FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – Mountain Vista Communities (MVC) held a dedication ceremony for its newly renovated dog park on Tuesday officially named in honor of military working dog Bronco, who served here from 2013 to 2020.
Jolene Tucker, MVC’s community director, said the dog park underwent a complete renovation. The $40,000 upgrade was paid for by MVC’s Community Investment Fund and took more than 670 hours to complete. Included in the upgrades were a new irrigation system, new sod, trees, bushes, rocks and more. Tucker also indicated there are still additional tasks in the works.
“The grounds team is not as large as you might think,” she said praising them. “For the 1,064 homes that we have here, we have a six-person crew. They maintain 29 playgrounds, work on countless open areas and xeriscape areas, perform preventative weed spray and weed removal in seven villages, and they mow around five different villages on a regular basis. The team never fell behind on their daily duties as they restored this dog park. They worked so hard, and they made every day fun.”
Before giving the invocation, Chaplain (Maj.) Brandon Johnson, family life chaplain, said he believes the new dog park is “a testament that every creature in this world matters, and that we aren’t meant to go alone in this journey of life.”
He encouraged the audience to “be grateful for, and responsible to, our companions in life – whatever shape or form they may present themselves.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Terrina Anderson, U.S. Army Garrison Command Sergeant Major, read aloud the biography of MWD Bronco, which was especially fitting since it was her idea to name the dog park after a Fort Huachuca military working dog.
Bronco, a Belgian Malinois, was born on April 1, 2009. He was trained as a Tactical Explosive Detector Dog (TEDD) and officially entered military service on Dec. 1, 2010. He was stationed at Fort Huachuca from 2013 to 2020 and deployed multiple times to Afghanistan showcasing his exceptional skills in detecting explosives.
Bronco transitioned seamlessly into the military police undergoing specialized training in controlled aggression, particularly in patrol and bite work, and evolved into a Patrol Explosive Detector Dog. Assigned to the 483rd Military Police Detachment, he completed several tours in Iraq, furthering military objectives.
Sadly, Bronco’s life was cut short due to medical complications, leaving behind a legacy of service and unwavering dedication to duty. The new dog park, named in his honor, will serve as a poignant reminder to residents and the community to honor all who have served, even those with four paws.
The MWD Bronco Dog Park is located on Burns Street, adjacent to Colonel Johnston Elementary School.
(Editor’s note: The complete photo album is available at Dog Park dedication | Flickr.)
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Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.
Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.
We are the Army’s Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/
