Who conducts certifications for the Army?

• A. Unit Commander
• B. The MWD handler
• C. A disinterested NCO (E-7/E-8) or civilian equivalent
• D. A physician

Answer: (C)

Certifications are meant to verify a dog's abilities against Army standards in an objective way. The person who certifies must not have a close working relationship with the dog or handler, to avoid bias and preserve uniform criteria. A disinterested senior NCO or civilian equivalent fits this role because they’re trained in the certification procedures, understand the exact criteria, and can observe the dog and handler impartially. The unit commander oversees operations but isn’t the evaluator, and the handler inherently has a close, biased stake in the dog's performance. A physician isn’t trained to evaluate K9-specific tasks and standards. So, the best choice is a disinterested NCO (E-7/E-8) or civilian equivalent.