Following the Army’s decision to reactivate its Scout Dog program, the Army and Marines entered into an interservice agreement to train Scout Dogs. Fort Benning, Georgia, served as the only training center for all Army and Marine Scout Dogs during the Vietnam War. All Scout Dogs trained at Fort Benning were procured and inducted into the service by the Air Force and sold to the Army for training.


Two Marine Scout Dog platoons were deployed to Vietnam in February 1966. The first Army Scout Dog platoon was deployed to Vietnam when the 25th IPSD arrived at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in June 1966. Between late 1965 and January 1969 twenty-two Army Scout Dog Platoons (including the 48th IPSD) and four Marine Scout Dog Platoons were deployed to Vietnam.

48th IPSD Fort Benning