earliest known use of K9s by a military group was by Alyattes of Lydia against the Cimmerians around 600 BC. Military K9s were initially used as sentries and scouts. Military dogs have worked alongside soldiers in the United States since at least the Civil War, but it wasn’t until WWII that the first K9 corps was created. From 1943-45, the US Marine Corps trained those that had been donated to the war effort for use in the Pacific Theater. While all breeds were eligible, the Doberman Pinscher was the official Marine dog. Their implementation was considered a success, so when the Vietnam War broke out, the US military, yet again, put together K9 units. By end of the conflict, 5,000 dogs were put into service, with approximately 10,000 servicemen working as their handlers. Unlike the troops who finished their tours and returned Stateside, these animals remained in Vietnam, where they were passed on to different handlers. Today there are about 1,600 military working dogs serving our nation. I hope to have a more personal report from this plate's owner soon. This report came from both a government website and The History of K9s in the Military.