SALT LAKE CITY -- Earlier this month, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Wiggin, 75th Security Forces Squadron kennel master, participated in a panel discussion at the University of Utah Hinckley Institute for Politics to explain the role of military working dogs.
Annually, the university hosts a panel discussion in conjunction with other Veterans Day commemoration events to honor the nation’s military and veterans. This year’s panel held Nov. 13 was titled “Military Working Dogs: Man’s Best Friend.”
Wiggin and four other panelists explained to students and others gathered how military working dogs are trained, how they serve, what happens after a dog’s service is over, and recent legislation on the subject.
The goal of the panel each year is to help the public understand the military by focusing on timely and relevant topics centered on the military and veterans. Past panels have focused on women in combat, medical advances, World War II, and more.
The other panelists that participated included Gary Webster, district director for Utah Rep. Chris Stewart, Lt. Col. Jeremy Borque, University of Utah professor of military science, and Jim and Linda Crismer, owners of retired military working dogs.