Dyess AFB Honors Veteran K-9 After A Decade of Service

ABILENE, TX –– On Wednesday, 12-year-old Nero, a K-9 officer, officially retired from the military service at Dyess Air Force Base.

Nero, a German Shepard, spent the last ten years of his life serving his country –– including two deployments to Afghanistan.

Back in November of 2011, Nero was assigned to the 7th Security Forces Squadron military working dog unit. In 2012, Nero was first deployed to Bagram Air Base in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Nero was injured in that deployment after a roadside improvised device that struck the lead vehicle he and his handler, TSgt Rafael Rhodes rode in. Twelve days after the attack, Nero and Rhodes returned to duty. Nero would return to Afghanistan in 2013.

According to the Air Force, it "is almost certain Nero suffered psychological trauma during his two deployments as did many of his human brothers though he continued his service without a whimper."

In 2017, TSgt Rhodes was medically discharged after receiving a Purple Heart. Since then, Nero spent the last four years protecting  Dyess AFB.

Throughout his career, Nero has had 11 handlers and provided over 9,000 hours of law enforcement and security patrols. He has also provided more than 800 hours of explosive detection. Nero also served on several United States Secret Service VIP missions.

His previous handler, Rhodes, will be adopting him and taking him to his home in Las Vegas, NV where he will live with two other of Rhodes’ dogs. Nero hadn’t seen Rhodes since 2014.