Alfie and AJ - PDSA Order of Merit

Royal Air Force Police Dogs, Alfie and AJ, received the PDSA Order of Merit in August 2021 for their exceptional contribution to society.

English Spaniel, Alfie, and Labrador, AJ, served in Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron for six years, regularly operating in dangerous environments, locating arms, ammunition, and explosives.

The now-retired duo were joined by Provost Marshal (RAF), Group Captain David Wilkinson, to formally receive their prestigious PDSA Order of Merit medals. Watch their incredible story:

Alfie and AJ's story

Alfie and AJ joined the Number 4 Royal Air Force Police & Security Squadron in 2011 and 2014 respectively as Arms and Explosives Search Military Working Dogs, after completing their training at the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) in Melton Mowbray.

This role of the Squadron is to provide a full-time operational capability, often in arduous conditions, within the Squadron’s Area of Operations.

Alfie and AJ played a pivotal role in the vital work of the Squadron.

Alfie’s career

Alfie qualified as an Arms and Explosives Search Military Working Dog in April 2011 and worked with the Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron until 1 July 2017, when he retired from the service.  

Alfie completed over 600 hours of operational searching during his exceptional career, resulting in four live, high-profile finds of arms, ammunition, explosives, and bomb-making equipment. Alfie’s finds included two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), designed to cause maximum casualties.

For a career of exemplary service to society, retired Royal Air Force Police Dog Alfie has now received the PDSA Order of Merit.

AJ’s career

AJ spent six years with the Squadron. He conducted over 1,000 search hours, resulting in eight live, high-profile operational finds of arms, ammunition, explosives and bomb-making equipment (BME). 

AJ located four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and buried bomb-making equipment. Everything that AJ found posed a lethal threat to Armed Forces personnel, Police and public safety. Each find could have caused significant casualties had AJ not located them.

For a career of exemplary service to society, retired Royal Air Force Police Dog AJ has now received the PDSA Order of Merit.

Both Alfie and AJ’s records were the best in their field for the number of search hours, searches and operational finds. During their active service, they were highly regarded by their peers in the Royal Air Force Police & Security Squadron. 

After both successfully completing six full years of active service and thousands of search hours between them, Alfie and AJ are now enjoying a well-deserved retirement. 

For their careers of outstanding service to society, Alfie and AJ are deserving recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit.