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Army MOS · Combat & Infantry

31K Working Dog Handler

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

A Working Dog Handler employs military working dogs for explosives or narcotics detection, force protection, controlled aggression, and tracking. These handlers support combat and route clearance operations, screen equipment, baggage, and vehicles, provide perimeter security, and use trained dogs to detect landmines and other explosive hazards.

Minimum clearance: Secret

Minimum ASVAB: ST 91

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-19

Program scope has not been reviewed.

Policy applicability and coverage of the program's score routes have not been reviewed. Shown-route arithmetic is not an eligibility decision.

Source: smartbook-611-21-ch10c-fy2025 (source date 2025-12). Policy applicability has not been established.

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Core Skills

  • Canine explosive and narcotic odor detection
  • Canine tracking of missing or captured personnel
  • Less-than-lethal canine deterrence and perimeter security

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Security Guards

Working-dog perimeter protection and controlled-entry screening transfer directly to protecting facilities and preventing unauthorized access.

How to prepare: Contact your state licensing agency to identify the guard-training and application steps for an unarmed role. Most states require licensure with minimum qualifications of age 18, a background check and training; armed roles usually require weapons licensing and stricter screening.

What the civilian work involves
  • Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
  • Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (3 documents)
  1. Army COOL MOC feed: 31K Working Dog Handler

    [1] data/authority/army-codes.json entry 31K (OSD COOL feed, fetched 2026-07-25); DB rank enlisted, authority codeType enlisted

    Supports: Canine explosive and narcotic odor detection, Canine tracking of missing or captured personnel, Less-than-lethal canine deterrence and perimeter security, Security Guards (O*NET 33-9032.00)

  2. O*NET: Security Guards

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Security Guards (O*NET 33-9032.00)

  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers

    [3] How to Become One; Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations; page dated 2026-08-27, retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: Security Guards (O*NET 33-9032.00)

Defense contractor jobs for 31K

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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